Psalms 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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 shaken, —From generation to generation, shall I be in no misfortune.

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

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

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

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 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 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:

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, he lieth down, then falleth he with his strong claws upon the unfortunate.

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

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

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

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

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

13 Wherefore hath the lawless one blasphemed 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! 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.

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

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

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

YHWH is King forever and ever. The nations have perished 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:

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

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

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