Finding Hope in the Darkness | Day 2: Psalms 10–17 Audio Bible for Reflection & Strength

Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.

For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns the LORD.

The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.

His ways are prosperous at all times. He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”

His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.

He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.

The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.

He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”

Arise, LORD! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.

Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?

But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.

Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

The LORD is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.

LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,

to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

For the Chief Musician. By David. In the LORD, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The LORD is in his holy temple. The LORD is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.

The LORD examines the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.

On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

For the LORD is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

The LORD’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

You will keep them, LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me?

Behold, and answer me, LORD, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;

lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him;” lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD, because he has been good to me.

For the Chief Musician. By David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.

The LORD looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God.

They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one.

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on the LORD?

There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous.

You frustrate the plan of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

A Psalm by David. LORD, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;

he who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

in whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.

A Poem by David. Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.

My soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.”

As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips.

The LORD assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance.

I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.

For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.

You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.

A Prayer by David. Hear, LORD, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.

Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.

You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.

As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.

I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.

Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.

Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.

They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.

They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.

He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Arise, LORD, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

from men by your hand, LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.

As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.