Psalm 10:1-18 - A Prayer For God To Throw Down The Wicked

¹ Why do you stand far away, LORD? Why do you hide in times of distress? ² The wicked one arrogantly pursues the afflicted, who are trapped in the schemes he devises.

³ For the wicked one boasts about his own desire; he blesses the greedy and despises the LORD. ⁴ With haughty arrogance, the wicked thinks, "God will not seek justice." He always presumes "There is no God." ⁵ Their ways always seem prosperous. Your judgments are on high, far away from them. They scoff at all their enemies. ⁶ They say to themselves, "We will not be moved throughout all time, and we will not experience adversity." ⁷ Their mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression, their tongues spread trouble and iniquity. ⁸ They wait in ambush in the villages, they kill the innocent in secret. ⁹ Their eyes secretly watch the helpless, lying in wait like a lion in his den. They lie in wait to catch the afflicted. They catch the afflicted when they pull him into their net. ¹⁰ The victim is crushed, and he sinks down; the helpless fall by their might. ¹¹ The wicked say to themselves, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."

¹² Rise up, LORD! Raise your hand, God. Don't forget the afflicted! ¹³ Why do the wicked despise God and say to themselves, "God will not seek justice."? ¹⁴ But you do see! You take note of trouble and grief in order to take the matter into your own hand. The helpless one commits himself to you; you have been the orphan's helper. ¹⁵ Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; so that when you seek out his wickedness you will find it no more.

¹⁶ The LORD is king forever and ever; nations will perish from his land. ¹⁷ LORD, you heard the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen them, you will listen carefully, ¹⁸ to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that men of the earth may cause terror no more. To the Director: A Davidic Song.