Psalm 10

Need for God’s Justice

<1>Lord,a B why do you stand so far away?a

Why do you hide in times of trouble?b

2In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims;

let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.a

3For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings;a

the one who is greedy cursesA and despises the Lord.b

4In all his scheming,

the wicked person arrogantly thinks,A

“There’s no accountability,

since there’s no God.”a

5His ways are always secure;A

your lofty judgments have no effect on him;B

he scoffs at all his adversaries.a

6He says to himself, “I will never be moved —

from generation to generation I will be without calamity.”a

7Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth;

trouble and malice are under his tongue.a

8He waits in ambush near settlements;a

he kills the innocent in secret places.

His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;b

9he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket.

He lurks in order to seize a victim;

he seizes a victim and drags him in his net.

10So he is oppressed and beaten down;

helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength.a

11He says to himself, “God has forgotten;

he hides his face and will never see.”a

12Rise up, Lord God! Lift up your hand.a

Do not forget the oppressed.b

13Why has the wicked person despised God?

He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.”a

14But you yourself have seen trouble and grief,

observing it in order to take the matter into your hands.a

The helpless one entrusts himself to you;

you are a helper of the fatherless.b

15Break the arm of the wicked, evil person,a

until you look for his wickedness,

but it can’t be found.b

16The Lord is King forever and ever;a

the nations will perish from his land.b

17Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble;

you will strengthen their hearts.

You will listen carefully,a

18doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed

so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more.a