1. My God, my God, why have youdeserted me?Why are you so far away?Won't you listen to my groansand come to my rescue?
2. I cry out day and night,but you don't answer,and I can never rest.
3. Yet you are the holy God,ruling from your throneand praised by Israel.
4. Our ancestors trusted you,and you rescued them.
5. When they cried out for help,you saved them,and you did not let them downwhen they depended on you.
6. But I am merely a worm,far less than human,and I am hated and rejectedby people everywhere.
7. Everyone who sees memakes fun and sneers.They shake their heads,
8. and say, “Trust the Lord!If you are his favourite,let him protect youand keep you safe.”
9. You, Lord, brought mesafely through birth,and you protected mewhen I was a babyat my mother's breast.
10. From the day I was born,I have been in your care,and from the time of my birth,you have been my God.
11. Don't stay far offwhen I am in troublewith no one to help me.
12. Enemies are all aroundlike a herd of wild bulls.Powerful bulls from Bashanare everywhere.
13. My enemies are like lionsroaring and attackingwith jaws open wide.
14. I have no more strengththan a few drops of water.All my bones are out of joint;my heart is like melted wax.
15. My strength has dried uplike a broken clay pot,and my tongue sticksto the roof of my mouth.You, God, have left meto die in the dust.
16. Brutal enemies attack melike a pack of dogs,tearing at my handsand my feet.
17. I can count all my bones,and my enemies just stareand sneer at me.
18. They took my clothesand gambled for them.
19. Don't stay far away, Lord!My strength comes from you,so hurry and help.
20. Rescue me from enemy swordsand save me from those dogs.
21. Don't let lions eat me.You rescued me from the hornsof wild bulls,
22. and when your people meet,I will praise you, Lord.
23. All who worship the Lord,now praise him!You belong to Jacob's familyand to the people of Israel,so fear and honour the Lord!
24. The Lord doesn't hateor despise the helplessin all their troubles.When I cried out, he listenedand did not turn away.
25. When your people meet,you will fill my heartwith your praises, Lord,and everyone will see mekeep my promises to you.
26. The poor will eat and be full,and all who worship youwill be thankfuland live in hope.
27. Everyone on this earthwill remember you, Lord.People all over the worldwill turn and worship you,
28. because you are in control,the ruler of all nations.
29. All who are richand have more than enoughwill bow down to you, Lord.Even those who are dyingand almost in the gravewill come and bow down.
30. In the future, everyonewill worship and learnabout you, our Lord.
31. People not yet bornwill be told,“The Lord has saved us!”