1
Why do You stand far away, O LORD,
and hide Yourself in times of trouble?
2
Because in his pride the wicked man fiercely hunts the afflicted;
they are caught in the schemes they have devised.
3
For the wicked boasts of the desire of his heart,
and the greedy man curses and despises the LORD.
4
The wicked man, with his proud face, says:
“God will not call to account!
There is no God!” That is all his thought.
5
His ways always succeed;
Your laws are far above him, far from him;
he treats all his opponents with contempt.
6
He says in his heart: “I shall not be shaken.
I will never meet disaster, through all generations.”
7
His mouth is full of curses, deceit, and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and evil.
8
He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hidden places he kills the innocent.
His eyes watch for the helpless;
9
he lies in wait in a hidden place like a lion in the thicket;
he lies in wait to seize the afflicted.
He seizes the afflicted one
by drawing him into his net.
10
He crouches down and lies low,
and the helpless fall into his strong claws.
11
He says in his heart: “God has forgotten;
He hides His face, and will never see it again.”
12
Arise, O LORD! O God, stretch out Your hand;
do not forget the afflicted.
13
Why does the wicked despise God,
saying in his heart: “You will not call to account”?
14
Yet You do see it, for You observe trouble and grief,
that You may take it into Your own hand.
To You the helpless commits himself;
for the fatherless You are a helper.
15
Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man;
call his wickedness to account, until You find none of it anymore.
16
The LORD is King forever and ever;
the nations have vanished from His land.
17
You have heard the desire of the afflicted, O LORD;
You strengthen their heart,
You incline Your ear,
18
to do justice for the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that no mere man on earth may terrify them anymore.
🕊️🙏📖 Summary of Psalm 10 – “The Lord Is Not Negligent; He Defends the Weak”
Psalm 10 is a continuation of David’s cry, describing sorrow and confusion as he sees evil spreading and the wicked seeming to go unpunished. David asks: “Why are You far away, O LORD?” — then describes how the wicked oppress the poor, mock God, and feel they will never be held accountable.
Yet the closing part of the psalm turns into a cry of faith and confidence that the Lord sees everything. He will judge, hear the cries of the oppressed, and strengthen their hearts.
📌 1. A Cry: Why Does God Seem Far Away? (verses 1–2)
➡️ David asks: “Why do You hide in times of trouble?”
➡️ The wicked boast and oppress the weak.
🎯 When justice seems delayed, our faith is tested: do we still believe that God cares?
📌 2. Picture of the Arrogance of the Wicked (verses 3–11)
➡️ They boast in their own desires, despise God, and say:
“There will be no reckoning.”
➡️ They trap the poor, lie in wait like a lion, and think:
“God will not see.”
🎯 The wicked may seem strong and untouchable — but the Lord does not sleep.
📌 3. A Plea for God to Act (verses 12–15)
➡️ David cries out: “Arise, O LORD!”
➡️ He asks God to see the suffering of the weak and to punish the hand of the wicked.
🎯 In injustice, we may cry out honestly — and trust that God is paying attention.
📌 4. A Declaration of Faith in God’s Justice (verses 16–18)
➡️ The LORD is King forever and ever.
➡️ He hears the desire of the oppressed and strengthens their hearts.
➡️ He will defend the fatherless and the oppressed.
🎯 In the end, the LORD does not remain silent. He is a just and faithful King.
📖 Main Teaching
- The LORD is not neglectful, even when He seems silent — He sees and records all things
- The evil and pride of the wicked are only temporary
- The righteous may come with cries in prayer — and this is pleasing to God
- The LORD hears, pays attention, and will act in His time
- God’s justice is everlasting, though evil may seem strong for a moment
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow to keep His promise, even though some consider it slowness…”
➡️ Just like Psalm 10: God’s justice may be delayed, but it never fails.
📖 Matthew 5:3–10
“Blessed are the poor, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…”
➡️ Psalm 10 shows who is foremost in God’s care: the poor and the oppressed.
📖 Luke 18:7–8
“Will not the Lord vindicate His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night…”
➡️ Psalm 10 is a clear picture of a cry of faith that is not in vain.
📖 Romans 12:19
“Do not take revenge yourselves…”
➡️ The Lord Himself will repay the wicked according to their deeds.
🕊️ “Why do You hide in times of trouble?” – Psalm 10:1
🕊️ “The wicked says: ‘God will not see it.’” – Psalm 10:11
🕊️ “You hear the desire of the afflicted.” – Psalm 10:17
🕊️ “The Lord is King forever and ever.” – Psalm 10:16
