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10 Why do you stand far off, Yahweh?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak.
    They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings.
    He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
The wicked, in the pride of his face,
    has no room in his thoughts for God.
His ways are prosperous at all times.
    He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight.
As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
    He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken.
    For generations I shall have no trouble.”
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression.
    Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
He lies in wait near the villages.
    From ambushes, he murders the innocent.
His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush.
    He lies in wait to catch the helpless.
    He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.
10 The helpless are crushed.
    They collapse.
    They fall under his strength.
11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten.
    He hides his face.
    He will never see it.”

12 Arise, Yahweh!
    God, lift up your hand!
    Don’t forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked person condemn God,
    and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?
14 But you do see trouble and grief.
    You consider it to take it into your hand.
    You help the victim and the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked.
    As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
16 Yahweh is King forever and ever!
    The nations will perish out of his land.
17 Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble.
    You will prepare their heart.
    You will cause your ear to hear,
18     to judge the fatherless and the oppressed,
    that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

A Complaint About Evil People

10 Lord, why ·are you [L do you stand] so far away?
    Why do you hide ·when there is [L in times of] ·trouble [distress]?
Proudly the wicked ·chase down [hunt down; persecute] ·those who suffer [or the poor].
    Let them be caught in ·their own traps [L the schemes they have thought up].
They ·brag [boast] about the ·things they want [L cravings/desires of their soul].
    ·They bless the greedy but [or The greedy curse and] ·hate [reject] the Lord.
The wicked people are too proud.
    They do not ·look for [pursue; seek] God;
    there is no room for God in their thoughts.
·They always succeed [L Their ways are always successful/prosperous].
    ·They are far from keeping your laws [L Your judgments are above their grasp];
    they ·make fun of [sneer/scoff at] their enemies.
They say ·to themselves [L in their hearts], “·Nothing bad will ever happen to me [L I will never be moved/shaken];
    I will never ·be ruined [have trouble/be harmed].”
Their mouths are full of curses, ·lies [deceit], and ·threats [violence];
    ·they use their tongues for [L under their tongues is] ·sin [trouble] and evil [Rom. 3:14].
They ·hide [L lie in ambush] near the villages.
    They ·look for innocent people to kill [murder the innocent; Prov. 1:11];
    ·they watch in secret [L their eyes look intently] for the helpless.
They ·wait in hiding [L lie in ambush in a covert/cover] like a lion.
    They ·wait [L lie] to catch poor people;
    they catch the poor in nets and drag them off.
10 The poor are crushed and thrown down;
    they ·are defeated [L fall] ·because the others are stronger [L by their might].
11 The wicked ·think [L say in their hearts], “God has forgotten us.
    He ·doesn’t see what is happening [L has hidden his face and does not see anything].”

12 Lord, rise up and ·punish the wicked [L raise your hand, God].
    Don’t forget those who ·need help [are oppressed].
13 Why do wicked people ·hate [despise] God?
    They say ·to themselves [L in their hearts], “·God won’t punish us [L You will not pursue].”
14 Lord, surely you see these ·cruel [troublesome] and ·evil [grievous] things;
    look at them and ·do something [L put it in your hands].
·People in trouble [L The helpless] ·look to you for help [entrust/abandon themselves to your hands].
    You are the one who helps the orphans.
15 Break the ·power [L hand] of wicked and evil people.
    ·Punish them for the evil they have done [L You will seek out their wickedness until you find none].

16 The Lord is King forever and ever.
    ·Destroy from your land those nations [L The nations will perish from his land].
17 Lord, you have heard ·what the poor people want [the desires of the poor].
    ·Do what they ask [L You will strengthen their heart], and ·listen to them [L you will cause your ear to pay attention].
18 ·Protect [L Bring justice to] the orphans and ·put an end to suffering [L the oppressed]
    so ·they will no longer be afraid of evil people [L those from the earth may terrify no more].