Psalm 10 Prayed

Psalm 10 Prayed Deliver us from abuse of power    Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?             Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?    The world is full of injustice and oppression:             Across the globe politicians, military dictators             and religious leaders abuse their people             and lead them astray.    They have neglected the more important matters of             the law;             justice, mercy and faithfulness.   They play their own people for fools,             and milk them dry,             they take from the poor to prosper the rich.    And corrupt corporations love it so:             They buy their politicians,             and receive ten-fold in response.    They exploit their workers,             the environment groans under their abuses.    Drug dealers flaunt their wealth,                   stolen from the misery of millions.    In his arrogance the wicked man                   hunts down the weak,             who are caught in the schemes he devises.    He boasts of the cravings of his heart;             he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.    In his pride the wicked does not seek him;             in all his thoughts there is no room for God.    His ways are always prosperous;             he is haughty and your laws are far from him;             he sneers at all his enemies.    He says to himself, “Nothing will shake me;             I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.”    His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;             trouble and evil are under his tongue.    He is like a bandit who lies in wait          near the villages;             from ambush he murders the innocent,             watching in secret for his victims.    He lies in wait like a lion in cover;             he lies in wait to catch the helpless;             he catches the helpless                   and drags them off in his net.    His victims are crushed, they collapse;             they fall under his strength.    He says to himself, “God has forgotten;             he covers his face and never sees.”     Arise, Lord Jesus! Lift up your hand, O God.             Do not forget the helpless.    Why do these wicked people revile you?             Why does they say to themselves,             “God won’t call me to account”?    May rich people listen to you, O God,             and weep and wail because of the misery             that is coming upon them.     May they see how their wealth has rotted,             and moths have eaten their clothes.     Their gold and silver are corroded.             This corrosion will testify against them             and eat their flesh like fire.    They have hoarded wealth in the last days.              The wages they failed to pay their workers              who mowed their fields    and the labours in their factories             are crying out against them.    The cries of the exploited labourer             have reached your ears, O Lord Almighty.     They have lived on earth in luxury and self-             indulgence.             They have fattened themselves in the day of             slaughter.     They have condemned and murdered innocent             people,             who were not opposing them.     But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;             you consider it to take it in hand.     The victim commits himself to you;             you are the helper of the fatherless.     Break the power of the wicked and evil man;             call him to account for his wickedness             that would not be found out.    You, Lord Jesus, are King of all governments             for ever and ever;    May the abuse of the nations                   perish from your world.    Hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted;             encourage them,                   and listen to their cry.    Defend the fatherless and the oppressed,                   in order that these people, who are of the               earth,  may terrify no more. Psalm 10 1   Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?             Why do you hide yourself                   in times of trouble? Matt. 23:23  …But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. 2   In his arrogance the wicked man                   hunts down the weak,             who are caught in the schemes                   he devises. 3   He boasts of the cravings of his heart;             he blesses the greedy                   and reviles the LORD. 4   In his pride the wicked does not seek him;             in all his thoughts there is no room                   for God. 5    His ways are always prosperous;             he is haughty and your laws                   are far from him;             he sneers at all his enemies. 6    He says to himself, “Nothing will shake me;             I’ll always be happy                   and never have trouble.” 7    His mouth is full of curses                   and lies and threats;             trouble and evil are under his tongue. 8    He lies in wait near the villages;             from ambush he murders the innocent,             watching in secret for his victims. 9    He lies in wait like a lion in cover;             he lies in wait to catch the helpless;             he catches the helpless                   and drags them off in his net. 10   His victims are crushed, they collapse;              they fall under his strength. 11   He says to himself, “God has forgotten;              he covers his face and never sees.” 12   Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.             Do not forget the helpless. 13    Why does the wicked man revile God?              Why does he say to himself,             “He won’t call me to account”? James 5:1               Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.    14   But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;             you consider it to take it in hand.        The victim commits himself to you;              you are the helper of the fatherless. 15   Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;             call him to account for his wickedness             that would not be found out. 16   The LORD is King for ever and ever;              the nations will perish from his land. 17    You hear, O LORD,                   the desire of the afflicted;             you encourage them,                   and you listen to their cry, 18   defending the fatherless and the oppressed,             in order that man, who is of the earth,             may terrify no more.