Psalm 10

¹Why do you keep far away, O Lord? why are you not to be seen in times of trouble?

²The evil-doer in his pride is cruel to the poor; let him be taken by the tricks of his invention.

³For the evil-doer is lifted up because of the purpose of his heart, and he whose mind is fixed on wealth is turned away from the Lord, saying evil against him.

⁴The evil-doer in his pride says, God will not make a search. All his thoughts are, There is no God.

⁵His ways are ever fixed; your decisions are higher than he may see: as for his haters, they are as nothing to him.

⁶He has said in his heart, I will not be moved: through all generations I will never be in trouble.

⁷His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and false words: under his tongue are evil purposes and dark thoughts.

⁸He is waiting in the dark places of the towns: in the secret places he puts to death those who have done no wrong: his eyes are secretly turned against the poor.

⁹He keeps himself in a secret place like a lion in his hole, waiting to put his hands on the poor man, and pulling him into his net.

¹⁰The upright are crushed and made low, and the feeble are overcome by his strong ones.

¹¹He says in his heart, God has no memory of me: his face is turned away; he will never see it.

¹²Up! O Lord; let your hand be lifted: give thought to the poor.

¹³Why has the evil-doer a low opinion of God, saying in his heart, You will not make search for it?

¹⁴You have seen it; for your eyes are on sorrow and grief, to take it into your hand: the poor man puts his faith in you; you have been the helper of the child who has no father.