Psalms 10 [Psalms 10:1] WHY STANDEST THOU AFAR OFF, O LORD? WHY HIDEST THOU THYSELF IN TIMES OF  TROUBLE? S.R. Hirsch points out that Psalm has no heading and in content is a continuation of the previous Psalm 9.  In Psalm 9 however the theme was more against the evil heathen who spitefully oppose and oppress (when they can) Israel and Judah. This present Psalm emphasizes the attitude of individual evildoers who do bad unto the humble and vulnerable. The psychological concept is the same.  The heathen non-Israelite nations despise Israelites (such as the British and Americans) because they think they are weak and soft. They consider the good that these Israelites do and the compassion they display to testify to a lack of  "backbone".  They hate Judah for similar reasons. In their eyes:  The Jews are intellectuals,  people who pray in synagogues and objects of contempt  for all kinds of  different reasons. That is also why the Arabs are against the State of Israel.  In a similar way evil malicious persons often have contempt for those they see as weaker than themselves. To their mind the victim "invites" the crime. This frame of thought has also penetrated the thinking of social workers, educational supervisors, and law enforcement people.  To some degree there may even be something to it. We have all heard of the woman (for instance) who was married three times and in each case was beaten badly by her husband, as if in some way she sought out such men in advance.  Whatever the case, God  as he reveals Himself in the Bible does not agree that evil be done or tolerated. We must also note that in our own personalities we all have such tendencies and though we suppress them sometimes they come to the surface.  We can channel our tendencies in positive directions and are forbidden to let them lead us along a wrong path. [Psalms 10:2] THE WICKED IN HIS PRIDE DOTH PERSECUTE THE POOR: LET THEM BE TAKEN IN THE  DEVICES THAT THEY HAVE IMAGINED. S.R. Hirsch says that "poor" does not necessarily mean here poverty stricken but rather anyone who is dependent upon others, e.g. an employee abused and exploited by  someone in authority over him or her.  This could be justified by the  Hebrew word  "ANI" used here for "poor". "Ani" can also connote "answer" i.e. "answer to" be dependent upon. [Psalms 10:3] FOR THE WICKED BOASTETH OF HIS HEART'S DESIRE, AND BLESSETH THE COVETOUS,  WHOM THE LORD ABHORRETH. Also translatable as saying: <<The wicked gives praise to the lust of his mind and blesses the carrying out of his plotting, This is blasphemy before the LORD>>. We all recognize the sinner who laughs over his "conquests". [Psalms 10:4] THE WICKED, THROUGH THE PRIDE OF HIS COUNTENANCE, WILL NOT SEEK AFTER GOD:  GOD IS NOT IN ALL HIS THOUGHTS.  From the negative the positive can be learned. If you are in trouble and forced to behave in ways that are wrong seek after God and you will be enabled to overcome. [Psalms 10:5] HIS WAYS ARE ALWAYS GRIEVOUS; THY JUDGMENTS ARE FAR ABOVE OUT OF HIS SIGHT: AS FOR ALL HIS ENEMIES, HE PUFFETH AT THEM. << HIS WAYS ARE ALWAYS GRIEVOUS>> alternately "He renews his ways constantly". The height (i.e. depth) of  Your judegements are beyond him, he dismisses with disdain all who oppose him. [Psalms 10:6] HE HATH SAID IN HIS HEART, I SHALL NOT BE MOVED: FOR I SHALL NEVER BE IN ADVERSITY. [Psalms 10:7] HIS MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND DECEIT AND FRAUD: UNDER HIS TONGUE IS   MISCHIEF AND VANITY. [Psalms 10:8] HE SITTETH IN THE LURKING PLACES OF THE VILLAGES: IN THE SECRET PLACES DOTH HE  MURDER THE INNOCENT: HIS EYES ARE PRIVILY SET AGAINST THE POOR. [Psalms 10:9] HE LIETH IN WAIT SECRETLY AS A LION IN HIS DEN: HE LIETH IN WAIT TO CATCH THE   POOR: HE DOTH CATCH THE POOR, WHEN HE DRAWETH HIM INTO HIS NET. [Psalms 10:10] HE CROUCHETH, AND HUMBLETH HIMSELF, THAT THE POOR MAY FALL BY HIS STRONG ONES. [Psalms 10:11] HE HATH SAID IN HIS HEART, GOD HATH FORGOTTEN: HE HIDETH HIS FACE; HE WILL NEVER SEE IT. [Psalms 10:12] ARISE, O LORD; O GOD, LIFT UP THINE HAND: FORGET NOT THE HUMBLE. <<HUMBLE>>: S.R. Hirsch points out that the word for "humble" is here spelled differently from what is usually considered the correct way. The root "ANI" is connected to meanings of "answer to, because of, humility, poverty, oppression":  It is here spelled in  such a way as to hint that all of these meanings are intended at once.  Hirsch says it means that God is being asked not to forget the humble and also those who have departed from the True Path due to poverty, or oppression.  People who suffer in life  sometimres find it difficult to recognize the fact of Divine Providence. [Psalms 10:13] WHEREFORE DOTH THE WICKED CONTEMN GOD? HE HATH SAID IN HIS HEART,  THOU WILT NOT REQUIRE IT. [Psalms 10:14] THOU HAST SEEN IT; FOR THOU BEHOLDEST MISCHIEF AND SPITE, TO REQUITE IT WITH THY HAND: THE POOR COMMITTETH HIMSELF UNTO THEE; THOU ART THE HELPER OF THE FATHERLESS. [Psalms 10:15] BREAK THOU THE ARM OF THE WICKED AND THE EVIL MAN: SEEK OUT HIS  WICKEDNESS TILL THOU FIND NONE. If you punish the wicked for their wickedness they will cease from  their wicked ways. [Psalms 10:16] THE LORD IS KING FOR EVER AND EVER: THE HEATHEN ARE PERISHED OUT OF HIS LAND. <<HEATHEN>>: Hebrew "Goyim".  The wicked non-Israelite murderers and terrorists and oppressors of they consider to be weak will be expelled from the Land of Israel. [Psalms 10:17] LORD, THOU HAST HEARD THE DESIRE OF THE HUMBLE: THOU WILT PREPARE THEIR  HEART, THOU WILT CAUSE THINE EAR TO HEAR: [Psalms 10:18] TO JUDGE THE FATHERLESS AND THE OPPRESSED, THAT THE MAN OF THE EARTH MAY NO MORE OPPRESS. <<THAT THE MAN OF THE EARTH MAY NO MORE OPPRESS>>: rather it should be rendered: <<That humane human beings should no longer be oppressed from off the earth>>.  The victims of oppression and evil are sometimes driven to desperation and feel they have no where to go in this world. God is being called upon to terminate the existence of evil and evil-doers so that this bad state of affairs should no more apply. Psalms Index HOme