Psalms  10

  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.
     

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