"Bulls Of Bashan"
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
They have gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
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.
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.
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
They part my garments among them, can cast lots upon my vesture.
In this powerful passage, the speaker equates his tormentors to the fierce bulls of Bashan, emphasizing the intensity and oppression of his suffering. The imagery evoked is stark and painful, a vivid portrayal of physical and emotional desolation. Like wild beasts, the adversaries encircle him, relentless in their menace. Such vivid language underscores the depth of his despair, painting a picture of a man utterly broken, his strength utterly spent and his spirit crushed. The imagery of being "poured out like water" and having "bones...out of joint" conveys a sense of complete dissolution and helplessness. The mention of dogs and an assembly of wickedness further amplifies the sense of betrayal and vulnerability. Ultimately, the passage reflects profound suffering and abandonment, mirroring the agony of Christ's passion.
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