Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
For the director of music. A psalm of David to the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.”
22 My God, my God, why have you deserted me?
Why do you seem so far away when I need you to save me?
Why do you seem so far away that you can’t hear my groans?
2 My God, I cry out in the daytime. But you don’t answer.
I cry out at night. But you don’t let me sleep.
3 But you rule from your throne as the Holy One.
You are the God Israel praises.
4 Our people of long ago put their trust in you.
They trusted in you, and you saved them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you, and you didn’t let them down.
6 Everyone treats me like a worm and not a man.
They hate me and look down on me.
7 All those who see me laugh at me.
They shout at me and make fun of me.
They shake their heads at me.
8 They say, “He trusts in the Lord.
Let the Lord help him.
If the Lord is pleased with him,
let him save him.”
9 But you brought me out of my mother’s body.
You made me trust in you
even when I was at my mother’s breast.
10 From the time I was born, you took good care of me.
Ever since I came out of my mother’s body, you have been my God.
11 Don’t be far away from me.
Trouble is near,
and there is no one to help me.
12 Many enemies are all around me.
They are like strong bulls from the land of Bashan.
13 They are like roaring lions that tear to pieces what they kill.
They open their mouths wide to attack me.
14 My strength is like water that is poured out on the ground.
I feel as if my bones aren’t connected.
My heart has turned to wax.
It has melted away inside me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a piece of broken pottery.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You bring me down to the edge of the grave.
17 My strength is almost gone.
I won’t live much longer.
A grave is waiting for me.
2 People who make fun of me are all around me.
I’m forced to watch as they attack me with their words.
3 “God, please pay the price to have me set free.
Who else would put up money for me?
4 You have closed the minds of those who are trying to comfort me.
They don’t understand that I haven’t done anything wrong.
So don’t let them win the argument.
5 Suppose someone tells lies about their friends to get a reward.
Then their own children will suffer for it.
6 “God has made an example of me.
People spit in my face.
7 My eyes have grown weak because I’m so sad.
My body is so thin it hardly casts a shadow.
8 People who claim to be honest
are shocked when they see me.
Those who think they haven’t sinned
are stirred up against me.
They think I’m ungodly.
9 But godly people will keep doing what is right.
Those who have clean hands will grow stronger.
10 “Come on, all of you! Try again!
I can’t find a wise person among you.
11 My life is almost over. My plans are destroyed.
Yet the desires of my heart
12 turn night into day.
Even though it’s dark,
‘Light is nearby.’
13 Suppose the only home I can hope for is a grave.
And suppose I make my bed in the darkness of death.
14 Suppose I say to the grave,
‘You are like a father to me.’
And suppose I say to its worms,
‘You are like a mother or sister to me.’
15 Then what hope do I have?
Who can give me any hope?
16 Will hope go down to the gates of death with me?
Will we go down together into the dust of the grave?”
A Warning Against Unbelief
7 The Holy Spirit says,
“Listen to his voice today.
8 If you hear it, don’t be stubborn.
You were stubborn when you opposed me.
You did that when you were tested in the desert.
9 There your people of long ago tested me.
Yet for 40 years they saw what I did.
10 That is why I was angry with them.
I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray.
They have not known my ways.’
11 So when I was angry, I made a promise.
I said, ‘They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.’ ” (Psalm 95:7–11)
12 Brothers and sisters, make sure that none of you has a sinful heart. Do not let an unbelieving heart turn you away from the living God. 13 But build one another up every day. Do it as long as there is still time. Then none of you will become stubborn. You won’t be fooled by sin’s tricks. 14 We belong to Christ if we hold tightly to the faith we had at first. But we must hold it tightly until the end. 15 It has just been said,
“Listen to his voice today.
If you hear it, don’t be stubborn.
You were stubborn when you opposed me.” (Psalm 95:7,8)
16 Who were those who heard and refused to obey? Weren’t they all the people Moses led out of Egypt? 17 Who was God angry with for 40 years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned? They died in the desert. 18 God promised that those people would never enjoy the rest he planned for them. God gave his word when he made that promise. Didn’t he make that promise to those who didn’t obey? 19 So we see that they weren’t able to enter. That’s because they didn’t believe.
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