Psalm 10

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

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

3For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.footnote bfootnote c

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

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

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

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

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.footnote h

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.footnote i

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

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

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

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

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.footnote m

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 heathen are perished out of his land.

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

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

The Perils of the Pilgrim

1Why, O LORD, do You stand far off?Why do You hide in times of trouble? 2In pride the wicked pursue the needy;let them be caught in the schemes they devise.

3For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart;he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. 4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him;in all his schemes there is no God. 5He is secure in his ways at all times;Your lofty judgments are far from him;he sneers at all his foes. 6He says to himself, “I will not be moved;from age to age I am free of distress.”

7His mouth is full of cursing, deceit,footnote aand violence;trouble and malice are under his tongue. 8He lies in wait near the villages;in ambush he slays the innocent;his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless. 9He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket;he lurks to seize the oppressed;he catches the lowly in his net. 10They are crushed and beaten down;footnote bthe helpless fall prey to his strength. 11He says to himself, “God has forgotten;He hides His face and never sees.”

12Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God!Do not forget the helpless. 13Why has the wicked man renounced God?He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.” 14But You have regarded trouble and grief;You see to repay it by Your hand.The victim entrusts himself to You;You are the helper of the fatherless. 15Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;call him to account for his wickednessuntil none is left to be found.

16The LORD is King forever and ever;the nations perish from His land. 17You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble;You will strengthen their hearts.You will incline Your ear, 18to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed,that the men of the earthmay strike terror no more.