Psalms 22

1 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?

For the end, concerning the morning aid, a Psalm of David. O God, my God, attend to me: why have you forsaken me? the account of my transgressions is far from my salvation.

2 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.

O my God, I will cry to you by day, but you will not hear: and by night, and [it shall] not [be accounted] for folly to me.

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

But you, the praise of Israel, dwell in a sanctuary.

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

Our fathers hoped in you; they hoped, and you did deliver them.

5 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).

They cried to you, and were saved: they hoped in you, and were not ashamed.

6 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.

But I am a worm, and not a man; a reproach of men, and scorn of the people.

7 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,

All that saw me mocked me: they spoke with [their] lips, they shook the head, [saying],

8 “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!”

He hoped in the Lord: let him deliver him, let him save him, because he takes pleasure in him.

9 [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).

For you are he that drew me out of the womb; my hope from my mother's breasts.

10 [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.

I was cast on you from the womb: you are my God from my mother's belly.

11 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.

Stand not aloof from me; for affliction is near; for there is no helper.

12 [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.

Many bullocks have compassed me: fat bulls have beset me round.

13 [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].

They have opened their mouth against me, as a ravening and roaring lion.

14 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.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are loosened: my heart in the midst of my belly is become like melting wax.

15 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!

My strength is dried up, like a potsherd; and my tongue is glued to my throat; and you have brought me down to the dust of death.

16 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.

For many dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked doers has beset me round: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17 [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.

They counted all my bones; and they observed and looked upon me.

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

They parted my garments [amongst] themselves, and cast lots upon my raiment.

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

But you, O Lord, remove not my help afar off: be ready for mine aid.

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

Deliver my soul from the sword; my only-begotten one from the power of the dog.

21 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]!

Save me from the lion's mouth; and [regard] my lowliness from the horns of the unicorns.

22 [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].

I will declare your name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I sing praise to you.

23 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!

You that fear the Lord, praise him; all you seed of Jacob, glorify him: let all the seed of Israel fear him.

24 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.

For he has not despised nor been angry at the supplication of the poor; nor turned away his face from me; but when I cried to him, he heard me.

25 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.

My praise is of you in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26 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!

The poor shall eat and be satisfied; and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their heart shall live for ever.

27 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.

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord: and all the kindred of the nations shall worship before him.

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

For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he is the governor of the nations.

29 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].

All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and worshipped: all that go down to the earth shall fall down before him: my soul also lives to him.

30 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].

And my seed shall serve him: the generation that is coming shall be reported to the Lord.

31 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!”

And they shall report his righteousness to the people that shall be born, whom the Lord has made.