Readings for Lent and Easter

⁴ My enemies despise me without any cause;
    they outnumber the hairs on my head.
They torment me with their power;
    they have absolutely no reason to hate me.
Now I am set to pay for crimes
    I have never committed!
⁵ O True God, my foolish ways are plain before You;
    my mistakes—no, nothing can be hidden from You.

⁶ Don’t let Your hopeful followers face disgrace because of me,
    O Lord, Eternal One, Commander of heaven’s armies;
Don’t let Your seekers be shamed on account of me,
    O True God of Israel.
⁷ I have been mocked when I stood up for You;
    I cower, shamefaced.
⁸ You know my brothers and sisters?
    They now reject me—they act as if I never existed.
    I’m like a stranger to my own family.

⁹ And here’s why: I am consumed with You, completely devoted to protecting Your house;
    when they insult You, they insult me.
¹⁰ When I mourn and discipline my soul by fasting,
    they deride me.
¹¹ And when I put on sackcloth,
    they mock me.
¹² Those who sit at the gate gossip about me;
    I am shamed by the slurred songs of drunkards.