1 Psalm 10 Do Not Forget the Afflicted Lamedh 10:1This poem continues the acrostic pattern started in Ps 9 Why do You stand afar off, O Yahweh?Why do You hide 10:1Or Your eyes Yourselfin times of distress?
2 Inhislofty pride the wicked 10:2Lit burn hotly pursues the afflicted; 10:2Or They will be caught Let them be caught in the thoughts which they have devised.
3 ¶For the wicked boasts of his soul’s desire,And 10:3Or blesses the greedy man the greedy man cursesandspurns Yahweh.
4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seekHim.All his 10:4 Or plots thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 ¶His ways 10:5 Lit are strong prosper at all times;Your judgments are on high, out of his sight;As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.
6 He says in his heart, “I will not be shaken; 10:6Lit To From generation to generation I will not be in adversity.”Pe
7 His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression;Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.Ayin
8 He sits in the 10:8Lit place of lying in wait places of the villageswhere onelies in wait;In the hiding places he kills the innocent;His eyes 10:8Lit lie hidden stealthily watch for the 10:8Or poor unfortunate.
9 He lies in wait in a hiding place as a lion in his 10:9 Or thicket lair;He lies in wait to catch the afflicted;He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.
10 He 10:10Or is crushed crouches, he 10:10Or is bowed down bows down,And the 10:10Or poor unfortunate fall 10:10Or into his claws by his mighty ones.
11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten;He has hidden His face; He will never see it.”Qoph
12 ¶Arise, O Yahweh; O God, lift up Your hand.Do not forget the afflicted.
13 Why has the wicked spurned God?He has said in his heart, “You will not requireit.”Resh
14 You have seenit, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to 10:14Lit give take it into Your hand.The 10:14Or poor unfortunate commitshimselfto You;You have been the helper of the orphan.Shin
15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, 10:15Or May You seek Seek out his wickedness until You find none.
16 ¶Yahweh is King forever and ever;Nations have perished from His land.Tav
17 O Yahweh, You have heard the desire of the 10:17 Or afflicted, cf. Ps 10:12 humble;You will strengthen their heart, You will cause Your ear to give heed
18 To give justice to the orphan and the oppressed,So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.