Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm X (10)
Cantillated — Lament Delay
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 10 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תַּעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָח֑וֹק תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק עָנִ֑י יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ ׀ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ׃
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
כִּֽי־הִלֵּ֣ל רָ֭שָׁע עַל־תַּאֲוַ֣ת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וּבֹצֵ֥עַ בֵּ֝רֵ֗ךְ נִ֘אֵ֥ץ ׀ יְהוָֽה׃
The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
רָשָׁ֗ע כְּגֹ֣בַהּ אַ֭פּוֹ בַּל־יִדְרֹ֑שׁ אֵ֥ין אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים כָּל־מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃
His ways are prosperous at all times. He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
יָ֘חִ֤ילוּ דרכו ׀ בְּכָל־עֵ֗ת מָר֣וֹם מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָ מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ כָּל־צ֝וֹרְרָ֗יו יָפִ֥יחַ בָּהֶֽם׃
He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ בַּל־אֶמּ֑וֹט לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־בְרָֽע׃
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
אָלָ֤ה פִּ֣יהוּ מָ֭לֵא וּמִרְמ֣וֹת וָתֹ֑ךְ תַּ֥חַת לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ עָמָ֥ל וָאָֽוֶן׃
He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
יֵשֵׁ֤ב ׀ בְּמַאְרַ֬ב חֲצֵרִ֗ים בַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִים יַהֲרֹ֣ג נָקִ֑י עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃
He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.
יֶאֱרֹ֬ב בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀ כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה בְסֻכֹּ֗ה יֶ֭אֱרֹב לַחֲט֣וֹף עָנִ֑י יַחְטֹ֥ף עָ֝נִ֗י בְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹ בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
ודכה יָשֹׁ֑חַ וְנָפַ֥ל בַּ֝עֲצוּמָ֗יו חלכאים׃
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ שָׁ֣כַֽח אֵ֑ל הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּ֝נָ֗יו בַּל־רָאָ֥ה לָנֶֽצַח׃
Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.
קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֭ל נְשָׂ֣א יָדֶ֑ךָ אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח עניים׃
Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?
עַל־מֶ֤ה ׀ נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תִּדְרֹֽשׁ׃
But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
רָאִ֡תָה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה ׀ עָ֘מָ֤ל וָכַ֨עַס ׀ תַּבִּיט֮ לָתֵ֪ת בְּיָ֫דֶ֥ךָ עָ֭לֶיךָ יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֶ֑כָה יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀ הָיִ֬יתָ עוֹזֵֽר׃
Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
שְׁ֭בֹר זְר֣וֹעַ רָשָׁ֑ע וָ֝רָ֗ע תִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־רִשְׁע֥וֹ בַל־תִּמְצָֽא׃
Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
יְהוָ֣ה מֶ֭לֶךְ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד אָבְד֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם מֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ׃
Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
תַּאֲוַ֬ת עֲנָוִ֣ים שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה תָּכִ֥ין לִ֝בָּ֗ם תַּקְשִׁ֥יב אָזְנֶֽךָ׃
to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יָת֗וֹם וָ֫דָ֥ךְ בַּל־יוֹסִ֥יף ע֑וֹד לַעֲרֹ֥ץ אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Why, O Lord
do You stand far away
Why do You hide
in times of trouble
In the pride of the wicked
the poor are hunted
They are caught
in the schemes they planned
The wicked boasts
in the craving of his soul
The greedy man
renounces the Lord
He says in his heart
There is no God
His ways prosper
all the time
He says in his heart
I will not be moved
I will never see disaster
His mouth is full
of cursing and deceit
Under his tongue
are trouble and evil
He waits in secret
he strikes the innocent
He watches the helpless
he pulls in the poor
Like a lion in hiding
he lies in wait
He seizes the poor
he drags him in his net
The helpless are crushed
they sink and fall
He says in his heart
God has forgotten
He has hidden His face
He will never see
Arise, O Lord
O God, lift up Your hand
Do not forget
the afflicted
Arise, O Lord
O God, lift up Your hand
Do not forget
the afflicted
Why does the wicked
renounce God
Why does he say
You will not call to account
But You do see
You see trouble and grief
You take it
into Your hand
The helpless commits himself
to You
You have been
the helper of the fatherless
Break the arm
of the wicked
Call his evil
to account
Until none remains
The Lord is King
forever and ever
The nations perish
from His land
The Lord is King
forever and ever
You hear the afflicted
You hear the afflicted
You strengthen
their heart
You incline
Your ear
To judge
the fatherless
To judge
the oppressed
So man of dust
may terrify no more
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.