Book One (Psalms 1-41) "Concerning Man"

A Psalm of David.


1.   My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2.   O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

3.   But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4.   Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5.   They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6.   But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7.   All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying,
8.   He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

9.   But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10.   I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11.   Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

12.   Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13.   They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

14.   I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15.   My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16.   For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17.   I may tell all my bones:

they look and stare upon me.
18.   They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

19.   But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20.   Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21.   Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22.   I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23.   Ye that fear the LORD, praise him;

all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

24.   For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

25.   My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26.   The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27.   All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28.   For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.

29.   All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30.   A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31.   They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born,

that he hath done this.


1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Quoted in Mat. 27:46.

8. He trusted on...delighted in him. Quoted in Mat. 27:43.

18. They part...my vesture. Quoted in Mat. 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24.

22. I will declare...I praise thee. Quoted in Heb. 2:12.