A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked.
1 Why do You stand far away, Lord?
Why do You hide 10:1 Or Your eyesYourself in times of trouble?
2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the needy;
10:2 Or They will be caught Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of his soul’s desire,
And 10:3 Or blesses the greedy manthe greedy person curses and shows disrespect to the Lord.
4 The wicked, 10:4 Lit the height of his nosein his haughtiness, does not seek Him.
There is no God in all his schemes.
5 His ways succeed at all times;
Yet Your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
As for all his enemies, he snorts at them.
6 He says to himself, "I will not be moved;
10:6 Lit To Throughout the generations I will not be in adversity."
7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression;
Under his tongue is harm and injustice.
8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
He kills the innocent in the secret places;
His eyes 10:8 Lit lie in waitsurreptitiously watch for the 10:8 Or poorunfortunate.
9 He lurks in secret like a lion in his 10:9 Or thicketlair;
He lurks to catch the needy;
He catches the needy when he pulls him into his net.
10 Then he crushes the needy one, who cowers;
And 10:10 Or unhappyunfortunate people fall by his mighty power.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
He has hidden His face; He will never see it."
12 Arise, Lord; God, lift up Your hand.
Do not forget the humble.
13 Why has the wicked treated God disrespectfully?
He has said to himself, "10:13 I.e., as though God will ignore itYou will not require an account."
14 You have seen it, for You have looked at harm and provocation to 10:14 Lit put, givetake it into Your hand.
The 10:14 Or poorunfortunate commits himself to You;
You have been the helper of the orphan.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,
10:15 Or May You seek Seek out his wickedness until You find none.
16 The Lord is King forever and ever;
Nations have perished from His land.
17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their heart, You will make Your ear attentive
18 To 10:18 Lit judgevindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
So that mankind, which is of the earth, will no longer cause terror.