Psalms 10

1Why, Yahweh, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2In his pride, the wicked man hotly pursues the poor; may the wicked be caught in the schemes they have devised.

3For the wicked man boasts about his own desire, and the greedy man curses and rejects Yahweh.

4With his nose held high, the wicked man does not seek God; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

5His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.

6He says in his heart, “I will not be shaken; through generation after generation I will not be in trouble.”

7His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression; under his tongue are trouble and wickedness.

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

9He lies in wait in hiding, like a lion in his shelter; he lies in wait to seize the poor; he seizes the poor by dragging him into his net.

10He crouches and lies low, and the helpless fall by his might.

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

12Rise up, O Yahweh; O God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.

13Why does the wicked man despise God? He says in his heart, “You will not call to account.”

14You have seen, for you look upon trouble and grief, to take it in hand. The helpless commits himself to you; you have been the helper of the fatherless.

15Break the arm of the wicked man—the evildoer; seek out his wickedness until you find none.

16Yahweh is King forever and ever; nations have perished from his land.

17O Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will prepare their heart; your ear will listen.

18to give justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man of the earth may terrify no more.