Christianity
Psalms 10Why Does God Stand Afar?
Summary
Psalm 10 asks why the LORD seems distant in times of trouble and describes the arrogance of the wicked, who prey on the poor, lie in wait like lions and tell themselves that God has forgotten. The psalmist calls on God to arise and break the arm of the wicked, and ends with confidence that the LORD hears the humble and defends the fatherless and oppressed. It has no heading and continues the acrostic of Psalm 9.
Key verse
“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?”
Psalms 10:1
Themes
- Divine Hiddenness
- Oppression of the Poor
- Arrogance
- Justice for the Fatherless
Text
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
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.
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.
He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
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.
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.
Across traditions
Christianity
Habakkuk 1: How Long Shall I CryThe prophet Habakkuk raises the same complaint as Psalm 10, asking why God tolerates violence and injustice, and receives an answer about God's timing.
Christianity
Romans 3: Full of CursingPaul's catalogue of human sinfulness in Romans 3:14 draws on the description of the wicked man's mouth in Psalm 10:7.
Questions about Psalms 10
Why does Psalm 10 have no heading?
Most psalms in the first book carry a heading naming David, but Psalm 10 has none, which supports the view that it was originally the second half of Psalm 9.
What does Psalm 10 say about the poor?
It describes the wicked ambushing and crushing the poor, then affirms that God sees trouble and is the helper of the fatherless and the judge for the oppressed (10:14, 18).