Day 149: Psalms 10-12

The Cry of the Oppressed, the Justice of God, and the Purity of His Words

Psalm 10

1 Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.

3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.

4 The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.

5 His ways are prosperous at all times. He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”

7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

8 He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.

9 He lurks in secret as a lion in his lair. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.

10 The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.

11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”

12 Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.

13 Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?

14 But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked man. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

16 Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.

17 Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,

18 to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

Psalm 11

1 In Yahweh, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

2 For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

4 Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.

5 Yahweh examines the righteous, but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.

6 On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.

Psalm 12

1 Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

4 who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

6 Yahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

7 You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

Scripture: World English Bible (WEB), public domain.