Psalms 10

Psalm 10

1 Why do you stand, Lord, so far away,
hiding yourself in times of trouble?
2The wicked, in their pride, are pursuing the helpless:
let them be caught in the schemes they have plotted.

3For the wicked boast of their wanton greed;
the robber despises the Lord, and curses him,
4in wicked pride, thinks:
God doesn’t care,
God doesn’t call to account.

5Never a season that they do not prosper;
your judgments are far above out of their sight:
they scoff at their foes.

6Each says in their heart,
“I will never be shaken;
I will live for all time
untouched by misfortune.”
7Their mouths are full of deceit and oppression:
under their tongues lurks mischief and wrong.

8Lying in secret in some village ambush,
and stealthily watching, they murder the innocent.
9Like a lion lurks in a secret lair
they lurk intending to catch the defenceless;
to seize them, to drag them away in their net.

10Their victims are crushed, sink down to the ground.
Under claws the hapless fall.
11In their hearts the wicked say
that God has forgotten,
has hidden his face,
will see nothing.

12Arise, Lord, lift up your hand,
do not forget the cry of the wretched.
13Why do the wicked treat God with contempt,
and say in their hearts, “God doesn’t care”?

14You have seen the trouble and sorrow;
you mark it all, and will take it in hand.
The hapless can count on you,
helper of orphans.

15Break the arm of the wicked and evil:
search out their sin, till no more be found.
16The Lord is king forever and ever:
the nations will vanish from his land.

17Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble,
inclining your ear, strengthening their hearts,
18rights you have won for the crushed and the orphan,
so no one on earth may strike terror again.
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