Psalm 10

1 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

A Song of Confidence in Gods Triumph Over Evil

2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.3 For the wicked boasts of his hearts desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord.4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.5 His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.6 He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.10 So he crouches, he lies low, That the helpless may fall by his strength.11 He has said in his heart, God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.12 Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.13 Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, You will not require an account. 14 But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; Seek out his wickedness until You find none.16 The Lord is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land.17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.

PSALMS 10

A Prayer for Help

1 Why are you far away, [Lord]?
Why do you hide yourself
when I am in trouble?

2 Proud and brutal people
hunt down the poor.
But let them get caught
by their own evil plans!

3 The wicked brag about
their deepest desires.
Those greedy people hate
and curse you, [Lord].

4 The wicked are too proud
to turn to you
or even think about you.

5 They are always successful,
though they can't understand
your teachings,
and they keep sneering
at their enemies.

6 In their hearts they say,
“Nothing can hurt us!
We'll always be happy
and free from trouble.”

7  t They curse and tell lies,
and all they talk about
is how to be cruel
or how to do wrong.

8 They hide outside villages,
waiting to strike and murder
some innocent victim.

9 They are hungry lions
hiding in the bushes,
hoping to catch
some helpless passerby.
They trap the poor in nets
and drag them away.

10 They crouch down and wait
to grab a victim.

11 They say, “God can't see!
He's got on a blindfold.”

12 Do something, [Lord] God,
and use your powerful arm
to help those in need.

13 The wicked don't respect you.
In their hearts they say,
“God won't punish us!”

14 But you see the trouble
and the distress,
and you will do something.
The poor can count on you,
and so can orphans.

15 Now break the power
of all merciless people.
Punish them for doing wrong
and make them stop.

16 Our [Lord], you will always rule,
but every godless nation
will vanish from the earth.

17 You listen to the longings
of those who suffer.
You offer them hope,
and you pay attention
to their cries for help.

18 You defend orphans
and everyone else in need,
so that no one on earth
can terrify others again.