The Psalms: Psalm 10

Psalm 10  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 4
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Psalm 10
1 Wherefore, O Jehovah, standest thou afar off? hidest thou thyself in times of distress?
2 In the pride of the wicked he doth hotly pursue the poor; they are taken in the very devices they devised.
3 For the wicked [man] boasteth of1 his soul's desire; he blesseth the plunderer, he despiseth Jehovah.
4 The wicked [man] according to the pride of his anger seeketh not; all his thoughts [are], There is no God.
5 His ways are firm at every time; thy judgments [are] a height away from him; all his adversaries—he puffeth at them.
6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved; to generation and generation [I am] he which shall not [be] in any evil.
7 Of cursing his mouth is full, and of deceits and violence; under his tongue [is] mischief and iniquity.
8 He sitteth in the place of ambush of the villages; in the lurking places he slayeth the innocent; his eyes lurk for the wretched.
9 He lieth in wait in the secret place like a lion in his covert; he lieth in wait to catch the afflicted; he catcheth the afflicted when he draweth him into his net.
10 And he is crushed, he is brought low, the wretched hath fallen by his might.
11 He hath said in his heart, God2 hath forgotten, he hath hidden his face; he will not see forever.
12 Arise, O Jehovah; O God, lift up thy hand; forget not the afflicted.
13 Wherefore hath the wicked [man] despised God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require3
14 Thou hast seen; thou beholdest mischief and provocation to requite it with thy hand;4 the wretched committeth himself to thee; [of] the orphan thou hast been the helper.
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked [man] and the evil [man]: thou shall search out his wickedness, [till] thou shalt find nothing.
16 Jehovah is king forever and ever; the Gentiles have perished from his land.
17 The desire of the afflicted thou hast heard, O Jehovah; thou strengthenest their heart, thou causest thine ear to hearken,
18 To judge the orphan and the oppressed: he shall continue no more to terrify man5 from the earth.
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1. Or, praiseth.
2. EL
3. Or, inquire, search into.
4. Or, Thou beholdest trouble and grief to place [it] in thy hand.
5. Frail man