Psalm 10

Ps. 10          tune: any L.M.

Why do you stand afar, O Lord?

Why are you hid in trouble's hour?

The wicked do oppress the poor

In haughty pride and reckless pow'r.

Let their devices work their fall,

For in their shame is all their pride;

And while they seek dishonest gain

The Lord of justice is defied.

In foolish pride the wicked thinks 

There is no God who will repay;

He has no fear of God or man

Because God's judgments long delay.

Unmoved by fear of coming doom,

On fraud and wickedness intent,

With craft he lurks and waits to catch

The helpless and the innocent.

A lion crouching for his prey, 

He waits the poor to overthrow.

He thinks that God remembers not,

Or hides his face and will not know.

Arise, O Lord, lift up your hand,

O God, Protect the poor and meek;

Why should the proud your justice doubt,

And words of bold defiance speak?

The proud you will indeed repay,

No spiteful sin escapes your view;

The helpless and the fatherless

Commit themselves, O Lord, to you.

Break down the power of wicked men

And let their works no longer stand.

The Lord is King for evermore,

Who drove the nations from his land.

Lord, you have heard the lowly prayer,

The fainting heart you will restore,

The helpless' cause you will maintain,

That mortal man may boast no more. 

Amen.

 This psalm has been sung outside several abortion clinics.

Tune: Vision L M with refrain

        

1. 
Why do you stand afar, O Lord?
Why are you hid in trouble's hour?
The wicked do oppress the poor
In haughty pride and reckless pow'r.
Let their devices work their fall,
For in their shame is all their pride;
2.
And while they seek dishonest gain
The Lord of justice is defied.
In foolish pride the wicked thinks 
There is no God who will repay;
He has no fear of God or man
Because God's judgments long delay.
3. 
Unmoved by fear of coming doom,
On fraud and wickedness intent,
With craft he lurks and waits to catch
The helpless and the innocent.
A lion crouching for his prey, 
He waits the poor to overthrow.
4.
He thinks that God remembers not,
Or hides his face and will not know.
Arise, O Lord, lift up your hand,
O God, Protect the poor and meek;
Why should the proud your justice doubt,
And words of bold defiance speak?
5.
The proud you will indeed repay,
No spiteful sin escapes your view;
The helpless and the fatherless
Commit themselves, O Lord, to you.
Break down the power of wicked men
And let their works no longer stand.
6.
The Lord is King for evermore,
Who drove the nations from his land.
Lord, you have heard the lowly prayer,
The fainting heart you will restore,
The helpless' cause you will maintain,
That mortal man may boast no more. Amen.


adapted from the 1912 Psalter.