The big picture
Psalms 10 opens in verse 1 with “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD ? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he…”, and closes in verse 18 with “To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more…” Repeated or prominent terms include poor, LORD, wicked, heart, catch. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 18Psalms 10:1-6
1–6: Why standest thou afar off, O LORD ? why hidest thou thyself in times of…
Psalms 10:1–6 opens with “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD ? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” and reaches “He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 10 develops its own movement around poor, LORD, wicked, heart, catch, with particular weight carried by wicked, LORD, pride.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Psalms 10:1-6
King James Version1Why standest thou afar off, O LORD ? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
4The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
5His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
Psalms 10:7-12
7–12: His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is…
Psalms 10:7–12 opens with “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.” and reaches “Arise, O LORD ; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 10 develops its own movement around poor, LORD, wicked, heart, catch, with particular weight carried by poor, catch, lieth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 10:7-12
King James Version7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
8He 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.
9He 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.
10He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12Arise, O LORD ; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Psalms 10:13-18
13–18: Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou…
Psalms 10:13–18 opens with “Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.” and reaches “To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 10 develops its own movement around poor, LORD, wicked, heart, catch, with particular weight carried by fatherless, heart, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Psalms 10:13-18
King James Version13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
14Thou 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.
15Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
16The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
17LORD , thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
18To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 10:1 begins with “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD ? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 10:13 forms a natural hinge: “Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.”
The final note
Psalms 10:18 leaves the reader with “To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words poor, LORD, wicked, heart, catch, desire help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.