Psalm 10:1-18
Why dost Thou stand afar off, O Lord?
Why dost Thou hide Thyself in times of trouble?
[2] In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
[3] For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire,
And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.
[4] The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.
All his thoughts are, "There is no God."
[5] His ways prosper at all times;
Thy judgments are on high, out of his sight;
As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.
[6] He says to himself, "I shall not be moved;
Throughout all generations I shall not be in adversity."
[7] His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
[8] He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
In the hiding places he kills the innocent;
His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.
[9] He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair;
He lurks to catch the afflicted;
He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.
[10] He crouches, he bows down,
And the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.
[11] He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
He has hidden His face; He will never see it."
[12] Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Thy hand.
Do not forget the afflicted.
[13] Why has the wicked spurned God?
He has said to himself, "Thou wilt not require it."
[14] Thou hast seen it, for Thou hast beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Thy hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to Thee;
Thou hast been the helper of the orphan.
[15] Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,
Seek out his wickedness until Thou dost find none.
[16] The Lord is King forever and ever;
Nations have perished from His land.
[17] O Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble;
Thou wilt strengthen their heart, Thou wilt incline Thine ear
[18] To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
That man who is of the earth may cause terror no more.
Psalm 10 - Psalm 10:1-18
Open It
Why dost Thou stand afar off, O Lord?
Why dost Thou hide Thyself in times of trouble?
[2] In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
[3] For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire,
And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.
[4] The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.
All his thoughts are, "There is no God."
[5] His ways prosper at all times;
Thy judgments are on high, out of his sight;
As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.
[6] He says to himself, "I shall not be moved;
Throughout all generations I shall not be in adversity."
[7] His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
[8] He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
In the hiding places he kills the innocent;
His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.
[9] He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair;
He lurks to catch the afflicted;
He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.
[10] He crouches, he bows down,
And the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.
[11] He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
He has hidden His face; He will never see it."
[12] Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Thy hand.
Do not forget the afflicted.
[13] Why has the wicked spurned God?
He has said to himself, "Thou wilt not require it."
[14] Thou hast seen it, for Thou hast beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Thy hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to Thee;
Thou hast been the helper of the orphan.
[15] Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,
Seek out his wickedness until Thou dost find none.
[16] The Lord is King forever and ever;
Nations have perished from His land.
[17] O Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble;
Thou wilt strengthen their heart, Thou wilt incline Thine ear
[18] To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
That man who is of the earth may cause terror no more.
Psalm 10 - Psalm 10:1-18
Open It
1. When has your mouth gotten you in trouble?
*2. What unfair or wrong actions do people often seem to get away with?
3. What's one thing you remember your mother saying to you?
Explore It
4. How did the psalm writer feel about his circumstances before he put his confidence in the Lord's deliverance? (10:1)
5. From what did the psalm writer need to be rescued? (10:1-18)
6. How are innocent people affected by the actions of wicked people? (10:2, 8-10)
7. Where do wicked people get their confidence? (10:2-10)
*8. How are wicked people described in this psalm? (10:2-11)
9. What are the sins of the wicked? (10:2-11)
10. What accusations did the psalm writer make against the wicked? (10:2-11)
11. What attitudes do wicked people have toward God? (10:3-11)
12. What three weapons of the tongue do wicked people employ? (10:7)
*13. What action did the psalm writer want the Lord to take on his behalf? (10:12, 15)
14. In what way did the psalm writer want God to prove the wicked wrong? (10:13-14)
15. To what character trait of the Lord did the psalm writer appeal? (10:14)
*16. Where did the psalm writer place his confidence and why? (10:16-18)
Get It
17. Why do you think the words that we say have such power?
18. What are some ways words can be used for good?
19. What does the psalm writer's boldness in this prayer reveal about his relationship with the Lord?
20. How would you like your prayer habits to change, in light of the psalm writer's example?
21. How do you sometimes feel about your problems before you trust the Lord with them?
22. In what ways do you feel different about your problems after you have committed them to the Lord in prayer?
23. How does praying about our problems help us?
24. Who is one person you have a hard time tolerating?
*25. How does this passage encourage you to handle your problems?
26. How should we handle our frustration with unfairness or wrongdoing that goes unpunished?
27. What action would you like the Lord to take on your behalf?
28. To what character traits of the Lord can you appeal?
29. What reasons do you have to place your confidence in the Lord?
30. What are the sins of the wicked today?
31. How can we guard against committing the sins described in this psalm?
32. What action can we take to control our tongues?
*33. What injustice do you need to commit to the Lord?
Apply It
34. In what situation can you demonstrate trust the Lord's justice?
*35. Concerning what "wicked" person or situation do you need to pray Psalm 10?
AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM
A child of the LORD who is King for ever and ever.
A child having the ear of my heavenly Father.
