Psalm 10–12

A Complaint About Evil People

10Lord, why are you so far away?

Why do you hide when there is trouble?

²Proudly the wicked chase down those who suffer.

Let them be caught in their own traps.

³They brag about the things they want.

They bless the greedy but hate the Lord.

⁴The wicked people are too proud.

They do not look for God;

there is no room for God in their thoughts.

⁵They always succeed.

They are far from keeping your laws;

they make fun of their enemies.

⁶They say to themselves, “Nothing bad will ever happen to me;

I will never be ruined.”

⁷Their mouths are full of curses, lies, and threats;

they use their tongues for sin and evil.

⁸They hide near the villages.

They look for innocent people to kill;

they watch in secret for the helpless.

⁹They wait in hiding like a lion.

They wait to catch poor people;

they catch the poor in nets.

¹⁰The poor are thrown down and crushed;

they are defeated because the others are stronger.

¹¹The wicked think, “God has forgotten us.

He doesn’t see what is happening.”

¹²Lord, rise up and punish the wicked.

Don’t forget those who need help.

¹³Why do wicked people hate God?

They say to themselves, “God won’t punish us.”

¹⁴Lord, surely you see these cruel and evil things;

look at them and do something.

People in trouble look to you for help.

You are the one who helps the orphans.

¹⁵Break the power of wicked people.

Punish them for the evil they have done.

¹⁶The Lord is King forever and ever.

Destroy from your land those nations that do not worship you.

¹⁷Lord, you have heard what the poor people want.

Do what they ask, and listen to them.

¹⁸Protect the orphans and put an end to suffering

so they will no longer be afraid of evil people.

Trust in the Lord

For the director of music. Of David.

11I trust in the Lord for protection.

So why do you say to me,

“Fly like a bird to your mountain.

²Like hunters, the wicked string their bows;

they set their arrows on the bowstrings.

They shoot from dark places

at those who are honest.

³When the foundations for good collapse,

what can good people do?”

⁴The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord sits on his throne in heaven.

He sees what people do;

he keeps his eye on them.

⁵The Lord tests those who do right,

but he hates the wicked and those who love to hurt others.

⁶He will send hot coals and burning sulfur on the wicked.

A whirlwind is what they will get.

⁷The Lord does what is right, and he loves justice,

so honest people will see his face.

A Prayer Against Liars

For the director of music. Upon the sheminith. A psalm of David.

12Save me, Lord, because the good people are all gone;

no true believers are left on earth.

²Everyone lies to his neighbors;

they say one thing and mean another.

³The Lord will stop those flattering lips

and cut off those bragging tongues.

⁴They say, “Our tongues will help us win.

We can say what we wish; no one is our master.”

⁵But the Lord says,

“I will now rise up,

because the poor are being hurt.

Because of the moans of the helpless,

I will give them the help they want.”

⁶The Lord’s words are pure,

like silver purified by fire,

like silver purified seven times over.

⁷Lord, you will keep us safe;

you will always protect us from such people.

⁸But the wicked are all around us;

everyone loves what is wrong.