To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.
8,6,8,6
^1My God, my God, why hast thou me
forsaken? why so far
Art thou from helping me, and from
my words that roaring are?
^2All day, my God, to thee I cry,
yet am not heard by thee;
And in the season of the night
I cannot silent be.
^3But thou art holy, thou that dost
inhabit Isr'el's praise.
^4Our fathers hop'd in thee, they hop'd
and thou didst them release.
^5When unto thee they sent their cry,
to them deliv'rance came:
Because they put their trust in thee,
they were not put to shame.
^6But as for me, a worm I am,
and as no man am priz'd:
Reproach of men I am, and by
the people am despis'd.
^7All that me see laugh me to scorn;
shoot out the lip do they;
They nod and shake their heads at me,
and, mocking, thus do say,
^8This man did trust in God, that he
would free him by his might:
Let him deliver him, sith he
had in him such delight.
^9But thou art he out of the womb
that didst me safely take;
When I was on my mother's breasts
thou me to hope didst make.
^10And I was cast upon thy care,
ev'n from the womb till now;
And from my mother's belly, Lord,
my God and guide art thou.
^11Be not far off, for grief is near,
and none to help is found.
^12Bulls many compass me, strong bulls
of Bashan me surround.
^13Their mouths they open'd wide on me,
upon me gape did they,
Like to a lion ravening
and roaring for his prey.
^14Like water I'm pour'd out, my bones
all out of joint do part:
Amidst my bowels, as the wax,
so melted is my heart.
^15My strength is like a potsherd dry'd;
my tongue it cleaveth fast
Unto my jaws; and to the dust
of death thou brought me hast.
^16For dogs have compass'd me about:
the wicked, that did meet
In their assembly, me inclos'd;
they pierc'd my hands and feet.
^17I all my bones may tell; they do
upon me look and stare.
^18Upon my vesture lots they cast,
and clothes among them share.
^19But be not far, O Lord, my strength;
haste to give help to me.
^20From sword my soul, from pow'r of dogs
my darling set thou free.
^21Out of the roaring lion's mouth
do thou me shield and save:
For from the horns of unicorns
an ear to me thou gave.
^22I will shew forth thy name unto
those that my brethren are;
Amidst the congregation
thy praise I will declare.
^23Praise ye the Lord, who do him fear;
him glorify all ye
The seed of Jacob: fear him all
that Isr'el's children be.
^24For he despis'd not nor abhorr'd
th' afflicted's misery;
Nor from him hid his face, but heard
when he to him did cry.
^25Within the congregation great
my praise shall be of thee;
My vows before them that him fear
shall be perform'd by me.
^26The meek shall eat, and shall be fill'd;
they also praise shall give
Unto the Lord that do him seek:
your heart shall ever live.
^27All ends of th' earth remember shall,
and turn the Lord unto;
All kindreds of the nations
to him shall homage do:
^28Because the kingdom to the Lord
doth appertain as his;
Likewise among the nations
the Governor he is.
^29Earth's fat ones eat, and worship shall:
all who to dust descend
Shall bow to him; none of them can
his soul from death defend.
^30A seed shall service do to him;
unto the Lord it shall
Be for a generation
reckon'd in ages all.
^31They shall come, and they shall declare
his truth and righteousness
Unto a people yet unborn,
and that he hath done this.