Psalm 10

Montgomery

Why is it, O Lord, that so far off you stand?
Why do you hide yourself when troubles arise?
The wicked, while boasting, the weak how they hound,
They’re caught in the schemes that the wicked devise.

He boasts of the cravings that lurk in his heart;
He blesses the greedy, the Lord how he mocks.
With pride filled, the wicked to seek him won't start;
In all of his thoughts there is no room for God.

His ways are all prosperous; he looks haughtily.
Your laws are far from him; he sneers at each foe.
He says to himself, There’s nought that will shake me;
I’ll always be glad and no trouble I’ll know.

His mouth's full of curses, of lies and of threats;
Beneath his tongue, trouble and evil they lay.
Near villages, watching, he secretly waits
To ambush and slaughter his innocent prey.

A lion, he lies there, the weak are his haul;
He catches the weak, drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, by his strength they all fall.
He says to himself, God can’t see, he’ll forget.

Arise, Lord! Lift your hand. The helpless recall.
O God, why do sinners mock so readily?
Why say to himself, To account he won't call?
But, O God, their trouble and grief you do see.

You weigh it all up and you take it in hand.
The victim commits himself only to you;
Those who have no fathers, you help them to stand.
The arm of the sinner, the evil, break, do.

Call him now to explain his great wickedness,
Yes, all of the things that he'd secretly planned.
The Lord's King forever and ever, no less;
The nations will all soon expire from his land.

You hear, O Lord, what the afflicted request;
You comfort them and when they cry, yes, you hear,
Defending the orphan and he who's oppressed,
So that man, who’s of earth, may frighten no more.