Psalms 10

1 Lord, whi hast thou go fer awei? thou dispisist `in couenable tymes in tribulacioun.

Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? [why] dost thou overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?

2 While the wickid is proud, the pore man is brent; thei ben taken in the counsels, bi whiche thei thenken.

While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is hotly pursued: [the wicked] are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine.

3 Forwhi the synnere is preisid in the desiris of his soule; and the wickid is blessid.

Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.

4 The synnere `wraththide the Lord; vp the multitude of his ire he schal not seke.

The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his pride he will not seek after [him]: God is not before him.

5 God is not in his siyt; hise weies ben defoulid in al tyme. God, thi domes ben takun awei fro his face; he schal be lord of alle hise enemyes.

His ways are profane at all times; thy judgments are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.

6 For he seide in his herte, Y schal not be moued, fro generacioun in to generacioun without yuel.

For he has said in his heart, I shall not be moved, [continuing] without evil from generation to generation.

7 `Whos mouth is ful of cursyng, and of bitternesse, and of gyle; trauel and sorewe is vndur his tunge.

Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain.

8 He sittith in aspies with ryche men in priuytees; to sle the innocent man.

He lies in wait with rich [men] in secret places, in order to slay the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.

9 Hise iyen biholden on a pore man; he settith aspies in hid place, as a lioun in his denne. He settith aspies, for to rauysche a pore man; for to rauysche a pore man, while he drawith the pore man.

He lies in wait in secret as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to ravish the poor, to ravish the poor when he draws him [after him]: he will bring him down in his snare.

10 In his snare he schal make meke the pore man; he schal bowe hym silf, and schal falle doun, whanne he hath be lord of pore men.

He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.

11 For he seide in his herte, God hath foryete; he hath turned awei his face, that he se not in to the ende.

For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.

12 Lord God, rise thou vp, and thin hond be enhaunsid; foryete thou not pore men.

Arise, O Lord God; let thy hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.

13 For what thing terride the wickid man God to wraththe? for he seide in his herte, God schal not seke.

Wherefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require [it].

14 Thou seest, for thou biholdist trauel and sorewe; that thou take hem in to thin hondis. The pore man is left to thee; thou schalt be an helpere to the fadirles and modirles.

Thou seest [it]; for thou dost observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into thy hands: the poor has been left to thee; thou wast a helper to the orphan.

15 Al to-breke thou the arme of the synnere, and yuel willid; his synne schal be souyt, and it schal not be foundun.

Break thou the arm of the sinner and wicked man: his sin shall be sought for, and shall not be found.

16 The Lord schal regne with outen ende, and in to the world of world; folkis, ye schulen perische fro the lond of hym.

The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish out his land.

17 The Lord hath herd the desir of pore men; thin eere hath herd the makyng redi of her herte.

The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: thine ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;

18 To deme for the modirles `and meke; that a man `leie to no more to `magnyfie hym silf on erthe.

to plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.