Comfort from the Word – Day 36

₁Why have you abandoned us like this, O God?

Will you be angry with your own people for ever?

₂Remember your people, whom you chose for yourself long ago,

whom you brought out of slavery to be your own tribe.

Remember Mount Zion, where once you lived.

₁₂But you have been our king from the beginning, O God;

you have saved us many times.

₂₃Wake up, Lord! Why are you asleep?

Rouse yourself! Don't reject us for ever!

₂₄Why are you hiding from us?

Don't forget our suffering and trouble!

₂₅We fall crushed to the ground;

we lie defeated in the dust.

₂₆Come to our aid!

Because of your constant love save us!

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.”