Psalms 10:1-18

  • Jehovah, the helper of the helpless

    • The wicked boast: “There is no God” (4)

    • The helpless turn to Jehovah (14)

    • “Jehovah is King forever” (16)

ל [Lamed] 10  Why, O Jehovah, do you stand at a distance? Why do you hide yourself in times of distress?+   The wicked one arrogantly pursues the helpless one,+But he will be caught in the schemes he devises.+   For the wicked one boasts about his selfish desires*+And blesses the greedy one;*נ [Nun]He disrespects Jehovah.   In his haughtiness, the wicked man makes no investigation;All his thoughts are: “There is no God.”+   His ways keep prospering,+But your judgments are beyond his understanding;+He scoffs* at all his adversaries.   He says in his heart: “I will never be shaken;*For generation after generationI will never see calamity.”+ פ [Pe]   His mouth is full of curses, lies, and threats;+Under his tongue are trouble and injury.+   He waits in ambush near the settlements;From his hiding place he kills an innocent one.+ ע [Ayin] His eyes are watching for an unfortunate victim.+   He waits in his hiding place like a lion in its lair.*+ He waits to seize the helpless one. He seizes the helpless one when he pulls his net shut.+ 10  The victim is crushed and brought down;The unfortunate ones fall into his clutches.* 11  He says in his heart: “God has forgotten.+ He has turned away his face. He never notices.”+ ק [Qoph] 12  Rise up, O Jehovah.+ O God, lift up your hand.+ Do not forget the helpless ones.+ 13  Why has the wicked one disrespected God? He says in his heart: “You will not hold me accountable.” ר [Resh] 14  But you do see trouble and distress. You look on and take matters in hand.+ To you the unfortunate victim turns;+You are the helper for the fatherless child.*+ ש [Shin] 15  Break the arm of the wicked and evil man,+So that when you search for his wickedness,You will find it no more. 16  Jehovah is King forever and ever.+ The nations have perished from the earth.+ ת [Taw] 17  But you will hear the request of the meek, O Jehovah.+ You will make their hearts firm+ and pay close attention to them.+ 18  You will render justice to the fatherless and to those who are crushed,+So that mortal man of the earth may no longer make them afraid.+

Footnotes

Or “the desire of his soul.”
Or possibly, “The greedy one blesses himself.”
Or “puffs.”
Or “will never stagger (totter).”
Or “thicket.”
Or “strong claws.”
Or “the orphan.”