Psalm 10 is another one that pleads with God to listen to the speaker. Verse 1 wonders out loud why God seems removed, why he's just not present when the speaker is in need.
Verses 2-5 show the attitudes and practices of the wicked people who trouble the speaker's heart. They harm the poor and they invent new ways to do wrong things. They are prideful and greedy and want nothing do to with God. I feel like the word "wicked" no longer has as harsh connotations as the Bible is trying to imply (even I use the word wicked in the cool sense of "wicked awesome"). But these wicked people aren't merely people who like to wear leather and play loud music; they are truly evil and destructive.
Verses 6-11 elaborate more on the inner thoughts and values of the wicked man. He has decided that no harm will ever befall him; he thinks he's invincible. He curses and lies and uses his words for the worst purposes he can. He kills innocent people and looks for ways to exploit the underprivileged. He doesn't think that God can see his actions, or if God can, God is not powerful enough to punish him.
Verses 12-15 are a call from the speaker to God, asking God to rise to action. God is the helper of the poor and fatherless, and he will not allow the wicked man to continue taking advantage of them.
Verses 16-18 praise God for vanquishing the evil people. God is a righteous judge, and he judges in favor of the weak.
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1Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
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.
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.
10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
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.
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
17 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
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