Psalm 10

1 Why are you so distant, Lord?Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?2 The wicked person arrogantly pursues oppressed people.He will be caught in the schemes that he planned.3 The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires.He blesses robbers, but he curses the Lord.4 He turns up his nose and says, “God doesn’t care.”His every thought concludes, “There is no God.”5 He always seems to succeed.Your judgments are beyond his understanding.He spits at all his opponents.6 He says to himself, “Nothing can shake me.I’ll never face any trouble.”7 His mouth is full of cursing, deception, and oppression.Trouble and wrongdoing are on the tip of his tongue.8 He waits in ambush in the villages.From his hiding places he kills innocent people.His eyes are on the lookout for victims.9 He lies in his hiding place like a lion in his den.He hides there to catch oppressed people.He catches oppressed people when he draws them into his net.10 His victims are crushed.They collapse,and they fall under the weight of his power.11 He says to himself,“God has forgotten.He has hidden his face.He will never see it!”12 Arise, O Lord!Lift your hand, O God.Do not forget oppressed people!13 Why does the wicked person despise God?Why does he say to himself, “God doesn’t care”?14 You have seen it; yes, you have taken note of trouble and griefand placed them under your control.The victim entrusts himself to you.You alone have been the helper of orphans.15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil person.Punish his wickedness until you find no more.16 The Lord is king forever and ever.The nations have vanished from his land.17 You have heard the desire of oppressed people, O Lord.You encourage them.You pay close attention to them18 in order to provide justice for orphans and oppressed peopleso that no mere mortal will terrify them again.

Psalm 10

1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?

2 The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed;
the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.

3 Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants;
the one who robs others curses and rejects the Lord.

4 The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks,
“God won’t hold me accountable; he doesn’t care.”

5 He is secure at all times.
He has no regard for your commands;
he disdains all his enemies.

6 He says to himself,
“I will never be upended,
because I experience no calamity.”

7 His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words;
his tongue injures and destroys.

8 He waits in ambush near the villages;
in hidden places he kills the innocent.
His eyes look for some unfortunate victim.

9 He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket;
he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed;
he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.

10 His victims are crushed and beaten down;
they are trapped in his sturdy nets.

11 He says to himself,
“God overlooks it;
he does not pay attention;
he never notices.”

12 Rise up, Lord!
O God, strike him down!
Do not forget the oppressed!

13 Why does the wicked man reject God?
He says to himself, “You will not hold me accountable.”

14 You have taken notice,
for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering.
The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you;
you deliver the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man!
Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds,
which he thought you would not discover.

16 The Lord rules forever!
The nations are driven out of his land.

17 Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed;
you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.

18 You defend the fatherless and oppressed,
so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.