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Psalm 10:14

ESV But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.
NIV But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
NASB You have seen it, for You have looked at harm and provocation to take it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan.
CSB But you yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into your hands. The helpless one entrusts himself to you; you are a helper of the fatherless.
NLT But you see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans.
KJV Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

What does Psalm 10:14 mean?

This offers a rebuttal to the wicked person who claims God does not see his deeds. That arrogance might come from the assumption God does not exist (Psalm 10:4) or that He is disinterested (Psalm 10:11). David insists that God does see (Psalm 33:13); He grasps every detail of the trouble and grief the wicked inflict on the helpless. The two Hebrew words translated as "mischief and vexation" combine to cover both physical and emotional suffering. God is not only aware of what evil people do; He also knows the anguish it causes.

Despite an evil person's arrogance, God has the situation under control (Job 42:2). Those who are helpless may trust in Him. In his first epistle to persecuted and exiled Jewish Christians, Peter encourages his readers to cast all their anxieties on God, because He cares for them (1 Peter 5:7). In Romans 8, the apostle Paul assures believers that nothing can separate them from God's love revealed in Christ Jesus. They can depend on the truth that "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

In the ancient era, orphaned children were arguably the weakest, most vulnerable members of society. Also in a difficult position were widows. Speaking of God as one who actively helps the "fatherless" refers to His immense love and care for even the "least" of mankind. The apostle James encourages his readers to practice true religion by "visit[ing] orphans and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27).
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