Psalms 22
1 For the music director. To the tune “Doe of the Dawn.” A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan, asking for help?
“To the chief musician upon Ayeleth-hashachar, a psalm of David.” My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from saving me, and from the words of my loud complaint?
2 My God, every day I cry out to you, but you don't answer; at night too, but I get no rest.
O my God! I call in the day-time, but thou answerest not; and in the night I find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy, and the praises of Israel are your throne.
But thou art holy, O thou that dwellest amidst the praises of Israel.
4 Our forefathers trusted in you; they trusted and you rescued them.
In thee did our fathers trust: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried out to you for help, and they were saved. They trusted in you and were not defeated.
Unto thee they cried, and were delivered: in thee they trusted, and were not put to shame.
6 But I'm a worm, not a man, scorned and despised by everyone.
But I am a worm, and not a man, a reproach of men, and despised of people.
7 People who see me mock me. They laugh at me and shake their heads, saying,
All those who see me laugh me to scorn: they draw open their lips, they shake their head, [saying, ]
8 “He trusts in the Lord—well then, let the Lord save him! If the Lord is such a friend, then let the Lord rescue him!”
“Let him throw himself on the Lord, that he may deliver him: he will save him, for he delighteth in him.”
9 However, you brought me safely through birth, and led me to trust in you at my mother's breasts.
Yea, thou art he that took me from the womb: thou hast been my trust when I hung on my mother's breasts.
10 I was entrusted to you from birth; from the time I was born you have been my God.
Upon thee was I cast from my birth: from my mother's womb art thou my God.
11 Do not be distant from me, because trouble is close by and no one else can help.
Oh be not far from me [now]; for distress is near; for there is none to help.
12 Enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me.
Many steers have encompassed me: the strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 Like roaring lions tearing at their prey they open their mouths wide against me.
They have opened wide against me their mouth, [as] a ravenous and roaring lion.
14 I feel like I'm being poured out like water. I'm falling apart as if all my bones have become loose. My mind feels like it's wax melting inside me.
Like water am I poured out, and all my bones are disjointed: my heart is become like wax, it is melted in the midst of my entrails.
15 My strength has dried up like a piece of broken pottery. My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. You're burying me as if I'm already dead.
Like a potsherd is my strength dried up; and my tongue cleaveth to my palate; and into the dust of death hast thou laid me down.
16 Evil men surround me like a pack of dogs. They have pierced my hands and feet.
For dogs have encompassed me; the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: like lions [they threaten] my hands and my feet.
17 I'm so thin I can count all my bones. People stare at me and gloat.
I may number all my bones: [while] they stare and look upon me.
18 They divide my clothing among them; they roll dice for my clothes.
They divide my clothes among themselves, and for my garment do they cast lots.
19 But you, Lord, don't be far away from me! You are my strength—hurry, come and help me!
But thou, O Lord, be not far from me: O [thou who art] my strength, hasten to my aid.
20 Save me from death by the sword! Save my life—the only one I have—from the dogs!
Deliver from the sword my life, from the power of the dog my solitary soul.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion and from the wild bulls!
Save me from the lion's mouth; as thou hast answered me from the horns of the reem.
22 I will tell my people all the wonderful things you have done; I will praise you in the congregation.
I will relate thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Praise the Lord, all who worship him! Honor him, every descendant of Jacob! Be in awe of him, every descendant of Israel!
Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and be in dread of him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he has not ridiculed or scorned the suffering of the poor; he has not turned away from them, he has listened to their cries for help.
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the poor; neither hath he hidden his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 You are the subject of my praise in the great assembly. I will fulfill my promises before those who worship you.
Of thee shall be my praise in a great assembly: my vows will I pay in the presence of those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat, and they shall be satisfied. All who come to the Lord will praise him—may you all live forever!
The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they who seek him shall praise the Lord: may your heart live for ever.
27 Everyone in the whole world will repent and return to the Lord; all the nations will worship before you.
All the ends of the world shall remember and return unto the Lord: and all the families of the nations shall bow themselves down before thee.
28 For kingly power belongs to the Lord; he is the one who rules over the nations.
For the kingdom is the Lord's, and he governeth the nations.
29 All who prosper come to feast and worship. Bow down before him, all those destined for the grave—for none can keep themselves alive.
All they that eat the fat of the earth shall bow themselves down; before him shall bend the knee all that are going down into the dust; for none can keep alive his own soul.
30 Our descendants will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the Lord.
Distant ages shall serve him; there shall be related of the Lord unto future generations.
31 They will come and tell those yet to be born how good the Lord is, and all that he has done!
They will come, and will tell his righteousness unto a people yet unborn, that he hath done this.
