Psalms 10

1 Why, Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you look away in times of need and affliction?

2 While the ungodly act proudly, the needy are set on fire. They are caught in the schemes they devise.

3 The sinner is praised for the desires of his soul, and the one who acts unjustly is blessed.

4 The sinner provoked the Lord. In the abundance of his anger, he will not seek him; God is not before him.

5 His ways are treated as common at all times. Your judgments are removed from before him, and he will dominate all his enemies.

6 He said in his heart,

“I will not be shaken. From generation to generation I will be without harm.”

7 His mouth is full of curses, bitterness, and deceit; trouble and pain are beneath his tongue.

8 He sits in ambush with the rich in hidden places to kill the innocent. His eyes watch the poor.

9 He lies in ambush in secret like a lion in its den. He waits to seize the needy, dragging the needy away.

10 He will bring the poor person down in his trap; he will stoop and fall while dominating the poor.

11 He said in his heart,

“God has forgotten. He has turned away his face so that he will never see.”

12 Rise, Lord God! Lift up your hand; do not forget the poor.

13 Why has the ungodly person provoked God? He said in his heart,

“God will not investigate.”

14 You see it, because you observe trouble and anger in order to hand them over into your hands. The needy person has been left to you; you have been a helper to the orphan.

15 Shatter the arm of the sinful and evil person. His sin will be sought, but because of it he will not be found.

16 The Lord will reign forever and ever. Nations, you will perish from his land.

17 The Lord has heard the desire of the poor; your ear has paid attention to the readiness of their heart,

18 to judge for the orphan and the lowly, so that a human being may no longer boast on the earth.