Why Do You Stand Far Off
Psalm 10 summary: what it means
Psalm 10 opens with two questions. Why does the LORD stand far off, and why does he hide in times of trouble? Most of the psalm then describes the wicked person in detail. He is proud, greedy and sure of himself. He lies in wait like a lion to catch the helpless. He tells himself that God has forgotten and will never see. The psalm names this attitude plainly before it turns to prayer.
The turn comes at verse 12, with a call for the LORD to arise and not forget the helpless. Verse 14 answers the wicked man's boast directly: God does see trouble and grief. The psalm ends in confidence. The LORD is King forever, he has heard the desire of the humble, and man, who is of the earth, will terrify no more.
Psalm 10: Why Do You Stand Far Off
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-10
Psalm 10 commentary: explained verse by verse
Why do you stand far off, LORD?Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
The psalm starts with a complaint, not a greeting. The writer asks why the LORD stands far off and hides in times of trouble. The question is left hanging for the next eleven verses.
Also read Psalm 46:1, Psalm 88:14, Job 13:24, Jeremiah 14:8
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak.They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
This verse sets out the problem. In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. The second line says they are caught in the very schemes they devise.
Also read Psalm 119:5, Psalm 59:12, Isaiah 10:12-13, Psalm 119:69
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings.He blesses the greedy and condemns the LORD.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Also read Isaiah 37:23, Psalm 49:18, Zechariah 11:5-8, Isaiah 10:7-11
The wicked, in the pride of his face,has no room in his thoughts for God.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Pride is shown as the root of the wicked man's behaviour. There is no room in his thoughts for God. The psalm is describing a way of living, not only a belief.
Also read Psalm 101:5, Proverbs 21:4, Romans 1:21, Proverbs 30:13
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.
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Also read Isaiah 28:15, Psalm 12:5, Isaiah 42:25, Genesis 6:12
He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken.For generations I shall have no trouble.”
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
Also read Nahum 1:10, Psalm 11:1, Ecclesiastes 8:11, Psalm 14:1
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression.Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Also read Job 15:35, James 3:6-8, Psalm 36:3, Psalm 59:12
He lies in wait near the villages.From ambushes, he murders the innocent.His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
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.
The picture becomes an ambush near the villages. The wicked man murders the innocent from hiding and watches the helpless in secret. He is described as a hunter rather than an open enemy.
Also read Luke 10:1, 1 Samuel 22:18, Jeremiah 22:17, Psalm 94:6
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 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.
Also read Habakkuk 3:14, Psalm 59:3, Proverbs 28:15, Psalm 17:12
The helpless are crushed.They collapse.They fall under his strength.
He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
The effect on the victims is given in three short statements. The helpless are crushed, they collapse, and they fall under his strength. The victims have no voice of their own here, and the psalm speaks for them.
Also read 1 Samuel 23:21-22, 1 Samuel 2:36, 2 Samuel 15:5, 1 Samuel 18:21-26
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten.He hides his face.He will never see it.”
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Here the wicked man's inner thought is quoted. He believes God has forgotten, hides his face and will never see. It is the same charge the writer raised in verse 1, now used as an excuse for wrongdoing.
Also read Luke 7:39, Psalm 10:6, Ezekiel 9:9, Psalm 64:5
Arise, LORD!God, lift up your hand!Don’t forget the helpless.
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
This is the turning point of the psalm. After eleven verses of description, the writer calls on the LORD to arise and lift up his hand. The request is specific: do not forget the helpless.
Also read Psalm 17:7, Psalm 7:6, Psalm 9:19, Psalm 13:1
Why does the wicked person condemn God,and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
The writer asks why the wicked person condemns God. The quoted thought is that God will not call him to account. The question sets up the answer in the next verse.
Also read Genesis 9:5, Psalm 74:18, Genesis 42:22, Numbers 11:20
But you do see trouble and grief.You consider it to take it into your hand.You help the victim and the fatherless.
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.
This verse answers the wicked man directly. God does see trouble and grief, and considers taking it into his own hand. The victim and the fatherless are named as the people he helps.
Also read Jeremiah 16:17, Deuteronomy 10:18, 2 Kings 9:26, Psalm 68:5
Break the arm of the wicked.As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
Also read Job 38:15, Zephaniah 1:12, Ezekiel 23:48, Psalm 37:17
The LORD is King forever and ever!The nations will perish out of his land.
The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
The psalm moves from pleading to a statement of confidence. The LORD is King forever and ever. The nations perishing from his land shows the psalm's belief that his rule outlasts every threat to it.
Also read Psalm 145:13, Psalm 44:2-3, Psalm 29:10, Daniel 6:26
LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble.You will prepare their heart.You will cause your ear to hear,
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
The writer now speaks as someone who has been heard. The LORD has heard the desire of the humble, will prepare their heart and will listen. The distant God of verse 1 is now described as attentive.
Also read Matthew 5:3, James 4:10, Romans 8:26, Psalm 37:4
to judge the fatherless and the oppressed,that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
The final verse names the purpose of God's listening. He hears in order to judge the cause of the fatherless and the oppressed. The last line hopes that man, who is of the earth, will terrify no more.
Also read Psalm 10:14, Luke 18:7-8, Psalm 82:3, Psalm 74:21
A prayer from Psalm 10
LORD, why do you seem to stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? The proud hunt down the weak and say in their hearts that you have forgotten and will never see. But you do see trouble and grief. You take note of it, to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. Arise, LORD, and do not forget the helpless. I leave the wrongdoer to your judgement. You are King forever and ever. You hear the desire of the humble. Prepare our hearts, and turn your ear toward us. Amen.
Psalm 10 Bible study questions
- In verse 1, what two questions does the speaker ask God?
- In verses 6, 11 and 13, what does the wicked person say in his heart?
- The psalm opens by asking why God stands far off; how do you respond when God seems distant?
- Verse 14 answers the wicked by saying you do see trouble and grief; what difference does it make to you that someone sees what is happening?
- Psalm 10:1 and Psalm 22:1 both ask why God seems far away; how do the two openings compare?
Questions about Psalm 10
What does Psalm 10 mean?
It is a lament about God seeming distant while the wicked prey on the weak. It describes the wicked man's pride and violence, calls on the LORD to act, and ends confident that he hears the humble.
Who wrote Psalm 10?
The psalm does not name its author and has no heading. In the numbering of the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, Psalms 9 and 10 are counted together as a single psalm.
What does Psalm 10:17 mean?
It says the LORD has heard the desire of the humble, will prepare their heart and will listen to them. It answers the complaint of verse 1 that God seemed far off.
What does Psalm 10:12 say?
It is the turning point of the psalm: a call for the LORD to arise, lift up his hand and not forget the helpless.
What is the KJV wording of Psalm 10:1?
The King James Version reads: "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?"
Is there a Psalm 10:19?
No. Psalm 10 has 18 verses. It ends with the hope that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
Psalm 10 KJV: the King James Version
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?1
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.2
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.3
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.4
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.5
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.6
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.7
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.8
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.9
He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.10
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.11
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.12
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.13
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.14
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.15
The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.16
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:17
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.18
Psalm 10 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לָמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תַּעֲמֹ֣ד בְּרָח֑וֹק תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים לְעִתּ֥וֹת בַּצָּרָֽה׃
2 בְּגַאֲוַ֣ת רָ֭שָׁע יִדְלַ֣ק עָנִ֑י יִתָּפְשׂ֓וּ ׀ בִּמְזִמּ֖וֹת ז֣וּ חָשָֽׁבוּ׃
3 כִּֽי־הִלֵּ֣ל רָ֭שָׁע עַל־תַּאֲוַ֣ת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וּבֹצֵ֥עַ בֵּ֝רֵ֗ךְ נִ֘אֵ֥ץ ׀ יְהוָֽה׃
4 רָשָׁ֗ע כְּגֹ֣בַהּ אַ֭פּוֹ בַּל־יִדְרֹ֑שׁ אֵ֥ין אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים כָּל־מְזִמּוֹתָֽיו׃
5 יָ֘חִ֤ילוּ דרכו ׀ בְּכָל־עֵ֗ת מָר֣וֹם מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶיךָ מִנֶּגְדּ֑וֹ כָּל־צ֝וֹרְרָ֗יו יָפִ֥יחַ בָּהֶֽם׃
6 אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ בַּל־אֶמּ֑וֹט לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־בְרָֽע׃
7 אָלָ֤ה פִּ֣יהוּ מָ֭לֵא וּמִרְמ֣וֹת וָתֹ֑ךְ תַּ֥חַת לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ עָמָ֥ל וָאָֽוֶן׃
8 יֵשֵׁ֤ב ׀ בְּמַאְרַ֬ב חֲצֵרִ֗ים בַּֽ֭מִּסְתָּרִים יַהֲרֹ֣ג נָקִ֑י עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃
9 יֶאֱרֹ֬ב בַּמִּסְתָּ֨ר ׀ כְּאַרְיֵ֬ה בְסֻכֹּ֗ה יֶ֭אֱרֹב לַחֲט֣וֹף עָנִ֑י יַחְטֹ֥ף עָ֝נִ֗י בְּמָשְׁכ֥וֹ בְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
10 ודכה יָשֹׁ֑חַ וְנָפַ֥ל בַּ֝עֲצוּמָ֗יו חלכאים ׃
11 אָמַ֣ר בְּ֭לִבּוֹ שָׁ֣כַֽח אֵ֑ל הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּ֝נָ֗יו בַּל־רָאָ֥ה לָנֶֽצַח׃
12 קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֭ל נְשָׂ֣א יָדֶ֑ךָ אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח עניים׃
13 עַל־מֶ֤ה ׀ נִאֵ֖ץ רָשָׁ֥ע ׀ אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָמַ֥ר בְּ֝לִבּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תִּדְרֹֽשׁ׃
14 רָאִ֡תָה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה ׀ עָ֘מָ֤ל וָכַ֨עַס ׀ תַּבִּיט֮ לָתֵ֪ת בְּיָ֫דֶ֥ךָ עָ֭לֶיךָ יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֶ֑כָה יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀ הָיִ֬יתָ עוֹזֵֽר׃
15 שְׁ֭בֹר זְר֣וֹעַ רָשָׁ֑ע וָ֝רָ֗ע תִּֽדְרוֹשׁ־רִשְׁע֥וֹ בַל־תִּמְצָֽא׃
16 יְהוָ֣ה מֶ֭לֶךְ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד אָבְד֥וּ ג֝וֹיִ֗ם מֵֽאַרְצֽוֹ׃
17 תַּאֲוַ֬ת עֲנָוִ֣ים שָׁמַ֣עְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה תָּכִ֥ין לִ֝בָּ֗ם תַּקְשִׁ֥יב אָזְנֶֽךָ׃
18 לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יָת֗וֹם וָ֫דָ֥ךְ בַּל־יוֹסִ֥יף ע֑וֹד לַעֲרֹ֥ץ אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Psalm 10 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 9, verses 22 to 39 there.
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22 Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?
23 Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise.
24 For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.
25 The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:
26 God is not before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times. Thy judgments are removed from his sight: he shall rule over all his enemies.
27 For he hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.
28 His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.
29 He sitteth in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent.
30 His eyes are upon the poor man: He lieth in wait in secret like a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush that he may catch the poor man: to catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him.
31 In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
32 For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.
33 Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.
34 Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it.
35 Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.
36 Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.
37 The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land.
38 The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.
39 To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.
Psalm 10 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 9, verses 22 to 39.
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22 Ut quid, Domine, recessisti longe; despicis in opportunitatibus, in tribulatione?
23 Dum superbit impius, incenditur pauper: comprehenduntur in consiliis quibus cogitant.
24 Quoniam laudatur peccator in desideriis animæ suæ, et iniquus benedicitur.
25 Exacerbavit Dominum peccator: secundum multitudinem iræ suæ, non quæret.
26 Non est Deus in conspectu ejus; inquinatæ sunt viæ illius in omni tempore. Auferuntur judicia tua a facie ejus; omnium inimicorum suorum dominabitur.
27 Dixit enim in corde suo: Non movebor a generatione in generationem, sine malo.
28 Cujus maledictione os plenum est, et amaritudine, et dolo; sub lingua ejus labor et dolor.
29 Sedet in insidiis cum divitibus in occultis, ut interficiat innocentem.
30 Oculi ejus in pauperem respiciunt; insidiatur in abscondito, quasi leo in spelunca sua. Insidiatur ut rapiat pauperem; rapere pauperem dum attrahit eum.
31 In laqueo suo humiliabit eum; inclinabit se, et cadet cum dominatus fuerit pauperum.
32 Dixit enim in corde suo: Oblitus est Deus; avertit faciem suam, ne videat in finem.
33 Exsurge, Domine Deus, exaltetur manus tua; ne obliviscaris pauperum.
34 Propter quid irritavit impius Deum? dixit enim in corde suo: Non requiret.
35 Vides, quoniam tu laborem et dolorem consideras, ut tradas eos in manus tuas. Tibi derelictus est pauper; orphano tu eris adjutor.
36 Contere brachium peccatoris et maligni; quæretur peccatum illius, et non invenietur.
37 Dominus regnabit in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi; peribitis, gentes, de terra illius.
38 Desiderium pauperum exaudivit Dominus; præparationem cordis eorum audivit auris tua:
39 judicare pupillo et humili, ut non apponat ultra magnificare se homo super terram.
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Psalm 10 at a glance
| Verses | 18 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | Not named in the text. Psalm 10 has no heading of its own. |
| Type | Lament |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 9 (Psalms 9 and 10 are one psalm there) |
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Psalm 10 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 10 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 10 belongs
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Psalm numbering: Wikipedia, Psalms: the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate numbering, in which Psalms 9 and 10 are one psalm source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source