Psalms 22
22
PSALM 22
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar,
A Psalm of David.
1My God, my God, why hast thou me
forsaken? why so far
Art thou from helping me, and from
my words that roaring are?
2All day, my God, to thee I cry,
yet am not heard by thee;
And in the season of the night
I cannot silent be.
3But thou art holy, thou that dost
inhabit Isr'el's praise.
4Our fathers hop'd in thee, they hop'd
and thou didst them release.
5When unto thee they sent their cry,
to them deliv'rance came:
Because they put their trust in thee,
they were not put to shame.
6But as for me, a worm I am,
and as no man am priz'd:
Reproach of men I am, and by
the people am despis'd.
7All that me see laugh me to scorn;
shoot out the lip do they;
They nod and shake their heads at me,
and, mocking, thus do say,
8This man did trust in God, that he
would free him by his might:
Let him deliver him, sith he
had in him such delight.
9But thou art he out of the womb
that didst me safely take;
When I was on my mother's breasts
thou me to hope didst make.
10And I was cast upon thy care,
ev'n from the womb till now;
And from my mother's belly, Lord,
my God and guide art thou.
11Be not far off, for grief is near,
and none to help is found.
12Bulls many compass me, strong bulls
of Bashan me surround.
13Their mouths they open'd wide on me,
upon me gape did they,
Like to a lion ravening
and roaring for his prey.
14Like water I'm pour'd out, my bones
all out of joint do part:
Amidst my bowels, as the wax,
so melted is my heart.
15My strength is like a potsherd dry'd;
my tongue it cleaveth fast
Unto my jaws; and to the dust
of death thou brought me hast.
16For dogs have compass'd me about:
the wicked, that did meet
In their assembly, me inclos'd;
they pierc'd my hands and feet.
17I all my bones may tell; they do
upon me look and stare.
18Upon my vesture lots they cast,
and clothes among them share.
19But be not far, O Lord, my strength;
haste to give help to me.
20From sword my soul, from pow'r of dogs
my darling set thou free.
21Out of the roaring lion's mouth
do thou me shield and save:
For from the horns of unicorns
an ear to me thou gave.
22I will shew forth thy name unto
those that my brethren are;
Amidst the congregation
thy praise I will declare.
23Praise ye the Lord, who do him fear;
him glorify all ye
The seed of Jacob: fear him all
that Isr'el's children be.
24For he despis'd not nor abhorr'd
th' afflicted's misery;
Nor from him hid his face, but heard
when he to him did cry.
25Within the congregation great
my praise shall be of thee;
My vows before them that him fear
shall be perform'd by me.
26The meek shall eat,
and shall be fill'd;
they also praise shall give
Unto the Lord that do him seek:
your heart shall ever live.
27All ends of th' earth remember shall,
and turn the Lord unto;
All kindreds of the nations
to him shall homage do:
28Because the kingdom to the Lord
doth appertain as his;
Likewise among the nations
the Governor he is.
29Earth's fat ones eat,
and worship shall:
all who to dust descend
Shall bow to him; none of them can
his soul from death defend.
30A seed shall service do to him;
unto the Lord it shall
Be for a generation
reckon'd in ages all.
31They shall come, and they shall declare
his truth and righteousness
Unto a people yet unborn,
and that he hath done this.
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Psalms 22: MP1650
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 22
22
(A psalm by David for the music leader. To the tune “A Deer at Dawn”.)
Suffering and praise
1My God, my God, why have you#Mt 27.46; Mk 15.34.
deserted me?
Why are you so far away?
Won't you listen to my groans
and come to my rescue?
2I cry out day and night,
but you don't answer,
and I can never rest.
3Yet you are the holy God,
ruling from your throne
and praised by Israel.
4Our ancestors trusted you,
and you rescued them.
5When they cried out for help,
you saved them,
and you did not let them down
when they depended on you.
6But I am merely a worm,
far less than human,
and I am hated and rejected
by people everywhere.
7Everyone who sees me#Mt 27.39; Mk 15.29; Lk 23.35.
makes fun and sneers.
They shake their heads,
8and say, “Trust the LORD!#Mt 27.43.
If you are his favourite,
let him protect you
and keep you safe.”
9You, LORD, brought me
safely through birth,
and you protected me
when I was a baby
at my mother's breast.
10From the day I was born,
I have been in your care,
and from the time of my birth,
you have been my God.
11Don't stay far off
when I am in trouble
with no one to help me.
12Enemies are all around
like a herd of wild bulls.
Powerful bulls from Bashan#22.12 Bashan: A land east of the River Jordan, where there were pastures suitable for raising fine cattle.
are everywhere.
13My enemies are like lions
roaring and attacking
with jaws open wide.
14I have no more strength
than a few drops of water.
All my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like melted wax.
15My strength has dried up
like a broken clay pot,
and my tongue sticks
to the roof of my mouth.
You, God, have left me
to die in the dust.
16Brutal enemies attack me
like a pack of dogs,
tearing at#22.16 tearing at: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. my hands
and my feet.
17I can count all my bones,
and my enemies just stare
and sneer at me.
18They took my clothes#Mt 27.35; Mk 15.24; Lk 23.34; Jn 19.24.
and gambled for them.
19Don't stay far away, LORD!
My strength comes from you,
so hurry and help.
20Rescue me from enemy swords
and save me from those dogs.
21Don't let lions eat me.
You rescued me from the horns
of wild bulls,
22and when your people meet,#He 2.12.
I will praise you, LORD.
23All who worship the LORD,
now praise him!
You belong to Jacob's family
and to the people of Israel,
so fear and honour the LORD!
24The LORD doesn't hate
or despise the helpless
in all their troubles.
When I cried out, he listened
and did not turn away.
25When your people meet,
you will fill my heart
with your praises, LORD,
and everyone will see me
keep my promises to you.
26The poor will eat and be full,
and all who worship you
will be thankful
and live in hope.
27Everyone on this earth
will remember you, LORD.
People all over the world
will turn and worship you,
28because you are in control,
the ruler of all nations.
29All who are rich
and have more than enough
will bow down to you, Lord.
Even those who are dying
and almost in the grave
will come and bow down.
30In the future, everyone
will worship and learn
about you, our Lord.
31People not yet born
will be told,
“The Lord has saved us!”
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