Psalm 10

Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in
times of trouble?

In his arrogance the wicked man
hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he
devises.
He boasts of the cravings of his
heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles
the LORD.

In his pride the wicked does not seek
him;
in all his thoughts there is no room
for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are
far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, "Nothing will
shake me;
I'll always be happy and never
have trouble."
His mouth is full of curses and lies
and threats;
trouble and evil are under his
tongue.
He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the
innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
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.
His victims are crushed, they
collapse;
they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, God has
forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees.

Arise, O LORD! Lift up your hand,
O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile
God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me into account"?
But you, O God, do see trouble and
grief;
you consider it and take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the
fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil
man;
call him to account for his
wickedness
that would not be found out.

The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his
land.
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the
afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen
to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the
oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the
earth, may terrify no more.