Psalms 10

1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in times of trouble?

Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.

For the wicked boasts of his heart's cravings, and he blesses the greedy, scorning the LORD.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.

The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek. All his thoughts are "There is no God."

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments [are] far above out of his sight: [as for] all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

His ways are firm at all times. Your judgments are turned aside. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] never [be] in adversity.

He says in his heart, "I shall not be shaken. From generation to generation I shall not experience calamity."

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity.

His mouth is full of cursing and bitterness and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net.

10 He croucheth, [and] humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see [it].

He says in his heart, "God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it."

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the humble.

Arise, LORD. God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the helpless.

13 Why doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it].

Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, "You will not seek (an accounting)."

14 Thou hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite [it] with thy hand: the poor committeth himself to thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou shalt find none.

Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

16 The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the heathen have perished out of his land.

The LORD is King forever and ever. The nations have perished from his land.

17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thy ear to hear:

LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.