Psalm 10:1-18
ל [Lamed]
10 Why, O Jehovah, do you stand at a distance?
Why do you hide yourself in times of distress?+
2 The wicked one arrogantly pursues the helpless one,+But he will be caught in the schemes he devises.+
3 For the wicked one boasts about his selfish desires*+And blesses the greedy one;*נ [Nun]He disrespects Jehovah.
4 In his haughtiness, the wicked man makes no investigation;All his thoughts are: “There is no God.”+
5 His ways keep prospering,+But your judgments are beyond his understanding;+He scoffs* at all his adversaries.
6 He says in his heart: “I will never be shaken;*For generation after generationI will never see calamity.”+
פ [Pe]
7 His mouth is full of curses, lies, and threats;+Under his tongue are trouble and injury.+
8 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.+
9 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.”
