Psalm 10

Need for God’s Justice

1   LORD, V,W why do you stand so far away? d

Why do you hide in times of trouble? e

2   In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims;

let them be caught in the schemes they have devised. f

3   For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; g

the one who is greedy curses X and despises the LORD. h

4   In all his scheming,

the wicked person arrogantly thinks, Y

“There’s no accountability,

since there’s no God.” i

5   His ways are always secure; Z

your lofty judgments have no effect on him; A

he scoffs at all his adversaries. j

6   He says to himself, “I will never be moved—

from generation to generation without calamity.” k

7   Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth;

trouble and malice are under his tongue. l

8   He waits in ambush near settlements; m

he kills the innocent in secret places.

His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless; n

9   he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket.

He lurks in order to seize a victim;

he seizes a victim and drags him in his net.

10   So he is oppressed and beaten down;

helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength. o

11   He says to himself, “God has forgotten;

he hides his face and will never see.” p

12   Rise up, LORD God! Lift up your hand. q

Do not forget the oppressed. r

13   Why has the wicked person despised God?

He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.” s

14   But you yourself have seen trouble and grief,

observing it in order to take the matter into your hands. t

The helpless one entrusts himself to you;

you are a helper of the fatherless. u

15   Break the arm of the wicked, evil person, v

until you look for his wickedness,

but it can’t be found. w

16   The LORD is King forever and ever; x

the nations will perish from his land. y

17   LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble;

you will strengthen their hearts.

You will listen carefully, z

18   doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed

so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more. a