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?

For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

2 My God, every day I cry out to you, but you don't answer; at night too, but I get no rest.

My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent.

3 Yet you are holy, and the praises of Israel are your throne.

But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.

4 Our forefathers trusted in you; they trusted and you rescued them.

Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.

5 They cried out to you for help, and they were saved. They trusted in you and were not defeated.

They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.

6 But I'm a worm, not a man, scorned and despised by everyone.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 People who see me mock me. They laugh at me and shake their heads, saying,

All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, 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!”

“He trusts in the LORD. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”

9 However, you brought me safely through birth, and led me to trust in you at my mother's breasts.

But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts.

10 I was entrusted to you from birth; from the time I was born you have been my God.

I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb. You are my God since my mother bore me.

11 Do not be distant from me, because trouble is close by and no one else can help.

Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help.

12 Enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me.

Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

13 Like roaring lions tearing at their prey they open their mouths wide against me.

They open their mouths wide against me, lions tearing prey and roaring.

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.

I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me.

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.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.

16 Evil men surround me like a pack of dogs. They have pierced my hands and feet.

For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.

17 I'm so thin I can count all my bones. People stare at me and gloat.

I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.

18 They divide my clothing among them; they roll dice for my clothes.

They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.

19 But you, Lord, don't be far away from me! You are my strength—hurry, come and help me!

But don’t be far off, LORD. You are my help. Hurry to help me!

20 Save me from death by the sword! Save my life—the only one I have—from the dogs!

Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.

21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion and from the wild bulls!

Save me from the lion’s mouth! Yes, you have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will tell my people all the wonderful things you have done; I will praise you in the congregation.

I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you.

23 Praise the Lord, all who worship him! Honor him, every descendant of Jacob! Be in awe of him, every descendant of Israel!

You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants 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 has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to 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.

My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before 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 humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise the LORD who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever.

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 earth shall remember and turn to the LORD. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.

28 For kingly power belongs to the Lord; he is the one who rules over the nations.

For the kingdom is the LORD’s. He is the ruler over 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 the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who can’t keep his soul alive.

30 Our descendants will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the Lord.

Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.

31 They will come and tell those yet to be born how good the Lord is, and all that he has done!

They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it.