Add parallel Print Page Options

Psalm 10

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

[a]Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—
    let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.(A)

For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart;
    those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.(B)
In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, “God will not seek it out”;
    all their thoughts are, “There is no God.”(C)

Their ways prosper at all times;
    your judgments are on high, out of their sight;
    as for their foes, they scoff at them.
They think in their heart, “We shall not be moved;
    throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.”(D)

Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
    under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.(E)
They sit in ambush in the villages;
    in hiding places they murder the innocent.

Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;(F)
    they lurk in secret like a lion in its den;
they lurk that they may seize the poor;
    they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.(G)

10 They stoop, they crouch,
    and the helpless fall by their might.
11 They think in their heart, “God has forgotten;
    he has hidden his face; he will never see it.”(H)

12 Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
    do not forget the oppressed.(I)
13 Why do the wicked renounce God
    and say in their hearts, “You will not call us to account”?

14 But you do see! Indeed, you note trouble and grief,
    that you may take it into your hands;
the helpless commit themselves to you;
    you have been the helper of the orphan.(J)

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;
    seek out their wickedness until you find none.(K)
16 The Lord is king forever and ever;
    the nations shall perish from his land.(L)

17 O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;
    you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear(M)
18 to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
    so that those from earth may strike terror no more.[b](N)

Footnotes

  1. 10.1 Psalms 9–10 were originally one psalm, as in the Greek and Latin traditions. In Hebrew, Psalms 9–10 formed an acrostic.
  2. 10.18 Meaning of Heb uncertain

Psalm 10

Lord,[a][b] why do You stand so far away?(A)
Why do You hide in times of trouble?(B)
In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue the afflicted;
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.(C)

For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings;(D)
the one who is greedy curses[c] and despises the Lord.(E)
In all his scheming,
the wicked arrogantly thinks:[d]
“There is no accountability,
since God does not exist.”(F)
His ways are always secure;[e]
Your lofty judgments are beyond his sight;
he scoffs at all his adversaries.(G)
He says to himself, “I will never be moved—
from generation to generation without calamity.”(H)
Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth;
trouble and malice are under his tongue.(I)
He waits in ambush near the villages;(J)
he kills the innocent in secret places.
His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;(K)
he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket.
He lurks in order to seize the afflicted;
he seizes the afflicted and drags him in his net.
10 So he is oppressed and beaten down;
the helpless fall because of his strength.(L)
11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten;
He hides His face and will never see.”(M)

12 Rise up, Lord God! Lift up Your hand.(N)
Do not forget the afflicted.(O)
13 Why has the wicked person despised God?
He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.”(P)
14 But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief,
observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands.(Q)
The helpless entrusts himself to You;
You are a helper of the fatherless.(R)
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil person;(S)
call his wickedness into account
until nothing remains of it.[f](T)

16 The Lord is King forever and ever;(U)
the nations will perish from His land.(V)
17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;[g]
You will strengthen their hearts.
You will listen carefully,(W)
18 doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed
so that men of the earth may terrify them no more.(X)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 10:1 Some Hb mss, LXX connect Pss 9–10.
  2. Psalm 10:1 Together these 2 psalms form a partial acrostic.
  3. Psalm 10:3 Or he blesses the greedy
  4. Psalm 10:4 Lit wicked according to the height of his nose
  5. Psalm 10:5 Or prosperous
  6. Psalm 10:15 Lit account You do not find
  7. Psalm 10:17 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read afflicted