My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore - literally, 'stand over against my stroke.' At the very time when my affliction would have required them to stand nearer and more steadily by me than ever, they are afraid of the danger that they would incur by seeming to take part with me. While the enemies are near, the friends are far. So in the case of Messiah (Matthew 26:56; Matthew 27:55; Luke 23:49; John 16:32).