Study Desk

For the choir director: according to "The Deer of the Dawn."^[a] A Davidic psalm.

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?^(a) Why are You so far from my deliverance^(b) and from my words of groaning?^[b](c)

My God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, by night, yet I have no rest.^(d)

But You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.^(e)

Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You rescued them.^(f)

They cried to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disgraced.^(g)

But I am a worm and not a man,^(h) scorned by men and despised by people.⁽ⁱ⁾

Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer^[c] and shake their heads:^(j)

"He relies on^[d] the Lord ; let Him rescue him; let the Lord ^[e] deliver him, since He takes pleasure in him."^(k)

You took me from the womb, making me secure while at my mother's breast.^(l)

I was given over to You at birth;^[f] You have been my God from my mother's womb.^(m)

Do not be far from me, because distress is near and there is no one to help.⁽ⁿ⁾

Many bulls surround me; strong ones of Bashan encircle me.^(o)

They open their mouths against me— lions, mauling and roaring.^(p)

I am poured out like water,^(q) and all my bones are disjointed;^(r) my heart is like wax, melting within me.^(s)

My strength is dried up like baked clay;^(t) my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.^(u) You put me into the dust of death.^(v)

For dogs have surrounded me;^(w) a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced^[g] my hands and my feet.^(x)

I can count all my bones; people^[h] look and stare at me.^(y)

They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.^(z)

But You, Lord , don't be far away.^(aa) My strength, come quickly to help me.^(ab)

Deliver my life from the sword,^(ac) my only life^[i] from the power of these dogs.

Save me from the mouth of the lion!^(ad) You have rescued^[j] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the congregation.^(ae)

You who fear Yahweh, praise Him!^(af) All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him! All you descendants of Israel, revere Him!^(ag)

For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted.^(ah) He did not hide His face from him^(ai) but listened when he cried to Him for help.^(aj)

I will give praise^[k] in the great congregation because of You;^(ak) I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.^[l](al)

The humble^[m] will eat and be satisfied;^(am) those who seek the Lord will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!^(an)

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord . All the families of the nations will bow down before You,^(ao)

for kingship belongs to the Lord ; He rules over the nations.^(ap)

All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down; all those who go down to the dust will kneel before Him— even the one who cannot preserve his life.^(aq)

Their descendants will serve Him; the next generation will be told about the Lord.^(ar)

They will come and tell a people yet to be born about His righteousness— what He has done.^(as)

A Davidic psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd;^(a) there is nothing I lack.^(b)

He lets me lie down in green pastures;^(c) He leads me beside quiet waters.^(d)

He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths^[a] for His name's sake.^(e)

Even when I go through the darkest valley,^[b] I fear no danger, for You are with me;^(f) Your rod and Your staff^[c]—they comfort me.^(g)

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;^(h) my cup overflows.⁽ⁱ⁾

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life,^(j) and I will dwell in^[d] the house of the Lord as long as I live.^[e](k)

A Davidic psalm.

The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord ;^(a)

for He laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.^(b)

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord ? Who may stand in His holy place?^(c)

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,^(d) who has not set his mind^[a] on what is false,^(e) and who has not sworn deceitfully.

He will receive blessing from the Lord ,^(f) and righteousness from the God of his salvation.^(g)

Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.^[b](h) Selah