Psalms 10

1 Wherefore, O Yahweh, shouldst thou stand afar off? [Wherefore] hide thyself, in times of destitution?

So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away?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

2 In the pride of the lawless one, he hotly pursueth the poor, let them be caught in the plots which they have devised!

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

3 For the lawless one hath boasted over the longing of his soul, and, the robber, hath blasphemed Yahweh.

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

4 The lawless one, in the loftiness of his countenance, will not enquire, God is not in any of his plots:

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

5 His ways are firm at all times, On high, are thy righteous regulations, out of his sight, As for all his adversaries, he puffeth 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 hath said in his heart, I shall not be shaken, —From generation to generation, shall I be in no misfortune.

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

7 With cursing, his mouth is full, and with deceptions and oppression, Under his tongue, are trouble and mischief:

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

8 He abideth in the lurking-place of villages, In the hiding-places, he murdereth the innocent, —His eyes, for the unfortunate, are on the watch:

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

9 He lieth in wait in a hiding-place, like a lion in his covert, He lieth in wait to catch the humbled, He catcheth the humbled, by drawing him into 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 He croucheth, he lieth down, then falleth he with his strong claws upon the unfortunate.

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

11 He hath said in his heart, GOD hath forgotten, —He hath veiled his face, Oh he hath never seen!

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

12 Arise! Yahweh! O GOD! raise thy hand, —Do not forget the patient!

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

13 Wherefore hath the lawless one blasphemed God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it]!

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

14 Thou hast seen! For, thou, mischief and misery, dost discern, to requite with thine own hand, Unto thee, doth, the unfortunate one, give himself up, To the fatherless, thou thyself, hast become a helper.

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 Shatter thou the arm of the lawless one, And, as for the wrongful, wilt thou not enquire for his lawlessness—wilt thou not find [it]?

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

16 Yahweh, is king, to times age-abiding and beyond, The nations have perished out of his land.

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

17 The longing of the patient, thou hast heard, O Yahweh, Thou wilt establish their heart, Thou wilt make attentive thine ear:

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

18 To vindicate the fatherless and the crushed, A man of the earth, shall, no further, cause terror!

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