Psalm 10 Text

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Read along and listen to our audio recordings for Psalm 10. Choose between simple, unaffected audio recordings (in Hebrew or English), or a dramatized reading that takes into account our emotional and discourse analyses. You can also choose between a text-only view, or a view overlaid with our summary At-a-Glance, Expanded Paraphrase, or Participant Analysis tracking.

Simple Reading (Hebrew)
Forthcoming. 		Simple Reading (English)
Forthcoming.
Dramatic Reading (Hebrew)
Forthcoming. 		Dramatic Reading (English)
Forthcoming.

Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תַּעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָח֑וֹק 1a YHWH, why do you stand at a distance?
תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃ 1b [Why] do you hide your eyes during troubling times?
בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק עָנִ֑י 2a The wicked pursue the afflicted in pride;
יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ ׀ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ׃ 2b May they be caught in plans that they have devised!
כִּֽי־הִלֵּ֣ל רָ֭שָׁע עַל־תַּאֲוַ֣ת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ 3a For, the wicked has boasted about his soul’s cravings;
וּבֹצֵ֥עַ בֵּ֝רֵ֗ךְ נִ֘אֵ֥ץ ׀ יְהוָֽה׃ 3b whoever has blessed the one who works for unjust gain has treated YHWH with contempt.
רָשָׁ֗ע כְּגֹ֣בַהּ אַ֭פּוֹ בַּל־יִדְרֹ֑שׁ 4a In a way that suits his pride, the wicked does not seek
אֵ֥ין אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים כָּל־מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃ 4b All his plans are, "There is no God."
יָ֘חִ֤ילוּ דְרָכָ֨יו ׀ בְּכָל־עֵ֗ת 5a His ways persist every time;
מָר֣וֹם מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָ מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ 5b Your rulings are far away from him—on high!
כָּל־צ֝וֹרְרָ֗יו יָפִ֥יחַ בָּהֶֽם׃ 5c All of his foes—he jeers at them.
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ בַּל־אֶמּ֑וֹט 6a He has said to himself, "Throughout all generations
לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־בְרָֽע׃ 6b in which there is no trouble, I will not be shaken."
אָלָ֤ה פִּ֣יהוּ מָ֭לֵא וּמִרְמ֣וֹת וָתֹ֑ךְ 7a His mouth is full of curses, deceit and oppression;
תַּ֥חַת לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ עָמָ֥ל וָאָֽוֶן 7b hardship and destruction are underneath his tongue.
יֵשֵׁ֤ב ׀ בְּמַאְרַ֬ב חֲצֵרִ֗ים 8a He sits in villages' ambush places;
בַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִים יַהֲרֹ֣ג נָקִ֑י 8b he murders the innocent in the hiding places;
עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃ 8c his eyes spy for the wretch.
יֶאֱרֹ֬ב בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀ כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה בְסֻכֹּ֗ה 9a He lurks in the hiding place, like a lion in its den.
יֶ֭אֱרֹב לַחֲט֣וֹף עָנִ֑י 9b He lurks in order to seize the afflicted
יַחְטֹ֥ף עָ֝נִ֗י בְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹ בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ 9c he seizes the afflicted by drawing his net across.
יִדְכֶּ֥ה יָשֹׁ֑חַ 10a He stoops, he crouches,
וְנָפַ֥ל בַּ֝עֲצוּמָ֗יו חלכאים׃ 10b and the wretches fall by his powerful claws.
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ שָׁ֣כַֽח אֵ֑ל 11a He has said to himself, “God has been ignoring;
הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּ֝נָ֗יו בַּל־רָאָ֥ה לָנֶֽצַח׃ 11b he has been hiding his face; he has never noticed.”
קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה 12a Rise up, YHWH!
אֵ֭ל נְשָׂ֣א יָדֶ֑ךָ 12b Lift up your hand, God!
אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח עֲנָוִֽים׃ 12c Do not ignore the afflicted!
עַל־מֶ֤ה ׀ נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים 13a Why has the wicked treated God with contempt?
אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תִּדְרֹֽשׁ׃ 13b He has said to himself, “You will not require a reckoning.”
רָאִ֡תָה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה ׀ עָ֘מָ֤ל וָכַ֨עַס ׀ תַּבִּיט֮ 14a You have noticed! For you see hardship and grief
לָתֵ֪ת בְּיָ֫דֶ֥ךָ 14b in order to place [them] into your care.
עָ֭לֶיךָ יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֶ֑כָה 14c The wretch leaves [them] with you.
יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀ הָיִ֬יתָ עוֹזֵֽר׃ 14d You have been one who helps the fatherless.
שְׁ֭בֹר זְר֣וֹעַ רָשָׁ֑ע וָ֝רָ֗ע 15a Break the arm of the one who is wicked and evil!
תִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־רִשְׁע֥וֹ בַל־תִּמְצָֽא׃ 15b May it seek its wickedness, but not find it.
יְהוָ֣ה מֶ֭לֶךְ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד 16a YHWH is king forever.
אָבְד֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם מֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ׃ 16b Nations perished from his land.
תַּאֲוַ֬ת עֲנָוִ֣ים שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה 17a You have heard the desires of the afflicted, YHWH;
תָּכִ֥ין לִ֝בָּ֗ם תַּקְשִׁ֥יב אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ 17b you make their hearts confident; you make your ear attentive,
לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יָת֗וֹם וָ֫דָ֥ךְ 18a in order to execute justice for the fatherless and the oppressed,
בַּל־יוֹסִ֥יף ע֑וֹד 18b so that an earthly mortal will never
לַעֲרֹ֥ץ אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 18c terrify again.

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תַּעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָח֑וֹק 1a YHWH, why do you stand at a distance?
תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃ 1b [Why] do you hide your eyes during troubling times?
בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק עָנִ֑י 2a The wicked pursue the afflicted in pride;
יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ ׀ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ׃ 2b May they be caught in plans that they have devised!
כִּֽי־הִלֵּ֣ל רָ֭שָׁע עַל־תַּאֲוַ֣ת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ 3a For, the wicked has boasted about his soul’s cravings;
וּבֹצֵ֥עַ בֵּ֝רֵ֗ךְ נִ֘אֵ֥ץ ׀ יְהוָֽה׃ 3b whoever has blessed the one who works for unjust gain has treated YHWH with contempt.
רָשָׁ֗ע כְּגֹ֣בַהּ אַ֭פּוֹ בַּל־יִדְרֹ֑שׁ 4a In a way that suits his pride, the wicked does not seek
אֵ֥ין אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים כָּל־מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃ 4b All his plans are, "There is no God."
יָ֘חִ֤ילוּ דְרָכָ֨יו ׀ בְּכָל־עֵ֗ת 5a His ways persist every time;
מָר֣וֹם מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָ מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ 5b Your rulings are far away from him—on high!
כָּל־צ֝וֹרְרָ֗יו יָפִ֥יחַ בָּהֶֽם׃ 5c All of his foes—he jeers at them.
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ בַּל־אֶמּ֑וֹט 6a He has said to himself, "Throughout all generations
לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־בְרָֽע׃ 6b in which there is no trouble, I will not be shaken."
אָלָ֤ה פִּ֣יהוּ מָ֭לֵא וּמִרְמ֣וֹת וָתֹ֑ךְ 7a His mouth is full of curses, deceit and oppression;
תַּ֥חַת לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ עָמָ֥ל וָאָֽוֶן 7b hardship and destruction are underneath his tongue.
יֵשֵׁ֤ב ׀ בְּמַאְרַ֬ב חֲצֵרִ֗ים 8a He sits in villages' ambush places;
בַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִים יַהֲרֹ֣ג נָקִ֑י 8b he murders the innocent in the hiding places;
עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃ 8c his eyes spy for the wretch.
יֶאֱרֹ֬ב בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀ כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה בְסֻכֹּ֗ה 9a He lurks in the hiding place, like a lion in its den.
יֶ֭אֱרֹב לַחֲט֣וֹף עָנִ֑י 9b He lurks in order to seize the afflicted
יַחְטֹ֥ף עָ֝נִ֗י בְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹ בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ 9c he seizes the afflicted by drawing his net across.
יִדְכֶּ֥ה יָשֹׁ֑חַ 10a He stoops, he crouches,
וְנָפַ֥ל בַּ֝עֲצוּמָ֗יו חלכאים׃ 10b and the wretches fall by his powerful claws.
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ שָׁ֣כַֽח אֵ֑ל 11a He has said to himself, “God has been ignoring;
הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּ֝נָ֗יו בַּל־רָאָ֥ה לָנֶֽצַח׃ 11b he has been hiding his face; he has never noticed.”
קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה 12a Rise up, YHWH!
אֵ֭ל נְשָׂ֣א יָדֶ֑ךָ 12b Lift up your hand, God!
אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח עֲנָוִֽים׃ 12c Do not ignore the afflicted!
עַל־מֶ֤ה ׀ נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים 13a Why has the wicked treated God with contempt?
אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תִּדְרֹֽשׁ׃ 13b He has said to himself, “You will not require a reckoning.”
רָאִ֡תָה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה ׀ עָ֘מָ֤ל וָכַ֨עַס ׀ תַּבִּיט֮ 14a You have noticed! For you see hardship and grief
לָתֵ֪ת בְּיָ֫דֶ֥ךָ 14b in order to place [them] into your care.
עָ֭לֶיךָ יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֶ֑כָה 14c The wretch leaves [them] with you.
יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀ הָיִ֬יתָ עוֹזֵֽר׃ 14d You have been one who helps the fatherless.
שְׁ֭בֹר זְר֣וֹעַ רָשָׁ֑ע וָ֝רָ֗ע 15a Break the arm of the one who is wicked and evil!
תִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־רִשְׁע֥וֹ בַל־תִּמְצָֽא׃ 15b May it seek its wickedness, but not find it.
יְהוָ֣ה מֶ֭לֶךְ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד 16a YHWH is king forever.
אָבְד֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם מֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ׃ 16b Nations perished from his land.
תַּאֲוַ֬ת עֲנָוִ֣ים שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה 17a You have heard the desires of the afflicted, YHWH;
תָּכִ֥ין לִ֝בָּ֗ם תַּקְשִׁ֥יב אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ 17b you make their hearts confident; you make your ear attentive,
לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יָת֗וֹם וָ֫דָ֥ךְ 18a in order to execute justice for the fatherless and the oppressed,
בַּל־יוֹסִ֥יף ע֑וֹד 18b so that an earthly mortal will never
לַעֲרֹ֥ץ אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 18c terrify again.

Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Expanded Paraphrase
לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תַּעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָח֑וֹק תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃ 1 O YHWH, why do You stand at a distance? Why do You hide (Your eyes) during your people's troubling times? You are a covenant God and should not be hiding Yourself when Your covenant people are in trouble!
בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק עָנִ֑י יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ ׀ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ׃ 2 The wicked pursue the afflicted who are in need of Your intervention in pride. You repay those who 'practice arrogance' [Psa 31:24] and divine repayment often involves the wickeds' plots coming back 'on their own heads' [e.g., Ps. 7:16–17] May they be caught in the plans that they have devised!
כִּֽי־הִלֵּ֣ל רָ֭שָׁע עַל־תַּאֲוַ֣ת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וּבֹצֵ֥עַ בֵּ֝רֵ֗ךְ נִ֘אֵ֥ץ ׀ יְהוָֽה׃ 3 For, the wicked has boasted about his soul’s cravings for unjust gain; the wicked bless those who work for unjust gain, and whoever has blessed the one who works for unjust gain has treated YHWH with contempt. These wicked people therefore treat you, O Lord, with contempt [v. 13a].
רָשָׁ֗ע כְּגֹ֣בַהּ אַ֭פּוֹ בַּל־יִדְרֹ֑שׁ אֵ֥ין אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים כָּל־מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃ 4 In a way that suits his pride, the wicked does not seek God, as all Israelites should do [Deut 4:29]. All his plans are, “There is no God”. Instead, these wicked Israelites ignore your laws about the poor as if you did not exist.
יָ֘חִ֤ילוּ דְרָכָ֨יו ׀ בְּכָל־עֵ֗ת מָר֣וֹם מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָ מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ כָּל־צ֝וֹרְרָ֗יו יָפִ֥יחַ בָּהֶֽם׃ 5 His ways persist every time because nothing stands in his way. Your rulings are far away from him—on high and therefore do not affect him. All his foes—he jeers at them because he does not fear them and overcomes them.
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ בַּל־אֶמּ֑וֹט לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־בְרָֽע׃ 6 Since nothing stands in his way, He has said to himself, ‘throughout all generations, in which there is no trouble, I will not be shaken.’ 'Nothing will harm me physically or stop me from getting what I want.' You, O YHWH, are the source of stability for the righteous yet this type of wicked Israelite now relies on his prosperity for stability.
אָלָ֤ה פִּ֣יהוּ מָ֭לֵא וּמִרְמ֣וֹת וָתֹ֑ךְ תַּ֥חַת לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ עָמָ֥ל וָאָֽוֶן 7 His mouth is full of curses, deceit and oppression. Hardship and destruction are underneath his tongue. He speaks all of these things to anyone who would try to stand in his way.
יֵשֵׁ֤ב ׀ בְּמַאְרַ֬ב חֲצֵרִ֗ים בַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִים יַהֲרֹ֣ג נָקִ֑י עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃ 8 Israelite children are taught to not ambush others for unjust gain, yet this sort of wicked Israelite oppresses the poor for profit. One way he oppresses the poor is as follows: He sits in villages’ ambush places lying in wait for the innocent person. Then, He murders the innocent in the hiding places. As he lies in wait, His eyes spy for the wretch.
יֶאֱרֹ֬ב בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀ כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה בְסֻכֹּ֗ה יֶ֭אֱרֹב לַחֲט֣וֹף עָנִ֑י יַחְטֹ֥ף עָ֝נִ֗י בְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹ בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ 9 Corrupt Israelites may be described as dangerous animals. As for this particular kind 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) like a hunter capturing a helpless animal.
יִדְכֶּ֥ה יָשֹׁ֑חַ וְנָפַ֥ל בַּ֝עֲצוּמָ֗יו חלכאים׃ 10 Like a lion He stoops, crouches, and the wretches fall by his mighty (claws). The poor are completely helpless. These wicked people are as strong as lions and as smart as hunters and so the afflicted can neither outsmart them nor overpower them.
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ שָׁ֣כַֽח אֵ֑ל הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּ֝נָ֗יו בַּל־רָאָ֥ה לָנֶֽצַח׃ 11 In the midst of all this, You appear to be absent, YHWH [cf.v. 1]. But it appears this way because you are patient with your people and, as King, you sovereignly rule as you see fit. But the wicked mistakes Your patience for apathy. He has said to himself, ‘God has been ignoring the afflicted; He has been hiding his face; He has never noticed the afflicted.’
קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֭ל נְשָׂ֣א יָדֶ֑ךָ אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח עֲנָוִֽים׃ 12 Rise up and take action, YHWH! Lift up Your hand and act with hostility against [2 Sam 18:28; 20:21] the wicked , O God! Do not ignore the afflicted! Because You are a King, and it is the duty of a King to defend the poor.
עַל־מֶ֤ה ׀ נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תִּדְרֹֽשׁ׃ 13 Why has the wicked treated God with contempt by craving and pursuing unjust gain? He has said to himself, ‘You will not require a reckoning,’ because all of his ways persist [v. 5a].
רָאִ֡תָה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה ׀ עָ֘מָ֤ל וָכַ֨עַס ׀ תַּבִּיט֮ לָתֵ֪ת בְּיָ֫דֶ֥ךָ עָ֭לֶיךָ יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֶ֑כָה יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀ הָיִ֬יתָ עוֹזֵֽר׃ 14 You have noticed the afflicted!For You promised to be a help to the fatherless and the oppressed are protected by Your law. You see hardship and grief in order to place (them) into Your care. The wretch leaves (them) with You, in Your care because they know that You have promised to help them. You have been one who helps the fatherless.
שְׁ֭בֹר זְר֣וֹעַ רָשָׁ֑ע וָ֝רָ֗ע תִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־רִשְׁע֥וֹ בַל־תִּמְצָֽא׃ 15 The arm represents power and ability. Break the arm of one who is wicked and evil! May it seek its wickedness, (but) not find (it). May his ability to oppress be completely incapacitated.
יְהוָ֣ה מֶ֭לֶךְ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד אָבְד֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם מֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ׃ 16 YHWH is King forever. And as King, YHWH sovereignly orders what takes place in his land and he will perform his obligations to protect the poor. Nations perished from His land when YHWH allowed Israel to conquer it. The nations that inhabited the land were an abomination to it. But they were allowed to stay until YHWH decided it was enough. Likewise, these wicked Israelites are starting to resemble those godless nations and it is only a matter of time before Your patience runs out and You rise up in judgement. For this reason, the afflicted can be confident that...
תַּאֲוַ֬ת עֲנָוִ֣ים שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה תָּכִ֥ין לִ֝בָּ֗ם תַּקְשִׁ֥יב אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ 17 You have heard the desires of the afflicted, YHWH that the wicked stop oppressing them. You make their hearts confident that their desire will be fulfilled. You make Your ear attentive to their cries for help,
לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יָת֗וֹם וָ֫דָ֥ךְ בַּל־יוֹסִ֥יף ע֑וֹד לַעֲרֹ֥ץ אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 18 in order to execute justice for the fatherless and the oppressed, so that an earthly mortal will never terrify the fatherless and oppressed again in defiance against God—who is in heaven. Only He is to be feared [Isa 8:13].

Participant Tracking Text Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? Our full analysis can be found in the Participant Analysis layer.

This resource is forthcoming.