Psalm 22
Words: Isaac Watts
There is also a Common Metre version on this page.
Christ�s sufferings and exaltation.
1 Now let our mournful songs record
The dying sorrows of our Lord,
When he complained in tears and blood,
As one forsaken of his God.
2 The Jews beheld him thus forlorn,
And shake their heads, and laugh in scorn:
�He rescued others from the grave;
Now let him try himself to save.
3 �This is the man did once pretend
God was his Father and his Friend
If God the blessed loved him so,
Why doth he fail to help him now?�
4 Barbarous people! cruel priests!
How they stood round like savage beasts!
Like lions gaping to devour,
When God had left him in their power.
5 They wound his head, his hands, his feet,
Till streams of blood each other meet;
By lot his garments they divide,
And mock the pangs in which he died.
6 But God, his Father, heard his cry;
Raised from the dead, he reigns on high,
The nations learn his righteousness,
And humble sinners taste his grace.
Part 1: v.1�16 The sufferings and death of Christ.
1 Why has my God my soul forsook,
Nor will a smile afford?
(Thus David once in anguish spoke,
And thus our dying Lord.)
2 Though �tis thy chief delight to dwell
Among thy praising saints,
Yet thou canst hear a groan as well,
And pity our complaints.
3 Our fathers trusted in thy name,
And great deliv�rance found;
But I�m a worm, despised of men,
And trodden to the ground.
4 Shaking the head, they pass me by,
And laugh my soul to scorn;
�In vain he trusts in God,� they cry,.
�Neglected and forlorn.�
5 But thou art he who formed my flesh
By thine almighty word;
And since I hung upon the breast,
My hope is in the Lord.
6 Why will my Father hide his face,
When foes stand threat�ning round,
In the dark hour of deep distress,
And not a helper found?
PAUSE.
7 Behold thy darling left among
The cruel and the proud,
As bulls of Bashan, fierce and strong,
As lions roaring loud.
8 From earth and hell my sorrows meet
To multiply the smart;
They nail my hands, they pierce my feet,
And try to vex my heart.
9 Yet if thy sovereign hand let loose
The rage of earth and hell,
Why will my heav�nly Father bruise
The Son he loves so well?
10 My God, if possible it be,
Withhold this bitter cup
But I resign my will to thee,
And drink the sorrows up).
11 My heart dissolves with pangs unknown,
In groans I waste my breath;
Thy heavy hand has brought me down
Low as the dust of death.
12 Father, I give my spirit up,
And trust it in thy hand;
My dying flesh shall rest in hope,
And rise at thy command.
Part 2: v.20, 21, 27�31 Christ�s sufferings and kingdom.
1 �Now from the roaring lion�s rage,
O Lord, protect thy Son,
Nor leave thy darling to engage
The powers of hell alone.�
2 Thus did our suff�ring Savior pray,
With mighty cries and tears;
God heard him in that dreadful day,
And chased away his fears.
3 Great was the vict�ry of his death,
His throne exalted high;
And all the kindreds of the earth
Shall worship or shall die.
4 A num�rous offspring must arise
From his expiring groans;
They shall be reckoned in his eyes
For daughters and for sons.
5 The meek and humble souls shall see
His table richly spread;
And all that seek the Lord shall be
With joys immortal fed.
6 The isles shall know the righteousness
Of our incarnate God,
And nations yet unborn profess
Salvation in his blood.
