Psalm 22

For the choir director; according to ayyeleth hashachar;a a psalm by David. 

1  My 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? 

2  My God, 

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

also at night, but I find no rest. 

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

4  Our ancestors trusted you. 

They trusted, and you rescued them. 

5  They cried to you and were saved. 

They trusted you and were never disappointed. 

6  Yet, I am a worm and not a man. 

I am scorned by humanity and despised by people. 

7  All 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!” 

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

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

10  I was placed in your care from birth. 

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

11  Do not be so far away from me. 

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

12  Many bulls have surrounded me. 

Strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me. 

13  They have opened their mouths to attack me 

like ferocious, roaring lions. 

14  I am poured out like water, 

and all my bones are out of joint. 

My heart is like wax. 

It has melted within me. 

15  My 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. 

16  Dogs have surrounded me. 

A mob has encircled me. 

They have pierced my hands and feet. 

17  I can count all my bones. 

People stare. 

They gloat over me. 

18  They divide my clothes among themselves. 

They throw dice for my clothing. 

19  Do not be so far away, O Lord. 

Come quickly to help me, O my strength. 

20  Rescue my soul from the sword, 

my life from vicious dogs. 

21  Save me from the mouth of the lion 

and from the horns of wild oxen. 

You have answered me. 

22  I will tell my people about your name. 

I will praise you within the congregation. 

23  All who fear the Lord, praise him! 

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! 

Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel. 

24  The Lord has not despised or been disgusted 

with the plight of the oppressed one. 

He has not hidden his face from that person. 

The Lord heard when that oppressed person 

cried out to him for help. 

25  My praise comes from you while I am among those assembled for worship. 

I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who fear the Lord. 

26  Oppressed people will eat until they are full. 

Those who look to the Lord will praise him. 

May you live forever. 

27  All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the Lord. 

All the families from all the nations will worship you 

28  because the kingdom belongs to the Lord 

and he rules the nations. 

29  All prosperous people on earth will eat and worship. 

All those who go down to the dust will kneel in front of him, 

even those who are barely alive. 

30  There will be descendants who serve him, 

a generation that will be told about the Lord. 

31  They will tell people yet to be born about his righteousness— 

that he has finished it.