Lyrics
Why do You stand so far away, Yahweh?
Why do You hide Yourself in troubled times?
For the wicked in their pride oppress and rob the poor
Let them be caught in the schemes they have devised
For the wicked boast about their hearts' desire
They celebrate greed and reject the LORD
For the wicked in their pride refuse to seek Him
All of their thoughts are, "There is no God"
And his ways seem to prosper all the time
Your judgments are too high, they're out of his sight
As for his enemies, he laughs at them
Says to himself, "I will always be rich"
And his mouth is full of lies
He makes promises, but under his tongue he hides his intentions
And he lurks in the shadows watching for a means of gain
And where no one can see, he kills the innocent
And like a lion lurking in his lair
He pounces on the helpless when they fall into his trap
And his claws sink into his prey
He says to himself that God has forgotten, He's hidden His face, he will never see it, no no
Arise, arise O LORD
Arise, arise!
Arise, O LORD, lift up Your hand, O God
Do not forget the oppressed
Why have the wicked spurned God?
They have said to themselves You will not avenge
But You will avenge, You've seen the injustice, You've seen the suffering
Of the lowly, who place their fate in Your hands
For You have always been the helper of the orphan
O, break the arm of the wicked
Seek out their wickedness until You find no more
Seek out their wickedness until You find no more
Seek and destroy! Seek and destroy their evil!
Seek and destroy! Seek and destroy injustice!
Yahweh is king forever, Yahweh is king forever
Yahweh is king forever, Yahweh is king forever
Yahweh is king forever, His enemies come and go
LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble
You will strengthen their heart, and You will incline Your ear
It's justice for the orphan and the oppressed so that man who is of the earth
So that man who is of the earth
So that man who is of the earth
So that man who is of the earth
Shall no longer oppress
Shall no longer oppress
Shall no longer oppress
Lift up Your hand, lift up Your hand
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Psalm 10 (Yahweh Is King Forever)” follows the movement of Psalm 10 from anguished questioning to confidence in God’s rule. The lyric first confronts oppression without softening it: the wicked exploit the poor, hide violent plans, dismiss divine judgment, and assume that God does not see. Its repeated descriptions give voice to the bewilderment of those who witness injustice and wonder why help appears distant.
The appeal for the Lord to arise marks the song’s turning point. God is confessed as one who sees suffering, hears the humble, helps the orphan, and acts for the oppressed. The demand that wickedness be sought out is severe because the injustice described is severe, yet the final emphasis is not on human revenge. It rests on Yahweh’s enduring kingship and his commitment to justice. By closely paraphrasing the psalm, the song preserves both lament and trust: evil may appear secure for a time, but it cannot outlast the King who hears and strengthens the afflicted.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 10:1-18 The song closely paraphrases this lament about oppression, divine justice, and the everlasting King.
- Psalm 10:17-18 The closing verses affirm that the Lord hears the afflicted and defends the oppressed.