Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PSALM: 10, by JOSEPH HALL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PSALM: 10, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Why stand'st thou lord aloof so long
Last Line: On vs may tyrannize no more.
Subject(s): Curses; God; Hearts; Poverty; Pride; Self-esteem; Self-respect


1 Why stand'st thou Lord aloof so long
& hid'st thee in due times of need
2 Whiles leud men proudly offer wrong
Vnto the poore? In their owne deed,
And their deuise let them be caught.
3 For lo, the wicked braues and boasts
In his vile and outragious thought,
And blesseth him that rauins most.

4 On God he dares insult: his pride
Scornes to inquire of powers aboue,
But his stout thoughts haue stil deni'd
5 Ther is a God; His waies yet proue
Aye prosperous: thy iudgements hye
Doe farre surmount his dimmer sight.
6 Therfore doth he all foes defie:
His heart saith; I shal stand in spight,

Nor euer moue; nor danger 'bide.
7 His mouth is fill'd with curses foule,
And with close fraud: His tongue doth hide
8 Mischief & il: he seeks the soule
Of harmlesse men in secret wait,
And in the corners of the street,
Doth shed their blood; with scorne and hate
His eyes vpon the poore are set.

9 As some fell Lyon in his den,
He closely lurkes the poore to spoile,
He spoiles the poore and helplesse men,
When once he snares them in his toile.
10 He croucheth lowe in cunning wile,
And bows his breast; wheron whol throngs
Of poor, whom his fair showes beguile,
Fall to be subiect to his wrongs.

11 God hath forgot, (in soule he sayes)
He hides his face to neuer see.
12 Lord God arise; thine hand vp-raise:
Let not the poore forgotten be.
13 Shal these insulting wretches scorne
Their God; and say thou wilt not care?
14 Thou see'st, (for all thou hast forborn)
Thou see'st what al their mischiefs are;

That to thine hand of vengeance iust
Thou maist them take: the poor distressed
Rely on thee with constant trust,
The help of Orphans and oppressed.
15 Oh! break the wickeds arme of might,
And search out al their cursed trains,
And let them vanish out of sight.
16 The Lord as King for euer raignes.

From forth his coasts, the heathen sect
17 Are rooted quite: thou Lord attendest
To poore mens suites; thou doo'st direct
Their harts: to them thine eare thou bendest;
18 That thou maist rescue, from despight,
The wofull fatherlesse, and poore:
That, so, the vaine and earthen wight
On vs may tyrannize no more.





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