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?

Unto the end, for the morning protection, a psalm for David. O God my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins.

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 shall cry by day, and thou wilt not hear: and by night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me.

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

But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel.

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

In thee have our fathers hoped: they have hoped, and thou hast delivered 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 thee, and they were saved: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

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 no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast 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 they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken with the lips, and wagged the head.

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, seeing he delighteth 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 thou art he that hast drawn me out of the womb: my hope from the breasts of my mother.

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 upon thee from the womb. From my mother’s womb thou art my God,

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.

Depart not from me. For tribulation is very near: for there is none to help me.

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 calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me.

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 mouths against me, as a lion ravening and roaring.

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 scattered. My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels.

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 hath cleaved to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into 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 encompassed me: the council of the malignant hath besieged me. They have dug my hands and 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 have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared 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 them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.

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

But thou, O Lord, remove not thy help to a distance from me; look towards my defence.

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, O God, my soul from the sword: my only one from the hand 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 my lowness 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 thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee.

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!

Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify 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.

Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man. Neither hath he turned away his face from me: and 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.

With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the sight of 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 shall be filled: and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and 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 shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight.

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

For the kingdom is the Lord’s; and he shall have dominion over 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 have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before 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 to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him.

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!”

There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made.