Psalms 10:12-18

12 Lord, rise up and punish the wicked. Don't forget those who need help.

13 Why do wicked people hate God? They say to themselves, "God won't punish us."

14 Lord, surely you see these cruel and evil things; look at them and do something. People in trouble look to you for help. You are the one who helps the orphans.

15 Break the power of wicked people. Punish them for the evil they have done.

16 The Lord is King forever and ever. Destroy from your land those nations that do not worship you.

17 Lord, you have heard what the poor people want. Do what they ask, and listen to them.

18 Protect the orphans and put an end to suffering so they will no longer be afraid of evil people. For the director of music. Of David.

Psalms 10:12-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 10

This psalm in the Septuagint version, and those that follow it, is a part and continuation of the preceding psalm, and makes but one with it; hence in these versions the number of the following psalms differ from others, and what is the eleventh with others is the tenth with them, and so on to the hundred fourteenth and one hundred fifteenth, which also are put into one; but in order to make up the whole number of one hundred and fifty, the hundred sixteenth and the hundred forty seventh are both divided into two; and indeed the subject of this psalm is much the same with the former. Antichrist and antichristian times are very manifestly described; the impiety, blasphemy, and atheism of the man of sin; his pride, haughtiness, boasting of himself, and presumption of security; his persecution of the poor, and murder of innocents, are plainly pointed at; nor does the character of the man of the earth agree to well to any as to him: his times are times of trouble; but at the end of them the kingdom of Christ will appear in great glory, when the Gentiles, the antichristian nations, will perish out of his land, Ps 10:1-11,16,18.