Do Not Forget the Afflicted
ל — Lamedh
1Why ado You stand afar off, O Yahweh?Why bdo You hide 2Yourself in times of distress?This poem continues the acrostic pattern started in Ps 9Or Your eyesPs 22:1Ps 13:1; 55:12 In his alofty pride the wicked 1hotly pursues the afflicted;2Let them be bcaught in the thoughts which they have devised.Lit burnOr They will be caughtPs 73:6, 8Ps 7:16; 9:16
3 For the wicked aboasts of his bsoul’s desire,And 1the greedy man curses and cspurns Yahweh.Or blesses the greedy manPs 49:6; 94:3, 4Ps 112:10Ps 10:134 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, adoes not seek Him.All his 1thoughts are, “bThere is no God.”Or plotsPs 10:13; 36:2Ps 14:1; 36:1
פ — Pe
ע — Ayin
8 He sits in the 1aplaces of the villages where one lies in wait;In the hiding places he bkills the innocent;His eyes 2stealthily watch for the 3cunfortunate.Lit place of lying in waitLit lie hiddenOr poorPs 11:2Ps 94:6Ps 72:129 He lies in wait in a hiding place as aa lion in his 1lair;He blies in wait to catch cthe afflicted;He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his dnet.Or thicketPs 17:12Ps 59:3; Mic 7:2Ps 10:2Ps 140:510 He 1crouches, he 2bows down,And the 3unfortunate fall 4by his mighty ones.Or is crushedOr is bowed downOr poorOr into his claws11 He asays in his heart, “God has forgotten;He has hidden His face; He will never see it.”Ps 10:4
ק — Qoph
ר — Resh
ש — Shin
ת — Tav
17 O Yahweh, You have heard the adesire of the 1humble;You will bstrengthen their heart, cYou will cause Your ear to give heedOr afflicted, cf. Ps 10:12Ps 9:181 Chr 29:18Ps 34:1518 To give justice to the aorphan and the boppressed,So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause cterror.Ps 146:9Ps 9:9; 74:21Is 29:20