My God, my God, wherefore hast thou, Forsaken me, and why (Barnard)

Verse 1

My God, my God, wherefore hast thou Forsaken me? O why So far from helping me, and deaf To all my mournful cry?

Verse 2

O thou my God, I cry all day, But thou hast no regard; I am not silent in the night, And yet I am not heard.

Verse 3

But thou art holy, O thou God, Who dost great pleasure take To dwell, where thankful Israel praise, And sacred offerings make.

Verse 4

On Thee, our fathers firm relied; And did deliverance gain.

Verse 5

To Thee, they cried, and still were saved; Their trust was not in vain.

Verse 6

But I, a worm, and not a man, So vilely am I prized; Reproached by men of greatest name, By vulgar ones despised.

Verse 7

The gazing crowd laugh me to scorn, Their scoffs upon me play: They gape, and mock, and shake their heads, And thus deriding say:

Verse 8

"He vainly trusted in the Lord, That he would take his part; Now let him save him, if he be The darling of his heart."

Verse 9

Thou took'st me from my mother's womb, Making my birth thy care; When on my mother's breast I hung. Thou didst support me there.

Verse 10

Upon thine arms my cares were cast, When mine first spread abroad; Thou, from my infant days, hast been My guardian, and my God.

Verse 11

Forsake me not, when trouble's near; For none to help is found.

Verse 12

Many strong bulls, of Bashan's breed About beset me round.

Verse 13

With open mouth they hideous roar, As lions for their prey.

Verse 14

My blood is spilled, my joints are racked, My heart dissolves away.

Verse 15

My strength, like potter's earth, is dried, My tongue cleaves to my jaws; Down to the dust of death, my life, By thy sore chastening, draws.

Verse 16

Fierce dogs have compassed me about, Base crowds around me meet; With unrelenting furious rage, They pierce my hands, and feet.

Verse 17

My starting bones, may all be told; They staring me review.

Verse 18

My robes they parted, as a prey, Lots for my vesture threw.

Verse 19

O Lord, my strength, forsake me not; But haste to succor me.

Verse 20

My soul from sword, my darling from The power of dogs set free.

Verse 21

From the fierce lion's cruel jaws Deliverance to me send; And from the horns of the unicorn, O hear, and me defend.

Verse 22

Then, to my brethren, I'll declare The glories of thy name; Amidst the congregation great, I will thy praise proclaim.

Verse 23

Ye worshipers of God, him praise, From Jacob who proceed; Him glorify, and reverence him, O all ye Israel's seed.

Verse 24

For he hath not despised, nor turned From the afflicted's grief, Nor hid his face from him; but heard His cries, and sent relief.

Verse 25

I'll shout thy praise, when e'er the great Assembly meets to pray; Before his saints, that fear his name, The vows I've made, I'll pay.

Verse 26

The poor shall eat, and be sufficed, And thanks to God shall give: They that uprightly seek him shall In joys immortal, live.

Verse 27

Earth's distant ends shall recollect, And turn unto the Lord; All kindreds of the nations shall, To worship Thee, accord.

Verse 28

For universal monarchy, To God alone, pertains; He sovereign ruler, uncontrolled. O'er all the nations reigns.

Verse 29

The Rich shall eat, and him adore; And who in dust lie low. Who cannot keep alive his soul, Before his face shall bow.

Verse 30

Then shall a chosen seed him serve; Which God for his will own.

Verse 31

To men unborn, his truth, he'll show, And wonders he hath done.