What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
PSALMS • CHAPTER 10
Psalms 10
Prayer, praise, lament, kingship, justice, suffering, worship, wisdom, anger, hope, and Israel's poetic life with God.
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Psalms 10
WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE
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1
Why do you stand far off, Yahweh?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
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.
They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
3
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings.
He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh.
4
The wicked, in the pride of his face,
has no room in his thoughts for God.
has no room in his thoughts for God.
5
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.
He is arrogant, 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.”
For generations I shall have no trouble.”
7
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression.
Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
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.
From ambushes, he murders the innocent.
His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
9
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.
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.
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.”
He hides his face.
He will never see it.”
12
Arise, Yahweh!
God, lift up your hand!
Don’t forget the helpless.
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?”
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.
You consider it to take it into your hand.
You help the victim and the fatherless.
15
Break the arm of the wicked.
As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
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.
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,
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.
that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
POETRY
Where this chapter fits
Psalms belongs to Israel's wisdom/poetic tradition, where literary form matters as much as historical setting.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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