Psalms 22

1 For the leader; set to ‘Deer of the Dawn’. A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you left me, my rescue so far from the words of my roaring?

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 I cry in the day, you do not answer, I cry in the night but 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 You are the Holy One, throned on 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 you our ancestors trusted, they trusted and you delivered them.

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

5 They cried to you, and found safety, in you did they trust 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, not a person; insulted by others, despised by 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 who see me mock me, with mouths wide open and wagging heads:

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 “He relies on the Lord; let him save him. Let him rescue the one he holds dear!”

“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 But you drew me from the womb, laid me safely 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 On your care was I cast from my very birth, you are 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 nigh, and 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 I am circled by many bulls, beset by the mighty of Bashan,

[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 who face me with gaping jaws, like ravening roaring lions.

[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 Poured out am I like water, and all my bones are loosened. My heart is become like wax, melted within me.

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 palate is dry as a sherd, my tongue sticks to my jaws; in the dust of death you lay me.

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 are round about me, a band of knaves encircles me, gnawing 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 can count my bones, every one. As for them, they feast their eyes on 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 garments among them, and over my raiment cast lots.

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

19 But you, O Lord, be not far, O 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 life from the sword my life from the power of the dogs.

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 jaws of the lion, from the horns of the wild oxen help 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 tell of your fame to my kindred, and in the assembly will praise you.

[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 Praise the Lord, you who fear him. All Jacob’s seed, give him glory. All Israel’s seed, stand in awe of him.

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 has not despised nor abhorred the sorrow of the sorrowful. He hid not his face from me, but he listened to my cry for help.

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 you is my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before 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 afflicted will eat to their heart’s desire, and those who seek after the Lord will praise him. Lift up your hearts forever.

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 will call it to mind, to the ends of the earth, and turn to the Lord; and all tribes of the nations will bow down before you.

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 belongs to the Lord: he is the Lord of the nations.

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

29 To him will bow down all who sleep in the earth, and before him bend all who go down to the dust, and those who could not preserve their lives.

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 My descendants will tell of the Lord to 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 will declare his righteousness to people yet to be born: He has 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!”