Psalm 10
Purpose: To petition the divine king to the aid of the oppressed.
Content: “Rise up, YHWH! You've avenged the oppressed in the past but You are now standing at a distance.”
Message: YHWH has established his throne for justice (9:8b).
Author: David
Videos
Overview Video
Poetic Features Video
Exegetical Issues Video
Please note that we have decided to regard Psalms 9 and 10 as one Psalm. Therefore, while the verse-by-verse notes will cover each psalm individually, this at-a-glance section for both psalms will feature the combined visual.
Overview
Translation
Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 10.
- 1. YHWH, why do you stand at a distance?
- [Why] do you hide your eyes during troubling times?
- 2. The wicked pursue the afflicted in pride;
- may they be caught in the plans that they have devised!
- 3. For, the wicked has boasted about his soul’s cravings;
- whoever has blessed the one who works for unjust gain has treated YHWH with contempt.
- 4. In a way that suits his pride, the wicked does not seek.
- All his plans are, “There is no God.”
- 5. His ways persist every time;
- your rulings are far away from him—on high!
- All his foes—he jeers at them.
- 6. He has said to himself, “Throughout all generations,
- in which there is no trouble, I will not be shaken.”
- 7. His mouth is full of curses, deceit and oppression;
- hardship and destruction are underneath his tongue.
- 8. He sits in villages’ ambush places;
- he murders the innocent in the hiding places;
- his eyes spy for the wretch.
- 9. He lurks in the hiding place like a lion in its den;
- he lurks in order to seize the afflicted;
- he seizes the afflicted by drawing his net across.
- 10. He stoops, he crouches,
- and the wretches fall by his powerful claws.
- 11. He has said to himself, “God has been ignoring;
- he has been hiding his face; he has never noticed.”
- 12. Rise up, YHWH!
- Lift up your hand, God!
- Do not ignore the afflicted!
- 13. Why has the wicked treated God with contempt?
- He has said to himself, “You will not require a reckoning.”
- 14. You have noticed! For you see hardship and grief
- in order to place [them] into your care.
- The wretch leaves [them] with you.
- You have been one who helps the fatherless.
- 15. Break the arm of the one who is wicked and evil!
- May it seek its wickedness, but not find it.
- 16. YHWH is king forever.
- Nations perished from his land.
- 17. You have heard the desires of the afflicted, YHWH;
- you make their hearts confident; you make your ear attentive,
- 18. in order to execute justice for the fatherless and the oppressed,
- so that an earthly mortal will never
- terrify again.
The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.
For links to other translations of Psalm 10, click here.
Verse-by-Verse
Click the link to view all of Psalm 10 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.
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