Psalms 10

1Why do you keep far away, O Lord? why are you not to be seen in times of trouble?

1Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2The evil-doer in his pride is cruel to the poor; let him be taken by the tricks of his invention.

2The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3For the evil-doer is lifted up because of the purpose of his heart, and he whose mind is fixed on wealth is turned away from the Lord, saying evil against him.

3For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.

4The evil-doer in his pride says, God will not make a search. All his thoughts are, There is no God.

4The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

5His ways are ever fixed; your decisions are higher than he may see: as for his haters, they are as nothing to him.

5His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

6He has said in his heart, I will not be moved: through all generations I will never be in trouble.

6He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and false words: under his tongue are evil purposes and dark thoughts.

7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8He is waiting in the dark places of the towns: in the secret places he puts to death those who have done no wrong: his eyes are secretly turned against the poor.

8He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

9He keeps himself in a secret place like a lion in his hole, waiting to put his hands on the poor man, and pulling him into his net.

9He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

10The upright are crushed and made low, and the feeble are overcome by his strong ones.

10He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

11He says in his heart, God has no memory of me: his face is turned away; he will never see it.

11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

12Up! O Lord; let your hand be lifted: give thought to the poor.

12Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

13Why has the evil-doer a low opinion of God, saying in his heart, You will not make search for it?

13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

14You have seen it; for your eyes are on sorrow and grief, to take it into your hand: the poor man puts his faith in you; you have been the helper of the child who has no father.

14Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

15Let the arm of the sinner and the evil-doer be broken; go on searching for his sin till there is no more.

15Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

16The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations are gone from his land.

16The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

17Lord, you have given ear to the prayer of the poor: you will make strong their hearts, you will give them a hearing:

17Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

18To give decision for the child without a father and for the broken-hearted, so that the man of the earth may no longer be feared.

18To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.