9.4 Passion of the Messiah

(Psalm 22:1-11, 14-19, 22-25)

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I have cried desperately for help,
but still it does not come.
During the day I call to you, my God,
but you do not answer;
I call at night, but get no rest.
But you are enthroned as the Holy One,
the one whom Israel praises.
Our ancestors put their trust in you;
they trusted you, and you saved them.
They called to you and escaped from danger;
they trusted you and were not disappointed.

But I am no longer man; I am worm,
despised and scorned by everyone!
All who see me make fun of me;
they stick out their tongues
and shake their heads.
“You relied on the LORD”, they say.
“Why doesn’t he save you?
If the LORD likes you,
why doesn’t he help you?”

It was you who brought me safely through birth,
and when I was a baby, you kept me safe.
I have relied on you since the day I was born,
and you have always been my God.
Do not stay away from me!
Trouble is near, and there is no one to help.

My strength is gone,
gone like water spilled on the ground.
All my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like melted wax.
My throat is as dry as dust,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have left me for dead in the dust.

A gang of evil men is around me;
like a pack of dogs they close in on me;
they tear at my hands and feet.
All my bones can be seen.
My enemies look at me and stare.
They gamble for my clothes and
divide them among themselves.

O Lord, don’t stay away from me!
Come quickly to my rescue!

I will tell my people what you have done;
I will praise you in their assembly:
“Praise him, you servant of the LORD!
Honor him, you descendants of Jacob!
Worship him, you people of Israel!
He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering;
he does not turn away from them,
but answers when they call for help.”

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.

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