Psalms 10

1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

Why do you stand, Lord, so far away, hiding yourself in times of trouble?

2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

The wicked, in their pride, are pursuing the helpless: let them be caught in the schemes they have plotted.

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

For the wicked boasts of their wanton greed; the robber despises the Lord, and curses him,

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

in wicked pride, thinks: God doesn’t care, God doesn’t call to account.

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

Never a season that they do not prosper; your judgments are far above out of their sight: they scoff at their foes.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

Each says in their heart, “I will never be shaken; I will live for all time untouched by misfortune.”

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

Their mouths are full of deceit and oppression: under their tongues lurks mischief and wrong.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are secretly set against the poor.

Lying in secret in some village ambush, and stealthily watching, they murder the innocent.

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

Like a lion that lurks in a secret lair they lurk intending to catch the defenceless; to seize them, to drag them away in their net.

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

Their victims are crushed, sink down to the ground. Under their claws the hapless fall.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

The wicked say in their hearts that God has forgotten, has hidden his face, will see nothing.

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thy hand: forget not the humble.

Arise, Lord, lift up your hand, do not forget the cry of the wretched.

13 Why doth the wicked despise God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

Why do the wicked treat God with contempt, and say in their hearts, “God doesn’t care”?

14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to repay it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself to thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

You have seen the trouble and sorrow; you mark it all, and will take it in hand. The hapless can count on you, helper of orphans.

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou shalt find none.

Break the arm of the wicked and evil: search out their sin, till no more be found.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen have perished out of his land.

The Lord is king forever and ever: the nations will vanish from his land.

17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thy ear to hear:

Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble, inclining your ear, strengthening their hearts,

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

rights you have won for the crushed and the orphan, so no one on earth may strike terror again.