Psalms

The first book of Psalms, song 10, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 10

New English Translation

   1 Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?
   2 The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.
   3 Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants; the one who robs others curses and rejects the LORD.
   4 The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks, "God won't hold me accountable; he doesn't care."
   5 He is secure at all times. He has no regard for your commands; he disdains all his enemies.
   6 He says to himself, "I will never be upended, because I experience no calamity."
   7 His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.
   8 He waits in ambush near the villages; in hidden places he kills the innocent. His eyes look for some unfortunate victim.
   9 He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed; he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.
   10 His victims are crushed and beaten down; they are trapped in his sturdy nets.
   11 He says to himself, "God overlooks it; he does not pay attention; he never notices."
   12 Rise up, LORD! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed!
   13 Why does the wicked man reject God? He says to himself, "You will not hold me accountable."
   14 You have taken notice, for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering. The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; you deliver the fatherless.
   15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man! Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds, which he thought you would not discover.
   16 The LORD rules forever! The nations are driven out of his land.
   17 LORD, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.
   18 You defend the fatherless and oppressed, so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.

King James Version

   1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
   2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
   3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
   4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
   5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
   6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
   7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
   8 He 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.
   9 He 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.
   10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
   11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
   12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
   13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
   14 Thou 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.
   15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
   16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
   17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
   18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.