Psalms 22

1 For the Leader; upon Aijeleth ha-Shahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me, and art far from my help at the words of my cry?

My God, my God, why have you abandoned/deserted me? Why do you stay so far from me, and why do you not hear/help me [RHQ]? Why do you not hear me when I am groaning?

2 O my God, I call by day, but Thou answerest not; and at night, and there is no surcease for me.

My God, every day I call to you during the daytime and during the night, but you do not answer me, so I am not able to sleep.

3 Yet Thou art holy, O Thou that art enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

But you are holy. You sit on your throne as king, and [we the people of] Israel praise you [PRS].

4 In Thee did our fathers trust; they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them.

Our ancestors trusted in you. [Because] they trusted in you, you rescued them.

5 Unto Thee they cried, and escaped; in Thee did they trust, and were not ashamed.

When they cried out to you, you saved them. They trusted in you, and (they were not disappointed/you [saved them] as you said that you would).

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

But [you have not rescued me] [People despise me and consider that I am not a man]; [they think that] I am [as worthless as] a worm! Everyone [HYP] scorns me and despises me.

7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head:

Everyone who sees me [HYP] makes fun of me. They sneer at me and [insult me by] shaking their heads [at me as though I were an evil man]. They say,

8 'Let him commit himself unto the LORD! let Him rescue him; let Him deliver him, seeing He delighteth in him.'

“He trusts in Yahweh, so Yahweh should save him! [He says that] Yahweh is very pleased with him; if that is so, Yahweh should rescue him!”

9 For Thou art He that took me out of the womb; Thou madest me trust when I was upon my mother's breasts.

[Why do] you [not] protect me [now as you did] when I was born? I was safe even when I was (nursing/drinking milk from my mother’s breasts).

10 Upon Thee I have been cast from my birth; Thou art my God from my mother's womb.

[It was as though] you adopted me right when I was born. You have (been my God/taken care of me) ever since I was born.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

So, (do not stay far from/stay close to) [LIT] me now because [enemies who will cause me much] trouble are near me, and there is no one [else] who can help me.

12 Many bulls have encompassed me; strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

[My enemies] surround me [like] a herd/group of wild bulls. [Fierce people, like those] strong bulls that graze [on the hills] in Bashan [area], encircle me.

13 They open wide their mouth against me, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

[They are like] roaring lions that are attacking the animals that they want to kill [MET] [and eat]; they rush toward me [to kill] me; they [are like lions that] have their mouths open, [ready to tear their victims to pieces] [MET].

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is become like wax; it is melted in mine inmost parts.

I am completely exhausted [MET], and all my bones are out of their joints/places. I [no longer expect that God will save me]; [that expectation is gone completely], like wax that has melted away.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my throat; and Thou layest me in the dust of death.

My strength is [all dried up] [MET] like a broken piece of a clay jar that has dried [in the sun]. [I am so thirsty that] my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. O God, [I think that you are about to let] me die and become dirt!

16 For dogs have encompassed me; a company of evil-doers have inclosed me; like a lion, they are at my hands and my feet.

My enemies [MET] surround me like a pack/group of wild dogs. A group of evil men has encircled me, [ready to attack me]. They have [already] smashed my hands and my feet.

17 I may count all my bones; they look and gloat over me.

[I am so weak and thin that] my bones can be seen and counted. My enemies stare at me and (gloat/are happy) about [what has happened to] me.

18 They part my garments among them, and for my vesture do they cast lots.

They looked at the clothes that I [was wearing] and gambled to determine which piece each of them would get.

19 But Thou, O LORD, be not far off; O Thou my strength, hasten to help me.

O Yahweh, do not stay far away from me! You who are my [source of] strength, come quickly and help me!

20 Deliver my soul from the sword; mine only one from the power of the dog.

Rescue me from [those who want to kill me with] their swords. Save me from those who are [like wild/fierce] dogs [MET].

21 Save me from the lion's mouth; yea, from the horns of the wild-oxen do Thou answer me.

Snatch me away from [my enemies who are] like lions whose jaws [are already open, ready to chew me up] Grab me away from [those men who are like] wild oxen [that attack other animals with] their horns [MET]!

22 I will declare Thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.

[But you have saved me, so] I will declare to my fellow [Israelis] how great you [MTY] are. I will praise you among the group of your people gathered [to worship you].

23 'Ye that fear the LORD, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and stand in awe of Him, all ye the seed of Israel.

You people who have an awesome respect for Yahweh, praise him! All you who are descended from Jacob, honor Yahweh! All you Israeli people, revere him!

24 For He hath not despised nor abhorred the lowliness of the poor; neither hath He hid His face from him; but when he cried unto Him, He heard.'

He does not despise or ignore those who are suffering; he does not hide (his face/himself) from them. He has listened to them when they cried out to him for help.

25 From Thee cometh my praise in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before them that fear Him.

Yahweh, in the great gathering [of your people], I will praise you for what you have done. In the presence of those who revere you, I will offer [the sacrifices] that I promised.

26 Let the humble eat and be satisfied; let them praise the LORD that seek after Him; may your heart be quickened for ever!

The poor people [whom I have invited to the meal] will eat as much as they want. All who come worship Yahweh will praise him. I pray that [God will enable] you all to live a long and happy life!

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the LORD; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee.

I pray that [people in all nations, even] in the remote areas, will think about Yahweh and turn to him, and that people from all the clans in the world will bow down before him.

28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S; and He is the ruler over the nations.

Because Yahweh is the king! He rules all the nations.

29 All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship; all they that go down to the dust shall kneel before Him, even he that cannot keep his soul alive.

I desire that all the rich people on the earth will bow before him. Some day they will die, but I want them to prostrate themselves on the ground in his presence [before they die].

30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation.

People (in the future generations/who have not been born yet) will also serve Yahweh. Our descendants will be told about what Yahweh [has done].

31 They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done it.

People who are not yet born, [who will live in future years], will be told how Yahweh rescued his people. People will tell them, “Yahweh did it!”