Psalm 10

¹ WHY standest thou so far off, O Lord * and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble?

² The ungodly for his own lust doth persecute the poor * let them be taken in the crafty wiliness that they have imagined.

³ For the ungodly hath made boast of his own heart's desire * and speaketh good of the covetous, whom God abhorreth.

⁴ The ungodly is so proud, that he careth not for God ; neither is God in all his thoughts.

⁵ His ways are alway grievous * thy judgements are far above out of his sight, and therefore defieth he all his enemies.

⁶ For he hath said in his heart, Tush, I shall never be cast down * there shall no harm happen unto me.

⁷ His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and fraud * under his tongue is ungodliness and vanity.

⁸ He sitteth lurking in the thievish corners of the streets * and privily in his lurking dens doth he murder the innocent; his eyes are set against the poor.

⁹ For he lieth waiting secretly, even as a lion lurketh he in his den * that he may ravish the poor.

¹⁰ He doth ravish the poor * when he getteth him into his net.

¹¹ He falleth down, and humbleth himself * that the congregation of the poor may fall into the hands of his captains.

¹² He hath said in his heart, Tush, God hath forgotten * he hideth away his face, and he will never see it.

¹³ Arise, O Lord God, and lift up thine hand * forget not the poor.

¹⁴ Wherefore should the wicked blaspheme God * while he doth say in his heart, Tush, thou God carest not for it.

¹⁵ Surely thou hast seen it * for thou beholdest ungodliness and wrong.

¹⁶ That thou mayest take the matter into thy hand * the poor committeth himself unto thee; for thou art the helper of the friendless.

¹⁷ Break thou the power of the ungodly and malicious * take away his ungodliness, and thou shalt find none.

¹⁸ The Lord is King for ever and ever * and the heathen are perished out of the land.

¹⁹ Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the poor * thou preparest their heart, and thine ear hearkeneth thereto;

²⁰ To help the fatherless and poor unto their right * that the man of the earth be no more exalted against them.