Psalm 10:1
New International Version
Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

New Living Translation
O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?

English Standard Version
Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

Berean Standard Bible
Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

King James Bible
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

New King James Version
Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

New American Standard Bible
Why do You stand far away, LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?

NASB 1995
Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?

NASB 1977
Why dost Thou stand afar off, O LORD? Why dost Thou hide Thyself in times of trouble?

Legacy Standard Bible
Why do You stand afar off, O Yahweh? Why do You hide Yourself in times of distress?

Amplified Bible
Why do You stand far away, O LORD? Why do You hide [Yourself, veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble?

Christian Standard Bible
LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
LORD, why do You stand so far away? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

American Standard Version
Why standest thou afar off, O Jehovah? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

Contemporary English Version
Why are you far away, LORD? Why do you hide yourself when I am in trouble?

English Revised Version
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Why are you so distant, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

Good News Translation
Why are you so far away, O LORD? Why do you hide yourself when we are in trouble?

International Standard Version
Why do you stand far away, LORD? Why do you hide in times of distress?

Majority Standard Bible
Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?

NET Bible
Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?

New Heart English Bible
Why do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

Webster's Bible Translation
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

World English Bible
Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Why, YHWH, do You stand at a distance? Do You hide in times of adversity?

Young's Literal Translation
Why, Jehovah, dost Thou stand at a distance? Thou dost hide in times of adversity,

Smith's Literal Translation
Wherefore, O Jehovah, wilt thou stand afar off? wilt thou hide for times in straits?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?

Catholic Public Domain Version
So then, why, O Lord, have you withdrawn far away? Why have you overlooked us in opportunity, in tribulation?

New American Bible
Why, LORD, do you stand afar and pay no heed in times of trouble?

New Revised Standard Version
Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
WHY standest thou afar off, O LORD? and witholdest thy care in times of trouble?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Why, LORD JEHOVAH, do you stand at a distance, and have withdrawn your gaze in times of trouble?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why dost thou overlook us in times of need, in affliction?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Perils of the Pilgrim
1Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble? 2In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.…

Cross References
Psalm 22:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?

Habakkuk 1:2
How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save?

Job 30:20
I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me.

Isaiah 45:15
Truly You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

Lamentations 3:8
Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.

Jeremiah 14:8-9
O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are You like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays but a night? / Why are You like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us!

Psalm 13:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? / How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

Psalm 44:24
Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression?

Psalm 88:14
Why, O LORD, do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?

Psalm 77:7-9
“Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again? / Is His loving devotion gone forever? Has His promise failed for all time? / Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has His anger shut off His compassion?” Selah

Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Mark 15:34
At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Luke 18:7-8
Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them? / I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

John 11:21
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.


Treasury of Scripture

Why stand you afar off, O LORD? why hide you yourself in times of trouble?

A.

Psalm 22:1
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Psalm 46:1
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Jeremiah 14:8
O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

hidest

Psalm 13:1-3
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? …

Psalm 27:9
Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Psalm 30:7
LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

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Psalm 10
1. David complains of the wicked
12. He prays for remedy
16. He professes his confidence














Why, O LORD
The psalmist begins with a heartfelt cry, "Why, O LORD," which reflects a deep sense of confusion and longing for understanding. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing a personal relationship. This invocation suggests a plea to a God who is both sovereign and intimately involved with His people. The question "Why" indicates a struggle to comprehend God's actions or apparent inaction, a theme common in the lament psalms, where the faithful seek to reconcile their experiences with their understanding of God's nature.

do You stand far off?
The phrase "do You stand far off?" conveys a sense of divine distance or absence. In Hebrew, the verb used here can imply standing or remaining at a distance, which can be both physical and metaphorical. This imagery suggests a God who seems uninvolved or detached from the immediate suffering of the psalmist. Historically, this reflects the experience of Israel during times of distress, such as exile or oppression, when God's presence felt remote. Theologically, it challenges the believer to trust in God's ultimate nearness and faithfulness, even when He seems distant.

Why do You hide
"Why do You hide" continues the theme of divine hiddenness. The Hebrew root for "hide" can mean to conceal or withdraw, suggesting a deliberate action. This raises questions about God's purposes and timing, inviting believers to explore the mystery of divine providence. Scripturally, this echoes other instances where God seems hidden, such as in the book of Job, where God's silence is a test of faith. It encourages believers to seek God earnestly, trusting that His hiddenness is not abandonment but part of a larger, incomprehensible plan.

in times of trouble?
The phrase "in times of trouble" situates the psalmist's lament in a context of distress and adversity. The Hebrew word for "trouble" can denote anguish, affliction, or adversity, often used in the Psalms to describe the trials faced by the righteous. This highlights the tension between the believer's experience of suffering and the expectation of divine intervention. Historically, it reflects the collective memory of Israel's struggles, such as slavery in Egypt or the Babylonian exile. For the Christian, it serves as a reminder that God is present in suffering, and that trials are opportunities for faith to be refined and for God's glory to be revealed in unexpected ways.

Verse 1. - Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? Here is the key-note struck at once. Why does God stand aloof? Why, after delivering his people from their foreign foes, does he not interfere to protect his true people from their domestic oppressors? "Throughout the reign of David," as it has been truly observed, "Palestine was infested by brigands, and disturbed by a factious nobility" ('Speaker's Commentary,' vol. 4. p. 191). Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? "Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself," says Isaiah (Isaiah 45:15). And so Job complains, "He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him" (Isaiah 23:9). He seems neither to see nor hear. The psalmist inquires - Why? It can only be answered, "In his wisdom; for his own purposes; because he knows it to be best."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Why,
לָמָ֣ה (lā·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

O LORD,
יְ֭הוָה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

do You stand
תַּעֲמֹ֣ד (ta·‘ă·mōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

far off?
בְּרָח֑וֹק (bə·rā·ḥō·wq)
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious

Why do You hide
תַּ֝עְלִ֗ים (ta‘·lîm)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5956: To veil from sight, conceal

in times
לְעִתּ֥וֹת (lə·‘it·tō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

of trouble?
בַּצָּרָֽה׃ (baṣ·ṣā·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6869: Tightness, a female rival


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OT Poetry: Psalm 10:1 Why do you stand far off Yahweh? (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 9:20
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