Psalm 10 Verse-by-Verse

Back to Psalm 10 overview page.

Welcome to the DRAFT Verse-by-Verse Notes for Psalm 10!

The Verse-by-Verse Notes present scholarly, exegetical materials (from all layers of analysis) in a verse-by-verse format. They often present alternative interpretive options and justification for a preferred interpretation. The Verse-by-Verse Notes are aimed at consultant-level users.

The discussion of each verse of this psalm includes the following items.

1. A link to the part of the overview video where the verse in question is discussed.
2. The verse in Hebrew and English.
3. An expanded paraphrase of the verse.
4. A grammatical diagram of the verse, which includes glosses for each word and phrase.
5. A series of notes on the verse, which contain information pertaining to the interpretation of the psalm (e.g., meaning of words and phrases, poetic features, difficult grammatical constructions, etc.).

Persecution of the Poor (vv. 1-11)

vv. 1-6

v. 1

Watch the Overview video on v. 1.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
1a	לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תַּעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָח֑וֹק	YHWH, why do you stand at a distance?
1b	תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃	[Why] do you hide your eyes during troubling times?

Expanded Paraphrase

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!)

Grammatical Diagram

v. 2

Watch the Overview video on v. 2.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
2a	בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק עָנִ֑י	The wicked pursue the afflicted in pride;
2b	יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ ׀ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ׃	may they be caught in the plans that they have devised!

Expanded Paraphrase

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!

Grammatical Diagram

v. 3

Watch the Overview video on v. 3.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
3a	כִּֽי־הִלֵּ֣ל רָ֭שָׁע עַל־תַּאֲוַ֣ת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ	For, the wicked has boasted about his soul’s cravings;
3b	וּבֹצֵ֥עַ בֵּ֝רֵ֗ךְ נִ֘אֵ֥ץ ׀ יְהוָֽה׃	whoever has blessed the one who works for unjust gain has treated YHWH with contempt.

Expanded Paraphrase

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, Lord, with contempt [v. 13a])

Grammatical Diagram

v. 4

Watch the Overview video on v. 4.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
4a	רָשָׁ֗ע כְּגֹ֣בַהּ אַ֭פּוֹ בַּל־יִדְרֹ֑שׁ	In a way that suits his pride, the wicked does not seek.
4b	אֵ֥ין אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים כָּל־מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃	All his plans are, “There is no God.”

Expanded Paraphrase

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).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 5

Watch the Overview video on v. 5.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
5a	יָ֘חִ֤ילוּ דְרָכָ֨יו ׀ בְּכָל־עֵ֗ת	His ways persist every time;
5b	מָר֣וֹם מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָ מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ	your rulings are far away from him—on high!
5c	כָּל־צ֝וֹרְרָ֗יו יָפִ֥יחַ בָּהֶֽם׃	All his foes—he jeers at them.

Expanded Paraphrase

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).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 6

Watch the Overview video on v. 6.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
6a-b	אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ בַּל־אֶמּ֑וֹט לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־בְרָֽע׃	He has said to himself, “Throughout all generations, in which there is no trouble, I will not be shaken".

Expanded Paraphrase

(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, YHWH, are the source of stability for the righteous) (yet this type of wicked Israelite now relies on his prosperity for stability).

Grammatical Diagram

vv. 7-11

v. 7

Watch the Overview video on v. 7.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
7a	אָלָ֤ה פִּ֣יהוּ מָ֭לֵא וּמִרְמ֣וֹת וָתֹ֑ךְ	His mouth is full of curses, deceit and oppression;
7b	תַּ֥חַת לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ עָמָ֥ל וָאָֽוֶן׃	hardship and destruction are underneath his tongue.

Expanded Paraphrase

His mouth is full of curses, deceit and oppression. (Words that cause) hardship and destruction are underneath his tongue. (He speaks all of these things to anyone who would try to stand in his way).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 8

Watch the Overview video on v. 8.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
8a	יֵשֵׁ֤ב ׀ בְּמַאְרַ֬ב חֲצֵרִ֗ים	He sits in villages’ ambush places;
8b	בַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִים יַהֲרֹ֣ג נָקִ֑י	he murders the innocent in the hiding places;
8c	עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃	his eyes spy for the wretch.

Expanded Paraphrase

(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.

Grammatical Diagram

v. 9

Watch the Overview video on v. 9.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
9a	יֶאֱרֹ֬ב בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀ כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה בְסֻכֹּ֗ה	He lurks in the hiding place like a lion in its den;
9b	יֶ֭אֱרֹב לַחֲט֣וֹף עָנִ֑י	he lurks in order to seize the afflicted;
9c	יַחְטֹ֥ף עָ֝נִ֗י בְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹ בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃	he seizes the afflicted by drawing his net across.

Expanded Paraphrase

(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).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 10

Watch the Overview video on v. 10.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
10a	יִדְכֶּ֥ה יָשֹׁ֑חַ וְנָפַ֥ל	He stoops, he crouches,
10b	בַּ֝עֲצוּמָ֗יו חלכאים׃	and the wretches fall by his powerful claws.

Expanded Paraphrase

(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.)

Grammatical Diagram

v. 11

Watch the Overview video on v. 11.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
11a	אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ שָׁ֣כַֽח אֵ֑ל	He has said to himself, “God has been ignoring;
11b	הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּ֝נָ֗יו בַּל־רָאָ֥ה לָנֶֽצַח׃	he has been hiding his face; he has never noticed.”

Expanded Paraphrase

(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 in his heart, “God has been ignoring (the afflicted); he has been hiding his face; he has never noticed (the afflicted).”

Grammatical Diagram

Proclamation of the King (vv. 12-18)

vv. 12-14

v. 12

Watch the Overview video on v. 12.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
12a	קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה	Rise up, YHWH!
12b	אֵ֭ל נְשָׂ֣א יָדֶ֑ךָ	Lift up your hand, God!
12c	אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח עניים עֲנָוִֽים׃	Do not ignore the afflicted!

Expanded Paraphrase

Rise up (and take action), YHWH! Lift up your hand (and act with hostility against [2 Sam 18:28; 20:21]) (the wicked), God! Do not ignore the afflicted! (Because you are a king,) (and it is the duty of a king to defend the poor).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 13

Watch the Overview video on v. 13.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
13a	עַל־מֶ֤ה ׀ נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑י	Why has the wicked treated God with contempt?
13b	אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תִּדְרֹֽשׁ׃	He has said to himself, “You will not require a reckoning.”

Expanded Paraphrase

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]).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 14

Watch the Overview video on v. 14.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
14a	רָאִ֡תָה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה ׀ עָ֘מָ֤ל וָכַ֨עַס ׀ תַּבִּיט֮	You have noticed! For you see hardship and grief
14b	לָתֵ֪ת בְּיָ֫דֶ֥ךָ	in order to place [them] into your care.
14c	עָ֭לֶיךָ יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֶ֑כָה	The wretch leaves [them] with you.
14d	יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀ הָיִ֬יתָ עוֹזֵֽר׃	You have been one who helps the fatherless.

Expanded Paraphrase

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 hand. The wretch leaves [them] with you(, in your care) (because they know that you have promised to help them). You have been a helper of the fatherless.

Grammatical Diagram

vv. 15-18

v. 15

Watch the Overview video on v. 15.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
15a	שְׁ֭בֹר זְר֣וֹעַ רָשָׁ֑ע וָ֝רָ֗ע	Break the arm of the one who is wicked and evil!
15b	תִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־רִשְׁע֥וֹ בַל־תִּמְצָֽא׃	May it seek its wickedness, but not find it.

Expanded Paraphrase

(The arm represents power and ability.) Break the arm of the one who is wicked and evil! May it seek its wickedness, but not find it. (May his ability) (to oppress) (be completely incapacitated).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 16

Watch the Overview video on v. 16.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
16a	יְהוָ֣ה מֶ֭לֶךְ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד	YHWH is king forever.
16b	אָבְד֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם מֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ׃	Nations perished from his land.

Expanded Paraphrase

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).

Grammatical Diagram

v. 17

Watch the Overview video on v. 17.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
17a	תַּאֲוַ֬ת עֲנָוִ֣ים שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה	You have heard the desires of the afflicted, YHWH;
17b	תָּכִ֥ין לִ֝בָּ֗ם תַּקְשִׁ֥יב אָזְנֶֽךָ׃	you make their hearts confident; you make your ear attentive,

Expanded Paraphrase

(For this reason, the afflicted can be confident that) 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),

Grammatical Diagram

v. 18

Watch the Overview video on v. 18.

v.	Hebrew	Close-but-clear
18a	לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יָת֗וֹם וָ֫דָ֥ךְ	in order to execute justice for the fatherless and the oppressed,
18b-c	בַּל־יוֹסִ֥יף ע֑וֹד לַעֲרֹ֥ץ אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃	so that an earthly mortal will never terrify again.

Expanded Paraphrase

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].)

Grammatical Diagram

Legends

Grammatical diagram

The grammar layer visually represents the grammar and syntax of each clause. It also displays alternative interpretations of the grammar. (For more information, click "Grammar Legend" below.)

Grammar Legend

Visualization	Description
	The clause is represented by a horizontal line with a vertical line crossing through it, separating the subject and the verb.
	The object is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause. Infinitives and participles may also have objects. If the direct object marker (d.o.m.) is present in the text, it appears in the diagram immediately before the object. If the grammar includes a secondary object, the secondary object will appear after the object, separated by another vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the clause.
	The subject complement follows the verb (often omitted in Hebrew) separated with a line leaning toward the right. It can be a noun, a whole prepositional phrase or an adjective. The later two appear modifying the complement slot.
	When a noun further describes or renames the object, it is an object complement. The object complement follows the object separated by a line leaning toward the right.
	In a construct chain, the noun in the absolute form modifies the noun in the construct form.
	Participles are indicated in whatever position in the clause they are in with a curved line before the participle. Participles can occur as nominal, where they take the place of a noun, predicate, where they take the place of a verb, or attributive, where they modify a noun or a verb similar to adjectives or adverbs.
	Infinitives are indicated by two parallel lines before the infinitive that cross the horizontal line. Infinitive constructs can appear as the verb in an embedded clause. Infinitive absolutes typically appear as an adverbial.
	The subject of the infinitive often appears in construct to it. In this situation, the infinitive and subject are diagrammed as a construct chain.
	The object of the infinitive is indicated by a vertical line that does not cross the horizontal line of the infinitival clause.
	Modifiers are represented by a solid diagonal line from the word they modify. They can attach to verbs, adjectives, or nouns. If modifying a verb or adjective, it is an adverb, but if modifying a noun, it is an adjective, a quantifier, or a definite article. If an adverb is modifying a modifier, it is connected to the modifier by a small dashed horizontal line.
	Adverbials are indicated by a dashed diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. These are nouns or infinitives that function adverbially (modifying either a verb or a participle), but are not connected by a preposition.
	Prepositional phrases are indicated by a solid diagonal line extending to a horizontal line. The preposition is to the left of the diagonal line and the dependent of the preposition is on the horizontal line. They can modify verbs (adverbial) or nouns (adjectival).
	Embedded clauses are indicated by a "stand" that looks like an upside-down Y. The stand rests in the grammatical position that the clause fulfills. Extending from the top of the stand is a horizontal line for the clause. If introduced by a complementizer, for example כִּי, the complementizer appears before the stand. Embedded clauses can stand in the place of any noun.
	When clauses are joined by a conjunction, they are compound clauses. These clauses are connected by a vertical dotted line. The conjunction is placed next to the dotted line.
	Within a clause, if two or more parts of speech are compound, these are represented by angled lines reaching to the two compound elements connected by a solid vertical line. If a conjunction is used, the conjunction appears to the left of the vertical line. Almost all parts of speech can be compound.
	Subordinate clauses are indicated by a dashed line coming from the line dividing the subject from the predicate in the independent clause and leading to the horizontal line of the subordinate clause. The subordinating conjunction appears next to the dashed line.
	Relative clauses also have a dashed line, but the line connects the antecedent to the horizontal line of the relative clause. The relative particle appears next to the dashed line.
	Sentence fragments are represented by a horizontal line with no vertical lines. They are most frequently used in superscriptions to psalms. They are visually similar to discourse particles and vocatives, but most often consist of a noun phrase (that does not refer to a person or people group) or a prepositional phrase.
	In the body of the psalm, a horizontal line by itself (with no modifiers or vertical lines) can indicate either a discourse particle or a vocative (if the word is a noun referring to a person or people group). A discourse particle is a conjunction or particle that functions at the discourse level, not at the grammatical level. Vocatives can appear either before or after the clause addressed to them, depending on the word order of the Hebrew.
	Apposition is indicated by an equal sign equating the two noun phrases. This can occur with a noun in any function in a sentence.

Hebrew text colors
Default preferred text	The default preferred reading is represented by a black line. The text of the MT is represented in bold black text.
Dispreferred reading	The dispreferred reading is an alternative interpretation of the grammar, represented by a pink line. The text of the MT is represented in bold pink text, while emendations and revocalizations retain their corresponding colors (see below).
Emended text	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold blue text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred.
Revocalized text	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is represented by bold purple text, whether that reading is preferred or dispreferred.
(Supplied elided element)	Any element that is elided in the Hebrew text is represented by bold gray text in parentheses.
( )	The position of a non-supplied elided element is represented by empty black parentheses. For example, this would be used in the place of the noun when an adjective functions substantivally or in the place of the antecedent when a relative clause has an implied antecedent.

Gloss text colors
Gloss used in the CBC	The gloss used in the Close-but-Clear translation is represented by bold blue text.
Literal gloss >> derived meaning	A gloss that shows the more literal meaning as well as the derived figurative meaning is represented in blue text with arrows pointing towards the more figurative meaning. The gloss used in the CBC will be bolded.
Supplied elided element	The gloss for a supplied elided element is represented in bold gray text.

Shapes and colours on grammatical diagram

(For more information, click "Phrase-level Legend" below.)

Phrase-level Legend

Visualization	Description
	The prepositional phrase is indicated by a solid green oval.
	The construct chain is indicated by a solid yellow oval.
	When the conjunction ו appears at the phrase-level (not clause-level), it is indicated by a solid light purple oval.
	The article is indicated by a solid blue oval.

Expanded paraphrase

(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)

Expanded Paraphrase Legend

Expanded paraphrase legend
Close but Clear (CBC) translation	The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text.
Assumptions	Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics.

References

10