On 9/11, Take 10

Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?
Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?
In pride the terrorists hotly pursue the afflicted.
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

For the terrorist boasts of his heart’s desire,
They curse and spurn the Lord.
The terrorist, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek You.
All his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

His ways prosper at all times;
Your judgments are on high, out of his sight.
As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.
He says to himself, “I shall not be moved;
Throughout all generations I shall not be in adversity.”
His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression.
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
He sits in the lurking places of the village,
In the hiding places he kills the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.
He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair.
He lurks to catch the afflicted.
He catches the afflicted when he draws them into his net.
He crouches, he bows down,
And the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.
He says to himself, “God has forgotten.
He has hidden His face. He will never see it.”

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Your hand.
Do not forget the afflicted.
Why has the terrorist spurned God?
He has said to himself, “You will not require it.”

You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to You.
You have been the helper of the orphan.
Break the arm of the terrorist and the evildoer,
Seek out his wickedness until You find none.

The Lord is King forever and ever.
Nations have perished from His land.
O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble.
You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear
To vindicate the orphan and oppressed,
That man who is of the earth may cause terror no more.
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Psalm 10, New American Standard Bible. (In this BPV--Brandilyn's Prayer Version--“terrorist” replaces the original text, “the wicked.”)

Other psalms containing passages to pray against terrorists: 17, 56, 64, 83, 94, 140.