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.
[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.
