Psalm 22:1–18

¹My God, my God, 

why have you abandoned me? 

Why are you so far away from helping me, 

so far away from the words of my groaning? 

²My God, 

I cry out by day, but you do not answer— 

also at night, but I find no rest. 

³Yet, you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 

⁴Our ancestors trusted you. 

They trusted, and you rescued them. 

⁵They cried to you and were saved. 

They trusted you and were never disappointed. 

⁶Yet, I am a worm and not a man. 

I am scorned by humanity and despised by people. 

⁷All who see me make fun of me. 

Insults pour from their mouths. 

They shake their heads and say, 

⁸“Put yourself in the Lord’s hands. 

Let the Lord save him! 

Let God rescue him since he is pleased with him!” 

⁹Indeed, you are the one who brought me out of the womb, 

the one who made me feel safe at my mother’s breasts. 

¹⁰I was placed in your care from birth. 

From my mother’s womb you have been my God. 

¹¹Do not be so far away from me. 

Trouble is near, and there is no one to help. 

¹²Many bulls have surrounded me. 

Strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me. 

¹³They have opened their mouths to attack me 

like ferocious, roaring lions. 

¹⁴I am poured out like water, 

and all my bones are out of joint. 

My heart is like wax. 

It has melted within me. 

¹⁵My strength is dried up like pieces of broken pottery. 

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. 

You lay me down in the dust of death. 

¹⁶Dogs have surrounded me. 

A mob has encircled me. 

They have pierced my hands and feet. 

¹⁷I can count all my bones. 

People stare. 

They gloat over me. 

¹⁸They divide my clothes among themselves. 

They throw dice for my clothing.