Study Desk

For the director of music. To the tune of "The Doe of the Morning." A psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?^(a) Why are you so far^(b) from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?^(c)

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,^(d) by night,^(e) but I find no rest.^[b]

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;^(f) you are the one Israel praises.^[c](g)

In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.^(h)

To you they cried out⁽ⁱ⁾ and were saved; in you they trusted^(j) and were not put to shame.^(k)

But I am a worm^(l) and not a man, scorned by everyone,^(m) despised⁽ⁿ⁾ by the people.

All who see me mock me;^(o) they hurl insults,^(p) shaking their heads.^(q)

"He trusts in the Lord ," they say, "let the Lord rescue him.^(r) Let him deliver him,^(s) since he delights^(t) in him."

Yet you brought me out of the womb;^(u) you made me trust^(v) in you, even at my mother's breast.

From birth^(w) I was cast on you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me,^(x) for trouble is near^(y) and there is no one to help.^(z)

Many bulls^(aa) surround me;^(ab) strong bulls of Bashan^(ac) encircle me.

Roaring lions^(ad) that tear their prey^(ae) open their mouths wide^(af) against me.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.^(ag) My heart has turned to wax;^(ah) it has melted^(ai) within me.

My mouth^[d] is dried up like a potsherd,^(aj) and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;^(ak) you lay me in the dust^(al) of death.

Dogs^(am) surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce^[e](an) my hands and my feet.

All my bones are on display; people stare^(ao) and gloat over me.^(ap)

They divide my clothes among them and cast lots^(aq) for my garment.^(ar)

But you, Lord , do not be far from me.^(as) You are my strength;^(at) come quickly^(au) to help me.^(av)

Deliver me from the sword,^(aw) my precious life^(ax) from the power of the dogs.^(ay)

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;^(az) save me from the horns of the wild oxen.^(ba)

I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly^(bb) I will praise you.^(bc)

You who fear the Lord , praise him!^(bd) All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!^(be) Revere him,^(bf) all you descendants of Israel!

For he has not despised^(bg) or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one;^(bh) he has not hidden his face^(bi) from him but has listened to his cry for help.^(bj)

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;^(bk) before those who fear you^[f] I will fulfill my vows.^(bl)

The poor will eat^(bm) and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—^(bn) may your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth^(bo) will remember and turn to the Lord , and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,^(bp)

for dominion belongs to the Lord ^(bq) and he rules over the nations.

All the rich^(br) of the earth will feast and worship;^(bs) all who go down to the dust^(bt) will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive.^(bu)

Posterity^(bv) will serve him; future generations^(bw) will be told about the Lord.

They will proclaim his righteousness,^(bx) declaring to a people yet unborn:^(by) He has done it!^(bz)