Why Stand Afar?

My God

my God

why me for­sake?

O why to me no an­swer make?

In deep dis­tress I cry

O Lord;

Why stand afar—nor help af­ford?

All day

my God

I cry in vain

Nor can I in the night re­frain;

But Thou art ho­ly

who dost dwell

Amid the songs of Is­ra­el.

Our fa­thers put their trust in Thee

They trust­ed and Thou didst them free;

To Thee they cried

deliverance came

They hoped

and were not put to shame.

But I

a worm

as no man prized

Reproached of men

by all despised;

All shake the head

they mock and gaze

Each scorn­ful lip con­tempt be­trays.

He trusts in God; let God de­fend

And save him since He is his friend.

Thou mad’st me first the light to see

In in­fant years to hope in Thee.

From birth de­pend­ent on Thy pow­er

Thou art my God from child­hood’s hour;

Be not far off

for trou­ble nears

And none to give me help ap­pears.