Lent Day Twelve

For a wonderful graphic for this psalm from the Hubble telescope, go to http://www.hubblespacephotos.com/hyakutake1.html

Psalm 22: Forsaken

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me:
why are you so far from helping me and from the words of my groaning?

2 My God, I cry to you by day, but you do not answer:
and by night also I take no rest.

3 But you continue holy:
you that are the praise of Israel.

4 In you our forbears trusted:
they trusted, and you delivered them;

5 To you they cried and they were saved:
they put their trust in you and were not confounded.

6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man:
The scorn of all and despised by the people.

7 Those that see me laugh me to scorn:
they shoot out their lips at me and wag their heads, saying,

8 'He trusted in the Lord let him deliver him:
let him deliver him, if he delights in him.'

9 But you are he that took me out of the womb:
that brought me to lie at peace on my mother's breast.

10 On you have I been cast since my birth:
you are my God, even from my mother's womb.

11 O go not from me, for trouble is hard at hand:
and there is none to help.

12 Many oxen surround me:
fat bulls of Bashan close me in on every side.

13 They gape wide their mouths at me:
like lions that roar and rend.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint:
my heart within my breast is like melting wax.

15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd:
and my tongue clings to my gums.

16 My hands and my feet are withered:
and you lay me in the dust of death.

17 For many dogs are come about me:
and a band of evildoers hem me in.

18 I can count all my bones:
they stand staring and gazing upon me.

19 They part my garments among them:
and cast lots for my clothing.

20 O Lord, do not stand far off:
you are my helper, hasten to my aid.

21 Deliver my body from the sword:
my life from the power of the dogs;

22 O save me from the lion's mouth:
and my afflicted soul from the horns of the wild oxen.

23 I will tell of your name to my companions:
in the midst of the congregation will I praise you

24 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.

25 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.

26 From you springs my praise in the great congregation:
I will pay my vows in the sight of all that fear you;

27 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!

28 Let all the ends of the earth remember and turn to the Lord:
and let all the families of the nations worship before him.

29 For the kingdom is the Lord's:
and he shall be ruler over the nations.

30 How can those who sleep in the earth do him homage:
or those that descend to the dust bow down before him?

31 But he has saved my life for himself:
and my posterity, shall serve him.

32 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.