Psalm 10

¹  Why do you stand far off, Yahweh?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
² In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak.
    They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
³ For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings.
    He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
⁴ The wicked, in the pride of his face,
    has no room in his thoughts for God.
⁵ His ways are prosperous at all times.
    He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight.
As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
⁶     He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken.
    For generations I shall have no trouble.”
⁷ His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression.
    Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
⁸ He lies in wait near the villages.
    From ambushes, he murders the innocent.
His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
⁹ He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush.
    He lies in wait to catch the helpless.
    He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.
¹⁰ The helpless are crushed.
    They collapse.
    They fall under his strength.
¹¹ He says in his heart, “God has forgotten.
    He hides his face.
    He will never see it.”

¹² Arise, Yahweh!
    God, lift up your hand!
    Don’t forget the helpless.
¹³ Why does the wicked person condemn God,
    and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?”
¹⁴ But you do see trouble and grief.
    You consider it to take it into your hand.
    You help the victim and the fatherless.
¹⁵ Break the arm of the wicked.
    As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
¹⁶ Yahweh is King forever and ever!
    The nations will perish out of his land.
¹⁷ Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble.
    You will prepare their heart.
    You will cause your ear to hear,
¹⁸     to judge the fatherless and the oppressed,
    that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

Psalm 9   ■   Psalm 11