My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
² My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
³ Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
⁴ In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
⁵ To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
⁶ But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
⁷ All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
⁸ “He trusts in the LORD,” they say,
“let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
⁹ Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
¹⁰ From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
¹¹ Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
¹² Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
¹³ Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
¹⁴ 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.
¹⁵ 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.
¹⁶ Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
¹⁷ All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
¹⁸ They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
¹⁹ But you, LORD, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
²⁰ Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
²¹ Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
²² I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
²³ You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
²⁴ 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.
²⁵ From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
²⁷ 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,
²⁸ for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
²⁹ All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
³⁰ Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
³¹ They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn
He has done it!

Psalm 22

“God, my God!”  forlorn and lonely – 

Darkness shudders at this cry;

Weeps earth for this man abandoned,

“Why am I forsaken, why?”

Seems no ear is bent to listen,

No touch comforts searing pain,

No voice speaking reassurance . . .

Silence haunts the dark terrain:

No help comes despite the pleading –

Day and night roll into one;

No-one heeds the cries, the groaning

Of the one and only Son.

Holy God, you make your dwelling

In the shrine of joyous praise;

Worship, song and adoration

Join our hearts in warm embrace.

E’en our fathers, long forgotten,

In your presence sang and praised

Round your throne in fervent worship,

Hearts aglow and voices raised.

They were never disappointed:

When they called to you for aid:

You delivered them from evil,

For they trusted what you said.

As for me, a worm and no man,

Scorned, despised by all mankind;

Those who see me mock and snigger;

“Who is this one?” they demand.

“Is this he who claims the favour

Of his God, who cares for him?

We’ll believe it when we see it!

God responding to this claim!”

Listen not to cruel mocking:

I have known your help before:

From my mother’s womb you brought me,

Years of growing up you saw:

From my birth I leaned upon you,

Trusted you to be my God.

Do not leave me, I am helpless:

Only you can save me, Lord!

Fearsome enemies surround me,

Drooling, circling for the kill,

Bashan’s bulls, these roaring lions

Gnash and tear my flesh at will.

All my strength is drained, like water;

All my bones are out of joint,

And my heart, like wax, is melted:

I am wasted, pale and gaunt;

Tongue is dried, my eyes are sunken;

Weakening with each rasping breath

Ebbs my life, for you have left me,

Laid me in the dust of death.

Enemies keep circling closer –

Hungry dogs, with fangs laid bare;

Hands and feet are pierced and bleeding;

At my pain they gloat and stare.

Every bone screams out in anguish;

Nothing shields me from this shame;

Throwing dice to win my clothing

Just as though it were a game!

Yet one final, feeble whisper

Pleads to God for aid, in vain.

“Rescue me from death, and save me;

Hear my cry yet once again!

Would you stand aside, unheeding,

Caring not that evil men

Snatch away the life you gave me?

Will you not, then, intervene?”

Yet, I know my God will answer.

I will stand and testify,

Praise you in the congregation,

For you heard my desp’rate cry!

“Praise the Lord, each one who fears Him,”

All must reverence His name.

Let all Israel sing His praises,

Tell to everyone His fame.

He has not despised my suff’ring,

Heard my cries of deep despair,

Bent to listen to my calling,

Came in answer to my prayer.

Yes, I’ll lift your name in honour,

Publicly fulfil my vow:

Those who fear your name will witness,

In your presence humbly bow.

All the poor shall feast on plenty;

Hunger shall be satisfied:

Those who seek the Lord shall find Him,

Those who find, in Him abide.

Earth shall see this grand reunion,

Nations to the Lord return:

God is king, He rules the peoples –

All shall for His presence yearn.

Proud and humble, all will worship,

Born, these mortal men, to die;

Yes, our children, too, will serve Him

Mighty God will magnify..

‘Tis our joy to tell the story

To our offspring, yet unborn;

Tirelessly we share the message –

Ageless tale, by time unworn.