10
1 Why, LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide in times of distress?
2 In his pride the wicked man pursues the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
3 For the wicked man boasts of his heart’s desire, and the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.
4 In his haughtiness the wicked man does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are high above his sight.
He snorts at all his foes.
6 He says in his heart, “I will not be shaken;
through all generations I will never face adversity.”
7 His mouth is full of curses, deceit, and oppression;
trouble and evil lie beneath his tongue.
8 He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch secretly for the helpless.
9 He lurks in hiding like a lion in its lair;
he lies in wait to seize the poor.
He seizes the poor by drawing them into his net.
10 He crouches and lies low, and the helpless fall under his might.
11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten;
he has hidden his face and will never see.”
12 Rise up, LORD!
God, lift your hand!
Do not forget the afflicted.
13 Why does the wicked man spurn God and say in his heart, “You will not call me to account”?
14 But you have seen;
you observe trouble and grief to take them in hand.
The helpless entrust themselves to you;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call his wickedness to account until none can be found.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever;
the nations have perished from his land.
17 You have heard the desire of the humble, LORD;
you strengthen their heart and incline your ear,
18 to bring justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mortals of the earth may strike terror no more.