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Catecharium

Dialogus cum Tryphone Judaeo

Chapter 98

5 sections

St. Justin Martyr

Transcribed from a dated scan; artifacts may remain. Edition notes

Let me cite the whole Psalm, that you may hear His piety towards His Father, and how He refers everything to Him, when He asks even to be saved by Him from this death, declaring withal in the Psalm what kind of men they were who were gathered together against Him, and proving that He indeed became a man who had a share in sufferings.

It runs thus: O God, my God, regard me. Why didst Thou forsake me? Far from my salvation are the words of my transgressions. My God, I will cry unto Thee by day and Thou wilt not hear, and by night, and that not for lack of my understanding. But thou dwellest in the sanctuary. Thou praise of Israel. On Thee did our fathers hope; they hoped and Thou didst rescue them. Unto Thee they cried, and were saved, upon Thee they hoped and were not put to shame.

But I am worm and not man, a reproach of men, and the people’s scorn. All that gazed upon me mocked me, and spake with their lips, and wagged their heads; He hoped on the Lord; let Him rescue him; let Him save him, because He desires him? For Thou art He who drew me forth from the belly, my hope from my mother’s breasts. On Thee was I cast from the womb, from my mother’s belly Thou art my God. Depart not from me, for trouble is nigh, for there is none that helpeth me.

Many calves have surrounded me, fat bulls have compassed me about. They have opened their mouth upon me, as a lion when he seizes (his prey) and roars. As water were all my bones poured forth and scattered. My heart became like melting wax in the midst of my belly. My strength was dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue has cleaved to my throat, and Thou didst bring me down into the dust of death. For many dogs surrounded me, an assembly of evildoers compassed me about. They dug through my hands and my feet, they counted all my bones. They themselves too considered and gazed upon me.

They divided my garments for themselves, and over my clothing did they cast lots. But as for Thee, O Lord, do not remove Thy help far from me; attend unto supporting me. Rescue my life from the sword, and my only-begotten from the paw of the dog. Save me from the mouth of the lion, and my lowliness from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare Thy name to my brethren; in the midst of the church will I sing hymns to Thee. Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him; all ye seed of Jacob, glorify Him; let all the seed of Israel be in fear of Him.Psalms 22:1-23

Trans. A. Lukyn Williams, D.D., Honorary Canon of Ely, Translations of Christian Literature, Series I, Greek Texts, 1930. Public domain.

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