In My Distress (120)
My `God, my God_, why have you for / saken me?
`Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words_ / of my groaning?
My `God, I cry_ in the daytime, but you / do not answer;
`in the night season, and / find no rest.
`But_ / you are holy,
`you who inhabit the praises of_ / Israel.
`Our ancestors trusted / in~ you.
They `trusted, and_ you de / livered them. +
They `cried to you, and / were delivered.
They `trusted in_ you, and were not / put to shame.
(Ref)
But `I_ am a worm_, / and no man;
`scorned_ by mankind_, and despised_ / by the people.
`All_ those who see me / mock~ me.
`They insult me with their lips. They shake their / heads~, saying, +
`“He trusts in the LORD_. Let the LORD de / liver him.
`Let the LORD_ rescue him, since he de / lights in him.”
But `you_ brought me out_ / of the womb.
`You_ made me trust while at my / mother’s breasts.
`I was cast on you_ from my / mother’s womb.
`You are my God since my mother / bore~ me. +
Do `not be far from me, for trouble / is~ near.
For `there is no one / to~ help.
`Many bulls_ have sur / rounded me.
`Strong bulls of Bashan_ have en / circled me.
They `open their mouths wide a / gainst~ me,
`lions tearing / prey and roaring.
(Ref)
`I am poured_ / out like water.
`All my bones are / out of joint.
My `heart is / like~ wax.
`It is melted / within me.
My `strength is dried_ up like / baked~ clay.
My `tongue sticks to the roof_ / of my mouth.
`You have / brought~ me
in `to the / dust of death.
For `dogs_ have sur / rounded me.
A `company of evildoers have en / closed~ me.
`They have pierced my hands_ / and my feet. • `I can count all / of my bones.
They `look and stare at me. +
`They divide my gar_ ments a / mong~ them.
They `cast lots / for my clothing.
(Ref)
But `do not be far / off~, LORD.
`You are my help. Hurry to_ / help~ me!
De `liver me_ / from the sword,
my `precious life_ from the power / of the dog. • • `Save me from the / lion’s mouth!
Second tune: The Heavens Declare (19)
`Yes_, you have / rescued me
`from the horns_ of the / wild~ oxen.
I `will declare your name_ to my brothers / and~ sisters.
A `mong_ the assembly, / I will praise you.
`You who fear the LORD_, / praise~ him!
`All_ you descendants of_ Jacob, glori / fy~ him!
`Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of_ / Israel!
For `he has not despised or scorned the suffering of / the afflicted, +
`neither has he hidden his_ / face from him;
but `when he cried to him_, / he~ heard.
(Ref)
My `praise of you comes in the / great assembly.
`I will pay my vows before_ those who / fear~ him.
The `humble shall_ eat_ and be / satisfied.
`They shall praise the LORD who seek_ / after him. • • `May your hearts_ / live forever.
`All the ends_ of the earth_ shall remember and turn / to the LORD.
`All the fam’lies of the nations shall worship be / fore~ you.
`For the kingdom / is the LORD’s.
`He_ is the ruler / of the nations.
`All the rich ones of the earth shall / eat and worship.
`All those who go down_ to the dust shall bow be / fore~ him, • • `those who cannot keep them / selves alive.
Pos `terity shall / serve~ him.
`Future generations shall be told a / bout the Lord. +
`They shall come and shall declare his righteousness_ to a people / yet unborn,
`for_ / he has done it.