Psalm 10

This article is about Psalm 10 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 10 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 11.

For the Trouble album, see Psalm 9 (album).

"Ps 10" redirects here. For other uses, see PS-10.

Psalm 10
"Why standest thou afar off, O LORD?"
End of Psalm 10 in the 9th-century Elzevir Bible
Other name	Psalm 9b "Ut quid Domine recessisti"
Text	by David
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 10 is the tenth psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?" In the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, it is not an individual psalm but the second part of psalm 9, "Ut quid Domine recessisti". These two consecutive psalms have the form of a single acrostic Hebrew poem. Compared to Psalm 9, Psalm 10 is focused more on the individual than the collective human condition.

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Hebrew text of Psalm 10:4-13a. Sēfer tehillîm published by Julius Otto: Hamburg 1614.

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה תַּֽעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָח֑וֹק תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃‎	Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?
2	בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק עָנִ֑י יִתָּֽפְשׂ֓וּ ׀ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ׃‎	Through the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued, They are taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3	כִּֽי־הִלֵּ֣ל רָ֭שָׁע עַל־תַּאֲוַ֣ת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וּבֹצֵ֥עַ בֵּ֝רֵ֗ךְ נִ֘אֵ֥ץ ׀ יְהֹוָֽה׃‎	For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, And the covetous vaunteth himself, though he contemn the LORD.
4	רָשָׁ֗ע כְּגֹ֣בַהּ אַ֭פּוֹ בַּל־יִדְרֹ֑שׁ אֵ֥ין אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים כׇּל־מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃‎	The wicked, in the pride of his countenance [, saith]: 'He will not require'; All his thoughts are: 'There is no God.'
5	יָ֘חִ֤ילוּ דְרָכָ֨ו ׀ בְּכׇל־עֵ֗ת מָר֣וֹם מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָ מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ כׇּל־צ֝וֹרְרָ֗יו יָפִ֥יחַ בָּהֶֽם׃‎	His ways prosper at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.
6	אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ בַּל־אֶמּ֑וֹט לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־בְרָֽע׃‎	He saith in his heart: 'I shall not be moved, I who to all generations shall not be in adversity.'
7	אָלָ֤ה ׀ פִּ֣יהוּ מָ֭לֵא וּמִרְמ֣וֹת וָתֹ֑ךְ תַּ֥חַת לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ עָמָ֥ל וָאָֽוֶן׃‎	His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
8	יֵשֵׁ֤ב ׀ בְּמַאְרַ֬ב חֲצֵרִ֗ים בַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִים יַהֲרֹ֣ג נָקִ֑י עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃‎	He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; In secret places doth he slay the innocent; His eyes are on the watch for the helpless.
9	יֶאֱרֹ֬ב בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀ כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה בְסֻכֹּ֗ה יֶ֭אֱרֹב לַחֲט֣וֹף עָנִ֑י יַחְטֹ֥ף עָ֝נִ֗י בְּמׇשְׁכ֥וֹ בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃‎	He lieth in wait in a secret place as a lion in his lair, He lieth in wait to catch the poor; He doth catch the poor, when he draweth him up in his net.
10	(ודכה) [יִדְכֶּ֥ה] יָשֹׁ֑חַ וְנָפַ֥ל בַּ֝עֲצוּמָ֗יו (חלכאים) [חֵ֣ל כָּאִֽים]׃‎	He croucheth, he boweth down, And the helpless fall into his mighty claws.
11	אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ שָׁ֣כַֽח אֵ֑ל הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּ֝נָ֗יו בַּל־רָאָ֥ה לָנֶֽצַח׃‎	He hath said in his heart: 'God hath forgotten; He hideth His face; He will never see.'
12	קוּמָ֤ה יְהֹוָ֗ה אֵ֭ל נְשָׂ֣א יָדֶ֑ךָ אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח (עניים) [עֲנָוִֽים]׃‎	Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Thy hand; Forget not the humble.
13	עַל־מֶ֤ה ׀ נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תִדְרֹֽשׁ׃‎	Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, And say in his heart: 'Thou wilt not require'?
14	רָאִ֡תָה כִּי־אַתָּ֤ה ׀ עָ֘מָ֤ל וָכַ֨עַס ׀ תַּבִּיט֮ לָתֵ֢ת בְּיָ֫דֶ֥ךָ עָ֭לֶיךָ יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֵ֑כָה יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀ הָיִ֬יתָ עוֹזֵֽר׃‎	Thou hast seen; for Thou beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite them with Thy hand; Unto Thee the helpless committeth himself; Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.
15	שְׁ֭בֹר זְר֣וֹעַ רָשָׁ֑ע וָ֝רָ֗ע תִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־רִשְׁע֥וֹ בַל־תִּמְצָֽא׃‎	Break Thou the arm of the wicked; And as for the evil man, search out his wickedness, till none be found.
16	יְהֹוָ֣ה מֶ֭לֶךְ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד אָבְד֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם מֵאַרְצֽוֹ׃‎	The LORD is King for ever and ever; The nations are perished out of His land.
17	תַּאֲוַ֬ת עֲנָוִ֣ים שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ יְהֹוָ֑ה תָּכִ֥ין לִ֝בָּ֗ם תַּקְשִׁ֥יב אׇזְנֶֽךָ׃‎	LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt direct their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to attend;
18	לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יָת֗וֹם וָ֫דָ֥ךְ בַּל־יוֹסִ֥יף ע֑וֹד לַעֲרֹ֥ץ אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃‎	To right the fatherless and the oppressed, That man who is of the earth may be terrible no more.

Septuagint

The following table shows the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint, along with an English translation from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton. In the Septuagint, this is not a separate psalm, but the second half of Psalm 9.

Verse	Septuagint	English translation (Brenton 1844)
22	῾Ινατί, Κύριε, ἀφέστηκας μακρόθεν, ὑπερορᾷς ἐν εὐκαιρίαις ἐν θλίψεσιν;	Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? [why] dost thou overlook [us] in times of need, in affliction?
23	ἐν τῷ ὑπερηφανεύεσθαι τὸν ἀσεβῆ ἐμπυρίζεται ὁ πτωχός, συλλαμβάνονται ἐν διαβουλίοις, οἷς διαλογίζονται.	While the ungodly one acts proudly, the poor is hotly pursued: [the wicked] are taken in the crafty counsels which they imagine.
24	ὅτι ἐπαινεῖται ὁ ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ἀδικῶν ἐνευλογεῖται·	Because the sinner praises himself for the desires of his heart; and the unjust one blesses himself.
25	παρώξυνε τὸν Κύριον ὁ ἁμαρτωλός· κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐκζητήσει· οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ Θεὸς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.	The sinner has provoked the Lord: according to the abundance of his pride he will not seek after [him]: God is not before him.
26	βεβηλοῦνται αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ, ἀνταναιρεῖται τὰ κρίματά σου ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, πάντων τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ κατακυριεύσει·	His ways are profane at all times; thy judgments are removed from before him: he will gain the mastery over all his enemies.
27	εἶπε γὰρ ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὐ μὴ σαλευθῶ, ἀπὸ γενεᾶς εἰς γενεὰν ἄνευ κακοῦ.	For he has said in his heart, I shall not be moved, [continuing] without evil from generation to generation.
28	οὗ ἀρᾶς τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ γέμει καὶ πικρίας καὶ δόλου, ὑπὸ τὴν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ κόπος καὶ πόνος.	Whose mouth is full of cursing, and bitterness, and fraud: under his tongue are trouble and pain.
29	ἐγκάθηται ἐνέδρᾳ μετὰ πλουσίων, ἐν ἀποκρύφοις τοῦ ἀποκτεῖναι ἀθῷον· οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν πένητα ἀποβλέπουσιν·	He lies in wait with rich [men] in secret places, in order to slay the innocent: his eyes are set against the poor.
30	ἐνεδρεύει ἐν ἀποκρύφῳ ὡς λέων ἐν τῇ μάνδρᾳ αὐτοῦ, ἐνεδρεύει τοῦ ἁρπάσαι πτωχόν, ἁρπάσαι πτωχὸν ἐν τῷ ἑλκύσαι αὐτόν·	He lies in wait in secret as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to ravish the poor, to ravish the poor when he draws him [after him]: he will bring him down in his snare.
31	ἐν τῇ παγίδι αὐτοῦ ταπεινώσει αὐτόν, κύψει καὶ πεσεῖται ἐν τῷ αὐτὸν κατακυριεῦσαι τῶν πενήτων.	He will bow down and fall when he has mastered the poor.
32	εἶπε γὰρ ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· ἐπιλέλησται ὁ Θεός, ἀπέστρεψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν εἰς τέλος.	For he has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he has turned away his face so as never to look.
33	ἀνάστηθι, Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, ὑψωθήτω ἡ χείρ σου, μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ τῶν πενήτων.	Arise, O Lord God; let thy hand be lifted up: forget not the poor.
34	ἕνεκεν τίνος παρώργισεν ὁ ἀσεβὴς τὸν Θεόν; εἶπε γὰρ ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὐκ ἐκζητήσει.	Wherefore, has the wicked provoked God? for he has said in his heart, He will not require [it].
35	βλέπεις, ὅτι σὺ πόνον καὶ θυμὸν κατανοεῖς τοῦ παραδοῦναι αὐτοὺς εἰς χεῖράς σου· σοὶ ἐγκαταλέλειπται ὁ πτωχός, ὀρφανῷ σὺ ᾖσθα βοηθός.	Thou seest [it]; for thou dost observe trouble and wrath, to deliver them into thy hands: the poor has been left to thee; thou wast a helper to the orphan.
36	σύντριψον τὸν βραχίονα τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ καὶ πονηροῦ, ζητηθήσεται ἡ ἁμαρτία αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ μὴ εὑρεθῇ.	Break thou the arm of the sinner and wicked man: his sin shall be sought for, and shall not be found.
37	βασιλεύσει Κύριος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, ἀπολεῖσθε ἔθνη ἐκ τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ.	The Lord shall reign for ever, even for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish out of his land.
38	τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν τῶν πενήτων εἰσήκουσε Κύριος, τὴν ἑτοιμασίαν τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν προσέσχε τὸ οὖς σου	The Lord has heard the desire of the poor: thine ear has inclined to the preparation of their heart;
39	κρῖναι ὀρφανῷ καὶ ταπεινῷ, ἵνα μὴ προσθῇ ἔτι μεγαλαυχεῖν ἄνθρωπος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.	to plead for the orphan and afflicted, that man may no more boast upon the earth.

King James Version

1. Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2. The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3. For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
4. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
5. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
7. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
8. He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
9. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
10. He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11. He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12. Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
14. Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15. Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
16. The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
17. LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
18. To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

Context

Psalm 8 reflects on man's special place in creation. In contrast, both psalms 9 and 10 will end with statements setting mankind in a more negative light in the final verses of each. Psalm 9 closes with the phase "Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men, selah" Psalm 9:20 and Psalm 10:18 closes Psalm 10 with "...that the man of the earth may no more oppress." Some speculate that the final word of Psalm 9, selah, possibly meaning "a pause", might link the two psalms 9 and 10 together.

Taken together, Psalms 9 and 10 comprise a continuous acrostic psalm in the Hebrew alphabet. Some texts, such as the Septuagint, combine them. They also contrast as Psalm 9 is more victorious and 10 more of a lament.

Uses

Judaism

• This psalm is recited during the Ten Days of Repentance in some traditions.
• Verse 16 forms parts of the eighth and ninth verses of Yehi Kivod in Pesukei Dezimra, part of Baruch Hashem L'Olam in Maariv, and part of the Bedtime Shema.
• Verse 17 is found in the repetition of the Amidah during Rosh Hashanah.

New Testament

• Verses 7 is quoted in Romans 3:14

Catholic Church

According to the Rule of St. Benedict (530 AD), Psalm 1 to Psalm 20 were mainly reserved for the Office of Prime. Psalm 9 is sung in the Latin version translated from the Greek Septuagint, and therefore includes Psalm 10, as noted above. Benedict had divided this Psalm 9/10 in two parts, one sung to the end of the Office of Prime Tuesday (Psalm 9: 1–19) and the other (Psalm 9: 20–21 and Psalm 10: 1–18) is the first of the three readings on Wednesday. In other words, the first verses of Psalm 9 until "Quoniam non in finem erit oblivio pauperis: patientia pauperum non peribit in finem," formed the third and final Prime Psalm from Tuesday, the second part of the Psalm (Vulgate according to his view) was recited as the first psalm of the Office of Prime Wednesday.

Traditionally Psalms 9 and 10 were recited as the seventh Psalms of Sunday Matins.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the second day of the month.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a paraphrase of Psalm 10 in German, "Wie meinst du's doch, ach Herr, mein Gott", SWV 106, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.

External links

• Pieces with text from Psalm 10: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Psalm 10: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Text of Psalm 10 according to the 1928 Psalter
• Psalms Chapter 10 text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
• Why, LORD, do you stand afar and pay no heed in times of trouble? text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Psalm 10:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
• Psalm 10 – From Times of Trouble to Calm Confidence enduringword.com
• Psalm 10 / Refrain: You, Lord, have never failed those who seek you. Church of England
• Psalm 10 at biblegateway.com
• Hymns for Psalm 10 hymnary.org