A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praiseh

22 * My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I have cried desperately for help,

but still it does not come.

2 During the day I call to you, my God,

but you do not answer;

I call at night,

but get no rest.

3 But you are enthroned as the Holy One,

the one whom Israel praises.

4 Our ancestors put their trust in you;

they trusted you, and you saved them.

5 They called to you and escaped from danger;

they trusted you and were not disappointed.

6 But I am no longer a human being; I am a worm,

despised and scorned by everyone!

7* All who see me jeer at me;

they stick out their tongues and shake their heads.

8* “You relied on the Lord,” they say.

“Why doesn’t he save you?

If the Lord likes you,

why doesn’t he help you?”

9 It was you who brought me safely through birth,

and when I was a baby, you kept me safe.

10 I have relied on you since the day I was born,

and you have always been my God.

11 Do not stay away from me!

Trouble is near,

and there is no one to help.

12 Many enemies surround me like bulls;

they are all round me,

like fierce bulls from the land of Bashan.

13 They open their mouths like lions,

roaring and tearing at me.

14 My strength is gone,

gone like water spilt on the ground.

All my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like melted wax.

15 My throati is as dry as dust,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You have left me for dead in the dust.

16 An evil gang is round me;

like a pack of dogs they close in on me;

they tear atj my hands and feet.

17 All my bones can be seen.

My enemies look at me and stare.

18* They gamble for my clothes

and divide them among themselves.

19 O Lord, don’t stay away from me!

Come quickly to my rescue!

20 Save me from the sword;

save my life from these dogs.

21 Rescue me from these lions;

I am helplessk before these wild bulls.

22* I will tell my people what you have done;

I will praise you in their assembly:

23 “Praise him, you servants of the Lord!

Honour him, you descendants of Jacob!

Worship him, you people of Israel!

24 He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering;

he does not turn away from them,

but answers when they call for help.”

25 In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done;

in the presence of those who worship you

I will offer the sacrifices I promised.

26 The poor will eat as much as they want;

those who come to the Lord will praise him.

May they prosper for ever!

27 All nations will remember the Lord.

From every part of the world they will turn to him;

all races will worship him.

28 The Lord is king,

and he rules the nations.

29 All proud people will bow down to him;l

all mortals will bow down before him.

30 Future generations will serve him;

they will speak of the Lord to the coming generation.

31 People not yet born will be told:

“The Lord saved his people.”

The Lord Our Shepherdm

23 The Lord is my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

2* He lets me rest in fields of green grass

and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.

3 He gives me new strength.

He guides me in the right paths,

as he has promised.

4 Even if I go through the deepest darkness,

I will not be afraid, Lord,

for you are with me.

Your shepherd’s rod and staff protect me.

5 You prepare a banquet for me,

where all my enemies can see me;

you welcome me as an honoured guest

and fill my cup to the brim.

6 I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;

and your house will be my home as long as I live.

The Great Kingn

24 * The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord;

the earth and all who live on it are his.

2 He built it on the deep waters beneath the earth

and laid its foundations in the ocean depths.

3 Who has the right to go up the Lord’s hill?o

Who may enter his holy Temple?

4* Those who are pure in act and in thought,

who do not worship idols

or make false promises.

5 The Lord will bless them and save them;

God will declare them innocent.

6 Such are the people

who come to God, who come into the presence of the God of Jacob.

7 Fling wide the gates,

open the ancient doors,

and the great king will come in.

8 Who is this great king?

He is the Lord, strong and mighty,

the Lord, victorious in battle.

9 Fling wide the gates,

open the ancient doors,

and the great king will come in.

10 Who is this great king?

The triumphant Lord—he is the great king!