Psalm 10
BSB
The Perils of the Pilgrim
1Why, O LORD, do You stand far off?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?
2In pride the wicked pursue the needy;
let them be caught in the schemes they devise.
3For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him;
in all his schemes there is no God.
5He is secure in his ways at all times;
Your lofty judgments are far from him;
he sneers at all his foes.
6He says to himself, “I will not be moved;
from age to age I am free of distress.”
7His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence;
trouble and malice are under his tongue.
8He lies in wait near the villages;
in ambush he slays the innocent;
his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
9He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket;
he lurks to seize the oppressed;
he catches the lowly in his net.
10They are crushed and beaten down;
the hapless fall prey to his strength.
11He says to himself, “God has forgotten;
He hides His face and never sees.”
12Arise, O LORD! Lift up Your hand, O God!
Do not forget the helpless.
13Why has the wicked man renounced God?
He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
14But You have regarded trouble and grief;
You see to repay it by Your hand.
The victim entrusts himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.
15Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call him to account for his wickedness
until none is left to be found.
16The LORD is King forever and ever;
the nations perish from His land.
17You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their hearts.
You will incline Your ear,
18to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed,
that the men of the earth
may strike terror no more.
Introduction
Psalms 10
The Septuagint translation joins this psalm with the ninth, and makes them but one; but the Hebrew makes it a distinct psalm, and the scope and style are certainly different. In this psalm, I. David complains of the wickedness of the wicked, describes the dreadful pitch of impiety at which they had arrived (to the great dishonour of God and the prejudice of his church and people), and notices the delay of God's appearing against them (Psa 10:1-11). II. He prays to God to appear against them for the relief of his people and comforts himself with hopes that he would do so in due time (Psa 10:12-18).
Cross-references: Ps 10:1 · Ps 10:12