Psalms 10

A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked.

1Why 1do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why 2do You hide 3Yourself in times of trouble?2In 4pride the wicked 5hotly pursue the afflicted; 6Let them be 7caught in the plots which they have devised.

3For the wicked 8boasts of his 9heart’s desire, And 10the greedy man curses and 11spurns the Lord.4The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, 12does not seek Him. All his 13thoughts are, “14There is no God.”

5His ways 1516prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, 17out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.6He says to himself, “18I will not be moved; 19Throughout all generations 20I will not be in adversity.”7His 21mouth is full of curses and deceit and 22oppression; 23Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.8He sits in the 24lurking places of the villages; In the hiding places he 25kills the innocent; His eyes 26stealthily watch for the 2728unfortunate.9He lurks in a hiding place as 29a lion in his 30lair; He 31lurks to catch 32the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his 33net.10He 34crouches, he 35bows down, And the 36unfortunate fall 37by his mighty ones.11He 38says to himself, “God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.”

12Arise, O Lord; O God, 39lift up Your hand. 40Do not forget the afflicted.13Why has the wicked 41spurned God? He has said to himself, “You will not require it.”14You have seen it, for You have beheld 42mischief and vexation to 43take it into Your hand. The 4445unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the 46helper of the orphan.1547Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, 4849Seek out his wickedness until You find none.

16The Lord is 50King forever and ever; 51Nations have perished from His land.17O Lord, You have heard the 52desire of the 53humble; You will 54strengthen their heart, 55You will incline Your ear18To 56vindicate the 57orphan and the 58oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause 59terror.