1 1 Psalms 9 and 10 may have been originally a single acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Septuagint they constitute one psalm. Why, O LORD , do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? |
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises. |
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD . |
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God. |
5 His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies. |
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;
I'll always be happy and never have trouble." |
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue. |
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims. |
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. |
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength. |
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees." |
12 Arise, LORD ! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless. |
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"? |
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless. |
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out. |
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land. |
17 You hear, O LORD , the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, |
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. |
