Psalm 10

A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked.

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

2 In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire,
And tthe greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.

4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.
All his thoughts are, "There is no God."

5 His ways prosper at all times;
Your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.

6 He says to himself, "I will not be moved;
Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity."

7 His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.

8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
In the hiding places he kills the innocent;
His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.

9 He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair;
He lurks to catch the afflicted;
He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.

10 He crouches, he bows down,
And the unfortunate fall tby his mighty ones.

11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
He has hidden His face; He will never see it."

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand.
Do not forget the afflicted.

13 Why has the wicked spurned God?
He has said to himself, "You will not require it. "

14 You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to You;
You have been the helper of the orphan.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,
Seek out his wickedness until You find none.

16 The LORD is King forever and ever;
Nations have perished from His land.

17 O LORD, You have heard the desire of the thumble;
You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear

18 To tvindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.

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.