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Psalms 10

BSB·18 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Whyלָמָ֣הlā·māh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, do You standתַּעֲמֹ֣דta·‘ă·mōḏ — to stand, take a stand, be establishedH5975 — Full Word Study → far offבְּרָח֑וֹקbə·rā·ḥō·wq — distant, far away, remote in space or timeH7350 — Full Word Study →? Why do You hideתַּ֝עְלִ֗יםta‘·lîm — to hide, conceal, or act in secretH5956 — Full Word Study → in timesלְעִתּ֥וֹתlə·‘it·tō·wṯ — Time, season, or appointed momentH6256 — Full Word Study → of troubleבַּצָּרָֽה׃baṣ·ṣā·rāh — Distress, trouble, adversityH6869 — Full Word Study →? 2In prideבְּגַאֲוַ֣תbə·ḡa·’ă·waṯ — Pride, arrogance, haughtiness of spiritH1346 — Full Word Study → the wickedרָ֭שָׁעrā·šā‘ — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → pursueיִדְלַ֣קyiḏ·laq — To burn, kindle, or pursue intenselyH1814 — Full Word Study → the needyעָנִ֑י‘ā·nî — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study →; let them be caughtיִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ׀yit·tā·p̄ə·śū — To seize, grasp, or take hold of firmlyH8610 — Full Word Study → in the schemesבִּמְזִמּ֖וֹתbim·zim·mō·wṯ — wicked plot, malicious scheme, or lustful intentionH4209 — Full Word Study → they deviseחָשָֽׁבוּ׃ḥā·šā·ḇū — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study →. 3Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the wicked manרָ֭שָׁעrā·šā‘ — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → boastsהִלֵּ֣לhil·lêl — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study → inעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the cravingsתַּאֲוַ֣תta·’ă·waṯ — Strong desire; craving; longingH8378 — Full Word Study → of his heartנַפְשׁ֑וֹnap̄·šōw — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →; he blessesבֵּ֝רֵ֗ךְbê·rêḵ — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → the greedyוּבֹצֵ֥עַū·ḇō·ṣê·a‘ — to cut off, gain greedily, covetH1214 — Full Word Study → and revilesנִ֘אֵ֥ץ׀ni·’êṣ — To spurn, reject, or treat with contemptH5006 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. 4In his prideכְּגֹ֣בַהּkə·ḡō·ḇah — Height, loftiness, or exaltationH1363 — Full Word Study → the wicked man does notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → seek Him; in allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → his schemesמְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃mə·zim·mō·w·ṯāw — wicked plot, malicious scheme, or lustful intentionH4209 — Full Word Study → there is noאֵ֥ין’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → Godאֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. 5He is secureיָ֘חִ֤ילוּyā·ḥî·lū — To twist, whirl, dance, writhe; to be in pain or travailH2342 — Full Word Study → in his waysדַרְכּוֹḏar·kō — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → at all timesבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study →; Your loftyמָר֣וֹםmā·rō·wm — Height, high place, or exaltationH4791 — Full Word Study → judgmentsמִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָmiš·pā·ṭe·ḵā — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study → are far from himמִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹmin·neḡ·dōw — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study →; he sneersיָפִ֥יחַyā·p̄î·aḥ — To breathe out, blow, puff, or utterH6315 — Full Word Study → at allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → his foesצ֝וֹרְרָ֗יוṣō·wr·rāw — to bind, squeeze, or oppress; to distress or afflictH6887 — Full Word Study →. 6He saysאָמַ֣ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → to himselfבְּ֭לִבּוֹbə·lib·bōw — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →, “I will notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → be movedאֶמּ֑וֹט’em·mō·wṭ — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study →; from ageלְדֹ֥רlə·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → to ageוָ֝דֹ֗רwā·ḏōr — generation; age; lifetime; posterityH1755 — Full Word Study → I am freeלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → of distressבְרָֽע׃ḇə·rā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →.” 7His mouthפִּ֣יהוּpî·hū — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study → is full ofמָ֭לֵאmā·lê — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → cursingאָלָ֤ה’ā·lāh — oath, curse, sworn agreementH423 — Full Word Study →, deceitוּמִרְמ֣וֹתū·mir·mō·wṯ — deceit, treachery, or cunning deceptionH4820 — Full Word Study →, and violenceוָתֹ֑ךְwā·ṯōḵ — Deceit, fraud, or deceptionH8496 — Full Word Study →; troubleעָמָ֥ל‘ā·māl — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → and maliceוָאָֽוֶן׃wā·’ā·wen — Evil, wickedness, iniquity, or worthlessnessH205 — Full Word Study → are underתַּ֥חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → his tongueלְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹlə·šō·w·nōw — Tongue; language; speechH3956 — Full Word Study →. 8He liesיֵשֵׁ֤ב׀yê·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → in waitבְּמַאְרַ֬בbə·ma’·raḇ — Ambush; a hidden attack positionH3993 — Full Word Study → near the villagesחֲצֵרִ֗יםḥă·ṣê·rîm — Enclosed courtyard or village settlementH2691 — Full Word Study →; in ambushבַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִיםbam·mis·tā·rîm — A hiding place; secret location or concealmentH4565 — Full Word Study → he slaysיַהֲרֹ֣גya·hă·rōḡ — To kill, slay, or murderH2026 — Full Word Study → the innocentנָקִ֑יnā·qî — Innocent, blameless, free from guiltH5355 — Full Word Study →; his eyesעֵ֝ינָ֗יו‘ê·nāw — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → watch in stealthיִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃yiṣ·pō·nū — to hide, conceal, treasure up, or keep secretH6845 — Full Word Study → for the helplessלְֽחֵלְכָ֥הlə·ḥê·lə·ḵāh — weak, helpless, feebleH2489 — Full Word Study →. 9He lies in waitיֶאֱרֹ֬בye·’ĕ·rōḇ — To lie in ambush; to set a trap or attack by stealthH693 — Full Word Study → like a lionכְּאַרְיֵ֬הkə·’ar·yêh — A lion; fierce predatorH738 — Full Word Study → in a thicketבְסֻכֹּ֗הḇə·suk·kōh — hidden shelter or refuge; place of concealmentH5520 — Full Word Study →; he lurksיֶ֭אֱרֹבye·’ĕ·rōḇ — To lie in ambush; to set a trap or attack by stealthH693 — Full Word Study → to seizeלַחֲט֣וֹףla·ḥă·ṭō·wp̄ — to snatch, seize, or catch suddenlyH2414 — Full Word Study → the oppressedעָנִ֑י‘ā·nî — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study →; he catchesיַחְטֹ֥ףyaḥ·ṭōp̄ — to snatch, seize, or catch suddenlyH2414 — Full Word Study → the lowlyעָ֝נִ֗י‘ā·nî — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study → in his netבְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹbə·mā·šə·ḵōw — to draw, pull, extend, or prolongH4900 — Full Word Study →. 10They are crushedוְדָכָהwə·ḏå̄·ḵå̄h — to crush, break, or oppress severelyH1794 — Full Word Study → and beaten downיָשֹׁ֑חַyā·šō·aḥ — to bow down, bend, stoop, humble oneselfH7817 — Full Word Study →; the hapless fall preyוְנָפַ֥לwə·nā·p̄al — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → to his strengthבַּ֝עֲצוּמָ֗יוba·‘ă·ṣū·māw — Mighty, strong, powerfulH6099 — Full Word Study →. 11He saysאָמַ֣ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → to himselfבְּ֭לִבּוֹbə·lib·bōw — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →, “Godאֵ֑ל’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study → has forgottenשָׁ֣כַֽחšā·ḵaḥ — to forget, neglect, lose memory ofH7911 — Full Word Study →; He hidesהִסְתִּ֥ירhis·tîr — To hide, conceal, or keep secretH5641 — Full Word Study → His faceפָּ֝נָ֗יוpā·nāw — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → and neverבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → seesרָאָ֥הrā·’āh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study →.” 12Ariseקוּמָ֤הqū·māh — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →! Lift upנְשָׂ֣אnə·śā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → Your handיָדֶ֑ךָyā·ḏe·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֵ֭ל’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →! Do notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → forgetתִּשְׁכַּ֥חtiš·kaḥ — to forget, neglect, lose memory ofH7911 — Full Word Study → the helplessעֲנִיִּים׃ʿă·nī·yīm — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study →. 13Whyעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → has the wicked manרָשָׁ֥ע׀rā·šā‘ — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → renouncedנִאֵ֖ץni·’êṣ — To spurn, reject, or treat with contemptH5006 — Full Word Study → Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →? He saysאָמַ֥ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → to himselfבְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹbə·lib·bōw — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →, “You will neverלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → call me to account.” 14Butכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Youאַתָּ֤ה׀’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → have regardedרָאִ֡תָהrā·’i·ṯāh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → troubleעָ֘מָ֤ל‘ā·māl — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → and griefוָכַ֨עַס׀wā·ḵa·‘as — Vexation, provocation, or irritation that stirs angerH3708 — Full Word Study →; You seeתַּבִּיט֮tab·bîṭ — To look upon, regard, or behold with attentionH5027 — Full Word Study → to repay it by Your handבְּיָ֫דֶ֥ךָbə·yā·ḏe·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →. The victimחֵלֶ֑כָהḥê·le·ḵāh — weak, helpless, feebleH2489 — Full Word Study → entrusts himselfיַעֲזֹ֣בya·‘ă·zōḇ — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → to Youעָ֭לֶיךָ‘ā·le·ḵā — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →; Youאַתָּ֤ה׀’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → areהָיִ֬יתָhā·yî·ṯā — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → the helperעוֹזֵֽר׃‘ō·w·zêr — to help, aid, supportH5826 — Full Word Study → of the fatherlessיָ֝ת֗וֹםyā·ṯō·wm — A child without a father; an orphanH3490 — Full Word Study →. 15Breakשְׁ֭בֹרšə·b̲ōr — to break, shatter, crushH7665 — Full Word Study → the armזְר֣וֹעַzə·rō·w·a‘ — arm; power, strength, mightH2220 — Full Word Study → of the wickedרָשָׁ֑עrā·šā‘ — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → and evildoerוָ֝רָ֗עwā·rā‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study →; call him to accountתִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־tiḏ·rō·wōš- — to seek, inquire, search diligentlyH1875 — Full Word Study → for his wickednessרִשְׁע֥וֹriš·‘ōw — Wickedness, moral evil, depravityH7562 — Full Word Study → until none is leftבַל־ḇal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → to be foundתִּמְצָֽא׃tim·ṣā — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study →. 16The LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is Kingמֶ֭לֶךְme·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → foreverעוֹלָ֣ם‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → and everוָעֶ֑דwā·‘eḏ — perpetuity, eternity, foreverH5703 — Full Word Study →; the nationsג֝וֹיִ֗םḡō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → perishאָבְד֥וּ’ā·ḇə·ḏū — To perish, be destroyed, or lostH6 — Full Word Study → from His landמֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ׃mê·’ar·ṣōw — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 17You have heardשָׁמַ֣עְתָּšā·ma‘·tā — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, the desireתַּאֲוַ֬תta·’ă·waṯ — Strong desire; craving; longingH8378 — Full Word Study → of the humbleעֲנָוִ֣ים‘ă·nā·wîm — Humble, meek, afflicted poorH6035 — Full Word Study →; You will strengthenתָּכִ֥יןtā·ḵîn — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → their heartsלִ֝בָּ֗םlib·bām — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →. You will inclineתַּקְשִׁ֥יבtaq·šîḇ — To listen attentively; to give heedH7181 — Full Word Study → Your earאָזְנֶֽךָ׃’ā·zə·ne·ḵā — Ear; the organ of hearing and listeningH241 — Full Word Study →, 18to vindicateלִשְׁפֹּ֥טliš·pōṭ — to judge, govern, or execute justiceH8199 — Full Word Study → the fatherlessיָת֗וֹםyā·ṯō·wm — A child without a father; an orphanH3490 — Full Word Study → and oppressedוָ֫דָ֥ךְwā·ḏāḵ — Crushed, broken, oppressedH1790 — Full Word Study →, that the menאֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ’ĕ·nō·wōš — human being, man, mortal personH582 — Full Word Study → ofמִן־min- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → may strike terrorלַעֲרֹ֥ץla·‘ă·rōṣ — to tremble, dread, or strike with terrorH6206 — Full Word Study → no moreבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 10
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Chapter Overview

Psalm 10 is a passionate cry for divine justice in the face of widespread wickedness and oppression. The psalmist opens with a lament that God seems distant and silent in times of trouble, then provides a detailed portrait of the wicked oppressor—one who is proud, violent, and blasphemously convinced that God will not hold him accountable. Yet the psalm does not end in despair; instead, it pivots to confident affirmation of God's sovereignty and His commitment to defend the humble and fatherless. This psalm reminds us that evil is real and observable, but God's justice is certain.

Verses 1–5: The Cry of Distress and the Character of the Wicked

The psalm begins with the honest cry of a believer in genuine pain: "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?" (v. 1). This is not unbelief but raw, biblical honesty about suffering. The psalmist then shifts focus to diagnose the real problem: the wicked in their pride are actively persecuting the poor (v. 2). Verses 3–5 paint a portrait of the wicked man: he boasts of his desires, blesses the covetous (those he should condemn), refuses to seek God, and dismisses the very idea that God's judgments apply to him. His arrogance blinds him to divine reality.

Application: When we encounter injustice, we must remember that the root cause is spiritual blindness. The wicked do not merely commit evil acts—they suppress the knowledge of God and live as though He does not exist.

Verses 6–11: The False Security of the Ungodly

Here we see the wicked man's delusion: "I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity" (v. 6). His mouth overflows with cursing, deceit, and fraud (v. 7), and his actions are predatory—he lurks in villages to murder the innocent and catch the poor like a lion in its den (vv. 8–9). Most chilling is verse 11: "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it." The wicked man believes himself beyond God's reach and judgment. This is the ultimate spiritual delusion: that God's memory fails or His gaze turns away.

Application: Many today live as though God does not exist or does not see. But this false confidence is built on sand. God misses nothing.

Verses 12–18: The Psalmist's Appeal and God's Sure Response

After describing the wickedness, the psalmist makes his passionate appeal: "Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble" (v. 12). He asks the essential question: "Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God?" (v. 13)—Why does the wicked man despise God? The answer is his false belief that "Thou wilt not require it"—that God will not demand an account.

But then comes the turning point. Verses 14–15 declare the truth: God has seen all mischief and spite, and He will requite it. The poor commit themselves to Him; He is their helper. The psalmist calls on God to break the arm of the wicked and seek out his wickedness. The psalm concludes with a magnificent affirmation: "The LORD is King for ever and ever" (v. 16), and He will judge in favor of the fatherless and oppressed so that "the man of the earth may no more oppress" (v. 18).

Application: God's silence is not His absence. He sees, He remembers, and He will judge—both to condemn the wicked and to vindicate the righteous who trust in Him.

Application for Today

When injustice surrounds us and the wicked prosper, Psalm 10 gives us permission to cry out honestly to God—and then to remember that His kingdom is eternal and His justice inevitable. Our calling is not to take personal vengeance, but to commit ourselves to Him, knowing that He alone is the true helper of the helpless.

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