Psalms 22
Psalm 221
For the music director; according to the tune “Morning Doe;”2 a psalm of David.
22:1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?3
I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.4
22:2 My God, I cry out during the day,
but you do not answer,
and during the night my prayers do not let up.5
you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.6
22:4 In you our ancestors7 trusted;
they trusted in you8 and you rescued them.
22:5 To you they cried out, and they were saved;
in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.9
22:6 But I10 am a worm,11 not a man;12
people insult me and despise me.13
22:7 All who see me taunt14 me;
they mock me15 and shake their heads.16
22:8 They say,17
“Commit yourself18 to the Lord!
Let the Lord19 rescue him!
Let the Lord20 deliver him, for he delights in him.”21
22:9 Yes, you are the one who brought me out22 from the womb
and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts.
22:10 I have been dependent on you since birth;23
from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.24
22:11 Do not remain far away from me,
for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.25
22:12 Many bulls26 surround me;
powerful bulls of Bashan27 hem me in.
22:13 They28 open their mouths to devour me29
like a roaring lion that rips its prey.30
22:14 My strength drains away like water;31
all my bones are dislocated;
my heart32 is like wax;
it melts away inside me.
22:15 The roof of my mouth33 is as dry as a piece of pottery;
my tongue sticks to my gums.34
You35 set me in the dust of death.36
22:16 Yes,37 wild dogs surround me –
a gang of evil men crowd around me;
like a lion they pin my hands and feet.38
22:17 I can count39 all my bones;
my enemies40 are gloating over me in triumph.41
22:18 They are dividing up my clothes among themselves;
they are rolling dice42 for my garments.
22:19 But you, O Lord, do not remain far away!
You are my source of strength!43 Hurry and help me!44
22:20 Deliver me45 from the sword!
Save46 my life47 from the claws48 of the wild dogs!
22:21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion,49
and from the horns of the wild oxen!50
You have answered me!51
22:22 I will declare your name to my countrymen!52
In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!
22:23 You loyal followers of the Lord,53 praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him!54
22:24 For he did not despise or detest the suffering55 of the oppressed;56
he did not ignore him;57
when he cried out to him, he responded.58
22:25 You are the reason I offer praise59 in the great assembly;
I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers.60
22:26 Let the oppressed eat and be filled!61
Let those who seek his help praise the Lord!
May you62 live forever!
22:27 Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him!63
Let all the nations64 worship you!65
22:28 For the Lord is king66
and rules over the nations.
22:29 All of the thriving people67 of the earth will join the celebration and worship;68
all those who are descending into the grave69 will bow before him,
including those who cannot preserve their lives.70
22:30 A whole generation71 will serve him;
they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.72
22:31 They will come and tell about his saving deeds;73
they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.74