Psalms 22

1 “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 O my God! I call in the day-time, but thou answerest not; and in the night I find no rest.

3 But thou art holy, O thou that dwellest amidst the praises of Israel.

4 In thee did our fathers trust: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5 Unto thee they cried, and were delivered: in thee they trusted, and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm, and not a man, a reproach of men, and despised of people.

7 All those who see me laugh me to scorn: they draw open their lips, they shake their head, [saying, ]

8 “Let him throw himself on the Lord, that he may deliver him: he will save him, for he delighteth in him.”

9 Yea, thou art he that took me from the womb: thou hast been my trust when I hung on my mother's breasts.

10 Upon thee was I cast from my birth: from my mother's womb art thou my God.

11 Oh be not far from me [now]; for distress is near; for there is none to help.

12 Many steers have encompassed me: the strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13 They have opened wide against me their mouth, [as] a ravenous and roaring lion.

14 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 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 For dogs have encompassed me; the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: like lions [they threaten] my hands and my feet.

17 I may number all my bones: [while] they stare and look upon me.

18 They divide my clothes among themselves, and for my garment do they cast lots.

19 But thou, O Lord, be not far from me: O [thou who art] my strength, hasten to my aid.

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

21 Save me from the lion's mouth; as thou hast answered me from the horns of the reem.

22 I will relate thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23 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 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 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 meek shall eat and be satisfied; they who seek him shall praise the Lord: may your heart live for ever.

27 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 the kingdom is the Lord's, and he governeth the nations.

29 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 Distant ages shall serve him; there shall be related of the Lord unto future generations.

31 They will come, and will tell his righteousness unto a people yet unborn, that he hath done this.