Psalms 10:11-12

10:11 He says to himself, 1 

“God overlooks it;

he does not pay attention;

he never notices.” 2 

10:12 Rise up, Lord! 3 

O God, strike him down! 4 

Do not forget the oppressed!

1 tn Heb “he says in his heart.” See v. 6.

2 tn Heb “God forgets, he hides his face, he never sees.”

3 sn Rise up, O Lord! The psalmist’s mood changes from lament to petition and confidence.

4 tn Heb “lift up your hand.” Usually the expression “lifting the hand” refers to praying (Pss 28:2; 134:2) or making an oath (Ps 106:26), but here it probably refers to “striking a blow” (see 2 Sam 18:28; 20:21). Note v. 15, where the psalmist asks the Lord to “break the arm of the wicked.” A less likely option is that the psalmist is requesting that the Lord declare by oath his intention to intervene.