Psalms 10

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Why, Yahweh, do you keep so distant, stay hidden in times of trouble?	1 Why, LORD, do you stand at a distance and pay no heed to these troubled times?
2 In his pride the wicked hunts down the weak, who is caught in the schemes he devises.	2 Arrogant scoundrels pursue the poor; they trap them by their cunning schemes.
3 The wicked is proud of his inmost desires, by his blasphemies the grasping spurns Yahweh,	3 The wicked even boast of their greed; these robbers curse and scorn the LORD.
4 the wicked in his arrogance does not look very far; 'There is no God,' is his only thought.	4 In their insolence the wicked boast: "God doesn't care, doesn't even exist."
5 In al circumstances his step is assured; your judgements are above his head. His rivals? He scoffs atthem al .	5 Yet their affairs always succeed; they ignore your judgment on high; they sneer at all who oppose them.
6 He says in his heart, 'I shall never be shaken,' free of trouble himself,	6 They say in their hearts, "We will never fall; never will we see misfortune."
7 he wishes it on others. His speech is full of lies and browbeating, under his tongue lurk spite andwickedness.	7 Their mouths are full of oaths, violence, and lies; discord and evil are under their tongues.
8 In the undergrowth he lies in ambush, in his hiding-place he murders the innocent. He watches intentlyfor the downtrodden,	8 They wait in ambush near towns; their eyes watch for the helpless. to murder the innocent in secret.
9 lurking unseen like a lion in his lair, lurking to pounce on the poor; he pounces on him and drags himoff in his net.	9 They lurk in ambush like lions in a thicket, hide there to trap the poor, snare them and close the net.
10 He keeps watch, crouching down low, the poor wretch falls into his clutches;	10 The helpless are crushed, laid low; they fall into the power of the wicked,
11 he says in his heart, 'God forgets, he has turned away his face to avoid seeing the end.'	11 Who say in their hearts, "God pays no attention, shows no concern, never bothers to look."
12 Rise, Yahweh! God, raise your hand, do not forget the afflicted!	12 Rise up, LORD God! Raise your arm! Do not forget the poor!
13 Why should the wicked spurn God, assuring himself you wil never follow it up?	13 Why should the wicked scorn God, say in their hearts, "God doesn't care"?
14 You have seen for yourself the trouble and vexation, you watch so as to take it in hand. Theoppressed relies on you; you are the only recourse of the orphan.	14 But you do see; you do observe this misery and sorrow; you take the matter in hand. To you the helpless can entrust their cause; you are the defender of orphans.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil, seek out wickedness til there is none left to be found.	15 Break the arms of the wicked and depraved; make them account for their crimes; let none of them survive.
16 Yahweh is king for ever and ever, the heathen has vanished from his country.	16 The LORD is king forever; the nations have vanished from God's land.
17 Yahweh, you listen to the laments of the poor, you give them courage, you grant them a hearing,	17 You listen, LORD, to the needs of the poor; you encourage them and hear their prayers.
18 to give judgement for the orphaned and exploited, so that earthborn humans may strike terror nomore.	18 You win justice for the orphaned and oppressed; no one on earth will cause terror again.