Psalms Chapter 10
From The Open Bible Project
10:1 Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
- (a) As soon as we enter into affliction, we think God should help us, but that is not always his due time.
10:2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
10:3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's cravings. He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh.
- (b) The wicked man rejoices in his own lust he boasts when he has that he would; he brags of his wit and wealth and blesses himself and thus blasphemes the Lord.
10:4 The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
10:5 His ways are prosperous at all times. He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
10:6 He says in his heart, "I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble."
- (c) The evil will not touch me, (Isaiah 28:15) or else he speaks thus because he never felt evil.
10:7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
10:8 He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
- (d) He shows that the wicked have many ways to hide their cruelty and therefore should be even more feared.
10:9 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.
10:10 The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
- (e) By the hypocrisy of them who have authority the poor are devoured.
10:11 He says in his heart, "God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it."
10:12 Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don't forget the helpless.
- (f) He calls to God for help, because wickedness is so far overgrown that God must help now or never.
10:13 Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, "God won't call me into account?"
- (g) Therefore you must punish their blasphemy.
10:14 But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
- (h) To judge between the right and the wrong.
10:15 Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
- (i) For you have utterly destroyed him.
10:16 Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
- (k) The hypocrites or such as live not after God’s law, will be destroyed.
10:17 Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
10:18 to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
- (l) God helps when man’s help ceases.
