Psalm 10

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.