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?

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 in the day-time, but thou answerest not; and in the night I find no rest.

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 But thou art holy, O thou that dwellest amidst 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 were delivered: in thee they trusted, and were not put to shame.

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 not a man, a reproach of men, and despised of 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 those who see me laugh me to scorn: they draw open their lips, they shake their head, [saying, ]

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 throw himself on the Lord, that he may deliver him: he will save him, for 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 Yea, thou art he that took me from the womb: thou hast been my trust when I hung on 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 was I cast from my birth: from my mother's womb art thou my God.

[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 Oh be not far from me [now]; for distress 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 steers have encompassed me: the 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 have opened wide against me their mouth, [as] a ravenous and 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 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.

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 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.

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; the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: like lions [they threaten] 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 number all my bones: [while] they stare and look upon 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 divide my clothes among themselves, and for my garment 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 from me: O [thou who art] my strength, hasten to my aid.

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

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

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; as thou hast answered me from the horns of the reem.

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 relate 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 be in dread 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 affliction of the poor; neither hath he hidden 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 Of thee shall be my praise in a great assembly: my vows will I pay in the presence of those who 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 The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they who seek him shall praise the Lord: may your heart live 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 world shall remember and return unto the Lord: and all the families of the nations shall bow themselves down 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 governeth the nations.

Because Yahweh is the king! He rules all 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.

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

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

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!”