Readings for Lent and Easter

²¹ Pity me, pity me, O you my friends,
For the ^(A)hand of God has smitten me.
²² Why do you ^(B)persecute me as God does,
And are not satisfied with my flesh?

²³ “Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were ^(C)inscribed in a book!
²⁴ That with an iron stylus and lead
They were engraved in the rock forever!
²⁵ As for me, I know that ^(D)my ^[a]Redeemer lives,
And ^[b]at the last He will rise up over the dust of this world.
²⁶ Even after my skin ^[c]is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall ^(E)behold God,
²⁷ Whom I ^[d]myself shall behold,
And whom my eyes will see and not another.
My ^[e]heart ^(F)faints ^[f]within me!
²⁸ If you say, ‘How shall we ^(G)persecute him?’
‘And the root of the matter is found in ^[g]him?’
²⁹ Then be afraid of ^(H)the sword for yourselves,
For wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
So that you may know ^(I)there is judgment.”