Psalm 10

Psalm 10

1 O LORD, why do you stand so far away?
Why do you hide when I am in trouble?2 The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.
Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.3 For they brag about their evil desires;
they praise the greedy and curse the LORD.4 The wicked are too proud to seek God.
They seem to think that God is dead.5 Yet they succeed in everything they do.
They do not see your punishment awaiting them.
They sneer at all their enemies.6 They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!
We will be free of trouble forever!”7 Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.t
Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.8 They lurk in ambush in the villages,
waiting to murder innocent people.
They are always searching for helpless victims.9 Like lions crouched in hiding,
they wait to pounce on the helpless.
Like hunters they capture the helpless
and drag them away in nets.10 Their helpless victims are crushed;
they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.11 The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us!
He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!”12 Arise, O LORD!
Punish the wicked, O God!
Do not ignore the helpless!13 Why do the wicked get away with despising God?
They think, “God will never call us to account.”14 But you see the trouble and grief they cause.
You take note of it and punish them.
The helpless put their trust in you.
You defend the orphans.15 Break the arms of these wicked, evil people!
Go after them until the last one is destroyed.16 The LORD is king forever and ever!
The godless nations will vanish from the land.17 LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless.
Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.18 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,
so mere people can no longer terrify them.

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.