CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Psalms 10
Chapter 10 of 150
Chapter Overview
What happens in Psalms 10
This psalm continues the themes of Psalm 9, asking why God seems distant when the wicked oppress the poor. It ends with confidence that God will defend the helpless.
Scripture
Psalms 10
Why Does God Seem Far Away?
Study note
The psalmist asks God why he stands far off and hides during times of trouble.
1 Why do you seem so far away, Lord? Why do you seem to hide when trouble comes crashing in? Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2 Full of pride, the wicked hunt down the poor. Let them get caught in the very traps they designed. The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
The Ways of the Wicked
Study note
This section gives a detailed portrait of the wicked person who boasts, refuses to seek God, and lies in wait for the helpless.
3 The wicked person brags openly about what he craves. He cheers on the greedy and treats the Lord with contempt. For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
4 The wicked person is so puffed up that he never bothers looking for God. In everything he thinks about, God does not exist. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
5 Things always seem to go his way. Your judgments are so high above him that he cannot see them. He looks down on every enemy with a sneer. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6 He tells himself, "I am unshakable. Nothing bad will ever happen to me." He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
7 His mouth overflows with curses, lies, and threats. Underneath his tongue there is always trouble and harm waiting. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
8 He crouches in the shadows near villages, waiting to jump out at innocent people. His eyes are always scanning for someone who can't fight back. He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
9 He hides like a lion lying in tall grass. He waits to snatch up the poor. He grabs them and hauls them away in his net. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
10 He bends down low and springs, and helpless people collapse under his power. He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11 He convinces himself, "God isn't paying attention. He's turned his face away and will never notice what I'm doing." He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
God Hears the Helpless
Study note
The psalmist calls on God to act. God does see trouble and grief. He is the helper of orphans. The Lord is King forever.
12 Get up, Lord! Raise your hand and act, O God. Please do not forget people who have no one else to turn to. Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13 Why does the wicked person treat God like he doesn't matter? He believes in his heart, "You will never make me answer for this." Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
14 You have seen it; for you behold mischief and spite, to requite it with your hand: the poor commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15 Shatter the strength of the wicked and evil person. Hunt down every trace of wickedness until there is nothing left. Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
16 The Lord rules as King forever and ever. The wicked nations will completely vanish from his land. The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
17 Lord, you have listened to what humble people long for. You make their hearts strong. You bend your ear and listen to them, LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
18 He stands up for orphans and people who are crushed. He does this so that mere humans on earth will never bully anyone again. To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Key Themes
Themes in Psalms 10
The apparent distance of God during injusticeThe arrogance and cruelty of the wickedGod sees the helplessA cry for God to act
Apply This Today
Living Psalms 10
It is deeply frustrating when God seems far away while the wicked do as they please. But the psalm ends with a powerful truth: God does see, and He does care. He hears the desires of the afflicted and strengthens their hearts. Your cry for justice has been heard.
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