Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me
: why are you so far from helping me
and from the words of my groaning?
My God, I cry to you by day, but you do not answer
: and by night also I take no rest.
But you continue holy
: you that are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers trusted
: they trusted, and you delivered them;
To you they cried and they were saved
: they put their trust in you and were not confounded.
But as for me, I am a worm and no man
: the scorn of men and despised by the people.
All those that see me laugh me to scorn
: they shoot out their lips at me and wag their heads, saying,
‘He trusted in the Lord
let him deliver him :
let him deliver him, if he delights in him.’
But you are he that took me out of the womb :
that brought me to lie at peace on my mother’s breast.
On you have I been cast since my birth :
you are my God, even from my mother’s womb.
O go not from me, for trouble is hard at hand :
and there is none to help.
Many oxen surround me :
fat bulls of Bashan close me in on every side.
They gape wide their mouths at me :
like lions that roar and rend.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint :
my heart within my breast is like melting wax.
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd :
and my tongue clings to my gums.
My hands and my feet are withered :
and you lay me in the dust of death.
For many dogs are come about me :
and a band of evildoers hem me in.
I can count all my bones :
they stand staring and gazing upon me.
They part my garments among them :
and cast lots for my clothing.
O Lord, do not stand far off :
you are my helper, hasten to my aid.
Deliver my body from the sword :
my life from the power of the dogs;
O save me from the lion’s mouth :
and my afflicted soul from the horns of the wild oxen.
I will tell of your name to my brethren :
in the midst of the congregation will I praise you.
O praise the Lord, all you that fear him :
hold him in honour, O seed of Jacob,
and let the seed of Israel stand in awe of him.
For he has not despised nor abhorred the poor man in his misery :
nor did he hide his face from him, but heard him when he cried.
From you springs my praise in the great congregation :
I will pay my vows in the sight of all that fear you;
The meek shall eat of the sacrifice and be satisfied :
and those who seek the Lord shall praise him
may their hearts rejoice for ever!
Let all the ends of the earth remember and turn to the Lord :
and let all the families of the nations worship before him.
For the kingdom is the Lord’s :
and he shall be ruler over the nations.
How can those who sleep in the earth do him homage :
or those that descend to the dust bow down before him?
But he has saved my life for himself :
and my posterity shall serve him.
This shall be told of my Lord to a future generation :
and his righteousness declared to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it.