Psalm 10 asks a question every suffering person has asked: “Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?” It describes the proud and cruel who prey on the poor, and ends in trust: “To thee is the poor man left: thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.” In the Douay-Rheims it is the second half of Psalm 9 (verses 22–39). Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 10 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?
Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are caught in the counsels which they devise.
For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the unjust man is blessed.
The sinner hath provoked the Lord according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:
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.
For he hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from generation to generation, and shall be without evil.
His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: under his tongue are labour and sorrow.
He sitteth in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent.
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.
In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when he shall have power over the poor.
For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned away his face not to see to the end.
Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.
Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his heart: He will not require it.
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.
Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.
The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye Gentiles shall perish from his land.
The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard the preparation of their heart.
To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.
Psalm 10 or Psalm 9?
In the Hebrew Bible, followed by most modern translations, Psalms 9 and 10 are two psalms. In the Greek and Latin Bibles, and so in the Douay-Rheims, they form a single Psalm 9: Hebrew Psalm 9 is Douay 9:1–21 and Hebrew Psalm 10 is Douay 9:22–39. They really do belong together: in Hebrew they form one alphabetical poem. From here on, the Douay numbering runs one behind the Hebrew until Psalm 147. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- When God seems far away: the psalm is honest about the feeling that God is absent.
- The arrogance of the wicked: they say in their hearts, “God hath forgotten.”
- A mouth full of cursing: St. Paul quotes this verse to describe the sinfulness of the world (Romans 3:14).
- God sees: “Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow.”
- Helper of the orphan: God defends the weak, “that man may no more presume to magnify himself upon earth.”
How the Church uses Psalm 10
- In the Liturgy of the Hours.
- For victims of injustice, abuse and oppression, as a prayer that God will see and act.
A prayer with Psalm 10
Written for this page:
Lord, why do you seem so far away in times of trouble?
The proud oppress the poor and say you have forgotten.
But you see our pain and sorrow; the poor and the orphan are in your hands.
Arise, Lord, defend the helpless, and let no one terrorize the weak again. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Psalm 10 part of Psalm 9 in the Douay-Rheims?
The Greek and Latin Bibles join Psalms 9 and 10 into one psalm; Hebrew Psalm 10 corresponds to Douay 9:22–39.
What is Psalm 10 about?
A cry to God when he seems distant while the wicked oppress the poor, ending in trust that God defends the helpless.
More psalms and prayers
- Psalm 14 (The fool says there is no God)
- Psalm 9
- Psalm 13
- Psalm 22
- The works of mercy
- How many psalms are there?
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 9:22–39 (10); Romans 3:14, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.