22

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Why are You so far from saving me
So far from my cries of anguish?
Please don’t leave me

My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer
By night, but I find no rest
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One
You are the one Israel praises, the Israel that You blessed

In You our ancestors put their trust
They trusted and You delivered them
To You they cried out and were saved
In You they trusted and were not put to shame

But I am a worm and not a man
Scorned by everyone, despised by the people with no regret
All who see me mock me
They hurl insults, shaking their heads

“He trusts in the Lord,” they say
“Let the Lord rescue him
Let Him deliver him
Since He delights in him”

Yet You brought me out of the womb
You made me trust in You, even at my mother’s breast
From birth I was cast on You
From my mother’s womb You have been my God, and it was clearly expressed

Do not be far from me for trouble is near
And there is no one to help, Lord
Do not be far from me, my God the Savior
Please save me with Your word

Many bulls surround me
Strong bulls of Bashan encircle me
Roaring lions that tear their prey
Open their mouths wide against me

I am poured out like water
And all my bones are out of joint
My heart has turned to wax
It has melted within me to the latest point

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd
And my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth
You lay me in the dust of death
And there is no need to go north, west, east or south

Dogs surround me
A pack of villains encircles me
They pierce my hands and my feet
For everyone to see

All my bones are on display
People stare and gloat over me as if I’ve committed a crime
They divide my clothes among them
And cast lots for the garment of mine

But You, Lord, do not be far from me
You are my strength; come quickly to help me
Deliver me from the sword
My precious life from the power of the dogs by Your mighty word

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions
Save me from the horns of the oxen which are wild
I will declare Your name to my people
In the assembly I will praise You with the pride

You who fear the Lord, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him!
Revere Him, all you descendants of Israel!
Honor Him on the big, big scale!

For He has not despised or scorned
The suffering of the afflicted one
He has not hidden His face from him
But has listened to his cry for help as if he would be His son

From You comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly
Before those who fear You I will fulfill my vows
The poor will eat and be satisfied
They will eat and be satisfied cause He is close

Those who seek the Lord will praise Him—
May your hearts live forever!
Those who seek the Lord will praise Him—
May your hearts turn to evil never!

All the ends of the earth
Will remember and turn to the Lord
And all the families of the nations
Will bow down before Him, before our Mighty God

For dominion belongs to the Lord
And He rules over the nations
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship
Cause He created the earth and the skies from their foundations

All who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—
Those who cannot keep themselves alive
Posterity will serve Him
Future generations will be told about the Lord who is alive

They will proclaim His righteousness
Declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
Praise the Lord on His throne!