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Psalm 10:15

Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.

13Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?
14But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
15Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
16The LORD is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
17LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
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← Psalm 10:14Psalm 10:16 →
Notice

“Break the arm” is a violent plea for God to stop the wicked, voiced where victims suffer and wrongdoers expect to escape account.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What do you make of asking God to break the wicked person's arm?

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Where do you long for God to search out wrongdoing that has escaped account?

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How does the mention of victims in verse 14 shape your reading of this plea?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 37:17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.Psalm 10 asks God to break the wicked person's arm; Psalm 37 declares that the arms of the wicked shall be broken.
Job 38:15From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.Both passages use a broken arm to describe the defeat of wicked strength.
Zephaniah 1:12It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, “The …Both speak of God searching out wrongdoing, challenging the belief that he will leave evil unpunished.
Psalm 7:9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.Both prayers ask for wickedness to end and speak of God's searching scrutiny.
Ezekiel 30:21–22“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Behold, it has not been bound up, to apply medicines, to put a bandage to bind it, that it may …Both describe a broken arm; Ezekiel makes its loss of strength concrete through Pharaoh's inability to hold the sword.
Jeremiah 48:25The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken,” says the LORD.Psalm 10 asks God to break the wicked person's arm; Jeremiah announces that Moab's arm is broken.
Habakkuk 1:13You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously and keep silent when the wicked …Both address God about unchecked wickedness, with Habakkuk questioning his silence and Psalm 10 asking him to act.
Job 10:6that you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?Both speak of God searching for sin, though Job questions scrutiny of himself while the psalm seeks scrutiny of the wicked.
Zechariah 11:17Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will strike his arm and his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye …Both describe judgment reaching an arm, with Zechariah naming the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock.
Jeremiah 2:34Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.Both concern wrongdoing; Jeremiah names the blood of innocent poor people, while the psalm asks God to seek out wickedness.
Psalm 58:6Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, LORD.Both prayers ask God to break a body part, using violent language to seek judgment against the wicked.
Where this verse fits

Injustice and anger. church hurt.

What the Bible says about anger →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Pray Psalm 10:14–15 for one person suffering injustice

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Encouragement

These harsh words entrust judgment to God; they grant no permission to harm someone. The God addressed here sees trouble and helps the victim.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 10:15. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 10 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).