Psalm 10
1
Psalm 10 [1]
1
Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3
He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4
In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5
His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.
6
He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7
His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8
He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims.
9
He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10
His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
11
He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees."
12
Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
13
Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?
14
But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
15
Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.
16
The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18
defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
Psalms 9 and 10 may have been originally a single acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Septuagint they constitute one psalm.
