Psalm 10

¹ Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

² In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor—
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.

³ For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and spurns the LORD.

⁴ The wicked, in the height of his scorn—
'He will not seek account!'
'There is no God!'—all his thoughts.

⁵ His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
all his foes—he puffs at them.

⁶ He says in his heart, 'I shall not be moved;
through all generations I shall not meet adversity.'

⁷ His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

⁸ He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless.

⁹ He lurks in secret like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks to seize the poor;
he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.

¹⁰ He crouches, he bows down,
and the helpless fall by his might.

¹¹ He says in his heart, 'God has forgotten;
he has hidden his face, he will never see.'

¹² Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up your hand!
Do not forget the afflicted.

¹³ Why does the wicked spurn God?
He says in his heart, 'You will not call to account.'

¹⁴ But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.

¹⁵ Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till you find none.

¹⁶ The LORD is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.

¹⁷ O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart,
you will incline your ear,

¹⁸ to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.