The Prayer of a Suffering Man

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of Dawn.” A psalm of David.

22 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

You seem far from saving me,

far away from my groans.

2  My God, I call to you during the day,

but you do not answer.

I call at night;

I am not silent.

3  You sit as the Holy One.

The praises of Israel are your throne.

4  Our ancestors trusted you;

they trusted, and you saved them.

5  They called to you for help

and were rescued.

They trusted you

and were not disappointed.

6  But I am like a worm instead of a man.

People make fun of me and hate me.

7  Those who look at me laugh.

They stick out their tongues and shake their heads.

8  They say, “Turn to the Lord for help.

Maybe he will save you.

If he likes you,

maybe he will rescue you.”

9  You had my mother give birth to me.

You made me trust you

while I was just a baby.

10  I have leaned on you since the day I was born;

you have been my God since my mother gave me birth.

11  So don’t be far away from me.

Now trouble is near,

and there is no one to help.

12  People have surrounded me like angry bulls.

Like the strong bulls of Bashan, they are on every side.

13  Like hungry, roaring lions

they open their mouths at me.

14  My strength is gone,

like water poured out onto the ground,

and my bones are out of joint.

My heart is like wax;

it has melted inside me.

15  My strength has dried up like a clay pot,

and my tongue sticks to the top of my mouth.

You laid me in the dust of death.

16  Evil people have surrounded me;

like dogs they have trapped me.

They have bitten my arms and legs.

17  I can count all my bones;

people look and stare at me.

18  They divided my clothes among them,

and they threw lots for my clothing.

19  But, Lord, don’t be far away.

You are my strength; hurry to help me.

20  Save me from the sword;

save my life from the dogs.

21  Rescue me from the lion’s mouth;

save me from the horns of the bulls.

22  Then I will tell my brothers and sisters about you;

I will praise you in the public meeting.

23  Praise the Lord, all you who respect him.

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him;

fear him, all you Israelites.

24  He does not ignore those in trouble.

He doesn’t hide from them

but listens when they call out to him.

25  Lord, I praise you in the great meeting of your people;

these worshipers will see me do what I promised.

26  Poor people will eat until they are full;

those who look to the Lord will praise him.

May your hearts live forever!

27  People everywhere will remember

and will turn to the Lord.

All the families of the nations

will worship him

28  because the Lord is King,

and he rules the nations.

29  All the powerful people on earth will eat and worship.

Everyone will bow down to him,

all who will one day die.

30  The people in the future will serve him;

they will always be told about the Lord.

31  They will tell that he does what is right.

People who are not yet born

will hear what God has done.