Psalms 10

1 Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?

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

2 Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise.

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

3 For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.

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

4 The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:

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 before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times. Thy judgments are removed from his sight: he shall rule over all his enemies.

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 hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.

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

7 His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.

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

8 He sitteth in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent.

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

9 His eyes are upon the poor man: He lieth in wait in secret like a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush that he may catch the poor man: to catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him.

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 net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.

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

11 For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.

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

12 Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.

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

13 Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it.

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

14 Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.

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

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

16 The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land.

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

17 The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.

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

18 To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.

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