A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise
1My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I have cried desperately for help,
but still it does not come.
2During the day I call to you, my God,
but you do not answer;
I call at night,
but get no rest.
3But you are enthroned as the Holy One,
the one whom Israel praises.
4Our ancestors put their trust in you;
they trusted you, and you saved them.
5They called to you and escaped from danger;
they trusted you and were not disappointed.
6But I am no longer a human being; I am a worm,
despised and scorned by everyone!
7All who see me jeer at me;
they stick out their tongues and shake their heads.
8“You relied on the LORD,” they say.
“Why doesn't he save you?
If the LORD likes you,
why doesn't he help you?”
9It was you who brought me safely through birth,
and when I was a baby, you kept me safe.
10I have relied on you since the day I was born,
and you have always been my God.
11Do not stay away from me!
Trouble is near,
and there is no one to help.
12Many enemies surround me like bulls;
they are all round me,
like fierce bulls from the land of Bashan.
13They open their mouths like lions,
roaring and tearing at me.
14My strength is gone,
gone like water spilt on the ground.
All my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like melted wax.
15My throat is as dry as dust,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have left me for dead in the dust.
16An evil gang is round me;
like a pack of dogs they close in on me;
they tear at my hands and feet.
17All my bones can be seen.
My enemies look at me and stare.
18They gamble for my clothes
and divide them among themselves.
19O LORD, don't stay away from me!
Come quickly to my rescue!
20Save me from the sword;
save my life from these dogs.
21Rescue me from these lions;
I am helpless before these wild bulls.
22I will tell my people what you have done;
I will praise you in their assembly:
23“Praise him, you servants of the LORD!
Honour him, you descendants of Jacob!
Worship him, you people of Israel!
24He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering;
he does not turn away from them,
but answers when they call for help.”
25In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done;
in the presence of those who worship you
I will offer the sacrifices I promised.
26The poor will eat as much as they want;
those who come to the LORD will praise him.
May they prosper for ever!
27All nations will remember the LORD.
From every part of the world they will turn to him;
all races will worship him.
28The LORD is king,
and he rules the nations.
29All proud people will bow down to him;
all mortals will bow down before him.
30Future generations will serve him;
they will speak of the Lord to the coming generation.
31People not yet born will be told:
“The Lord saved his people.”
