Psalms 10

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

So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away? Why have you overlooked us in opportunity, in tribulation?

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

While the impious is arrogant, the poor is enflamed. They are held by the counsels that they devise.

3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns the LORD.

For the sinner is praised by the desires of his soul, and the iniquitous is blessed.

4 The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.

The sinner has provoked the Lord; according to the multitude of his wrath, he will not seek him.

5 His ways are prosperous at all times. He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

God is not before his sight. His ways are stained at all times. Your judgments are removed from his face. He will be master of all his enemies.

6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”

For he has said in his heart, “I will not be disturbed: from generation to generation without evil.”

7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

His mouth is full of curses, and bitterness, and deceit. Under his tongue are hardship and sorrow.

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

He sits in ambush, with resources in hidden places, so that he may execute the innocent.

9 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.

His eyes catch sight of the poor. He lies in ambush, in hiding like a lion in his den. He lies in ambush, so that he may seize the poor, to seize the poor as he draws him in.

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

With his snare, he will bring him down. He will crouch down and pounce, when he has power over the poor.

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

For he has said in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has turned away his face, lest he see to the end.”

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

O Lord God, rise up. Let your hand be exalted. Do not forget the poor.

13 Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God will not call me into account”?

How has the impious one provoked God? For he has said in his heart, “He will not inquire.”

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

You do see, for you examine hardship and sorrow, so that you may deliver them into your hands. The poor one has been abandoned to you. You will be a helper to the orphan.

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

Break the arm of the sinner and the malicious. His sin will be sought, and it will not be found.

16 The LORD is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.

The Lord shall reign in eternity, even forever and ever. You will perish the Gentiles from his land.

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

The Lord has heeded the desire of the poor. Your ear has listened to the preparation of their heart,

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

so as to judge for the orphan and the humble, so that man may no longer presume to magnify himself upon the earth.