Psalm IV

They have trampled upon Me, My enemies, all the day - since many were warring against Me.

All My enemies against Me were thinking evil things for Me - a iniquitous word did they established against Me.

Those who were guarding My soul - took counsel together.

They used to go outside - and they were speaking for that very purpose .

All seeing Me derided Me - they spoke with lips and moved their head.

However I am a worm and no man - the reproach of men and the outcast of the people.

Above all My enemies I have been made a strong reproach to My neighbors - and an object of fear to My acquaintances.

Holy Father do not distance Thy help from Me - look thoroughly to My defense.

Psalmus (IV)

Miserere mei, Deus, quoniam conculcavit me homo + tota die impugnans tribulavit me (Ps 55, 2).

Conculcaverunt me inimici mei tota die + quoniam multi bellantes adversum me (Ps 55, 3)

Omnes inimici mei adversum me cogitabant mala mihi + verbum iniquum constituerunt adversum me (Ps 40, 8b - 9a; - cfr. R).

Qui custodiebant animam meam + consilium fecerunt in unum (Ps 70, 10b).

Egrediebantur foras + et loquebantur Z (Ps 40, 7 - R) in idipsum (Ps 40, 8a - G).

Omnes videntes me deriserunt me + locuti sunt labiis et moverunt caput (Ps 21, 8).

Ego autem sum vermis et non homo + opprobrium hominum et abiectio plebis (Ps 21, 7).

Super omnes inimicos meos factus sum opprobrium vicinis meis valde + et timor notis meis (Ps 30, 12a - b).

　Pater sancte (Joa 17, 11) ne elongaveris auxilium tuum a me + ad defensionem meam conspice (Ps 21, 20) .

Have mercy on me, O God, for humanity has trodden me underfoot, all day long humanity has fought against me and has afflicted me.

There are many enemies who make war against me and they have trodden upon me all day long.

All my enemies were thinking evil things against me – they established an iniquitous word against me.

Even those who were guarding my life conspired together against me.

They used to go outside to tell everyone about it.　　

Everyone seeing me derided me - whispered and shook their heads at me.　

　But I am a worm and not human, a reproach to men and an outcast from society.

　I have been made more of a strong reproach to my neighbours than to my enemies and an object of fear to my acquaintances.

Holy Father, do not abandon me;

Comment: To be alone!

Francis arranges his collection of verses into a cohesion which begins with the suffering of the cross.

We recall from Scripture that it was customary for our Lord Jesus to draw aside to pray to his Father in secret, this time to gather comfort for the imminent trial.

He cries to his Father of the affliction wrought upon him by those whom he came to save.

It seems that there are many who make war upon the Saviour for different purposes that now conspire together for the same purpose. Jesus, firstly a human being, secondly God, would have gone to his Father for comfort.

"But I am a worm and no man."

Jesus is beneath contempt, a maggot, less than human. He is a pariah, scorned by humanity, one whom his neighbours and acquaintances fear. He is alone.

In hindsight we understand that it was necessary that the Saviour be shunned, tortured, and killed for he came to save his people from their sins. But in his humanity he was a person of his times, someone’s son, a Rabbi with a following of 12 disciples. He was the healer of many, yet, at the last no one was his friend.

In his last agonies those who saw him whispered against him and nodded their heads… We see the crowd who came to watch the procession to Golgotha, carried away in the spirit of the awful moment, who would squash, him, the worm into the dust.

Yet, again he cries unto his Father not to abandon him, the cry he will utter from the cross, but to come to his assistance and help him for the Lord God will be his Saviour.

But God will abandon him, for one man must die for all the people. He is alone!