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.