Classic Poem

PSALM XXII .

Deus, Deus, meus.

1.

My God, my God, why hast Thou me forsaken?
Woe me, from me why is Thy presence taken,
So farr from seing myne unhealthfull eyes;
So farr from hearing to my roaring cryes?

2.

O God, my God, I cry while day appeareth,
But, God, Thy eare my crying never heareth:
O God, the night in moane to Thee I spend,
Yet to my plaint Thou dost no audience lend.

3.

But Thou art holy, and dost hold Thy dwelling
Where Israel Thy lawdes are ever telling;
Our fathers still to Thee their trust did beare,
They trusted, and by Thee deliver'd were.

4.

They were set free when they vpon Thee called;
They hop'd on Thee, and they were not appalled.
But I a worm, and not of mankind am;
Nay, shame of men, the people's scorning game.

5.

The lookers now at me, poore wretch, be mocking,
With mowes and nodds they stand about me flocking:
Let God help him, say they, whom He did trust;
Let God saue him in whom was all his lust

6.

And yet even from the womb. Thy self did take me:
At mother's breasts Thou didst good hope betake me:
No sooner my child eyes could look abroad
Than I was given to Thee, my Lord, my God.

7.

O, be not farr, since pain so nearly presseth,
Since there is none, O God, who it redresseth:
I am enclos'd with yong bulls' madded route,
Nay, Basan-mighty bulls close me about.

8.

With gaping mouth these folks on me haue charged,
Like lions fierce, with roaring jawes enlarged:
On me all this, who do like water slide,
Whose loosed bones quite out of joint be wryde;

9.

Whose heart, with these huge flames, like wax oreheated,
Doth melt away, though it be inmost seated:
My moystning strength is like a potsherd dride,
My cleaving tongue close to my roofe doth bide.

10.

And now am brought, alas, brought by Thy power
Vnto the dust of my death's running hower;
For bawling doggs haue compast me about,
Yea, worse than doggs, a naughty wicked rout.

11.

My humble hands, my fainting feet they peirced;
They look, they gaze, my boanes might be rehearsed.
Of my poor weedes they do partition make,
And do cast lots who should my vesture take.

12.

But be not farr, O Lord, my strength, my comfort,
Hasten to help me in this deep discomfort;
Ah, from the sword yet saue my vital sprite,
My desolated life from dogged might.

13.

From lions' mouths, O help, and shew to heare me,
By aiding, when fierce vnicorns come neare me:
To brethren then I will declare Thy fame,
And with these words, when they meet, prayse Thy name.

14.

Who feare the Lord, all prayse and glory beare Him,
You Israel's seed, you come of Jacob, fear Him;
For He hath not abhorr'd nor yet disdain'd
The seely wretch which foule affliction stain'd;

15.

Nor hidd from him His face's faire appearing,
But when he calld this Lord did giue him hearing
In congregation great I will prayse Thee;
Who feare Thee shall my vowes performed see.

16.

The afflicted then shall eat, and be well pleased;
And God shall be by those His seekers praysed;
Indeed, O you, you that be such of mind,
You shall the life that ever liveth find.

17.

But what? I say, from earth's remotest border,
Vnto due thoughts, mankind his thoughts shall order,
And turn to God, and all the nations be
Made worshipers before almighty Thee.

18.

And reason, since the croune to God pertaineth,
And that by right vpon all realmes He raigneth,
They that be made even fatt with earth's fatt good
Shall feed, and laud the giver of their food.

19.

To Him shall kneel even who to dust be stricken,
Even he whose life no help of man can quicken;
His service shall from child to child descend,
His doomes one age shall to another send.