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
To the director: To the tune “The Deer of Dawn.”#Psalm 22 “The Deer of Dawn” This is probably the name of the tune for this song, but it might refer to a music style or type of instrument. A song of David.
1My God, my God, why have you left me?
You seem too far away to save me,
too far to hear my cries for help!
2My God, I kept calling by day,
and I was not silent at night.
But you did not answer me.
3God, you are the Holy One.
You sit as King upon the praises of Israel.
4Our ancestors trusted you.
Yes, they trusted you, and you saved them.
5They called to you for help and escaped their enemies.
They trusted you and were not disappointed!
6But I feel like a worm, less than human!
People insult me and look down on me.
7Everyone who sees me makes fun of me.
They shake their heads and stick out their tongues at me.
8They say, “Call to the Lord for help.
Maybe he will save you.
If he likes you so much, surely he will rescue you!”
9God, the truth is, you are the one who brought me into this world.
You made me feel safe while I was still at my mother’s breasts.
10You have been my God since the day I was born.
I was thrown into your arms as I came from my mother’s womb.
11So don’t leave me!
Trouble is near, and there is no one to help me.
12My enemies surround me like angry bulls.
They are like the powerful bulls of Bashan, and they are all around me.
13Their mouths are opened wide,
like a lion roaring and tearing at its prey.
14My strength is gone,
like water poured out on the ground.
My bones have separated.
My courage is gone.#22:14 My courage is gone Literally, “My heart is melted inside me like wax.”
15My mouth#22:15 mouth Or “strength.” is as dry as a piece of baked pottery.
My tongue is sticking to the roof of my mouth.
You have left me dying in the dust.
16The “dogs” are all around me—
a pack#22:16 pack A group of dogs. Dogs travel together in packs to hunt and kill other animals for food. of evil people has trapped me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.#22:16 They … feet Literally, “Like a lion, my hands and feet.”
17I can see each one of my bones.
My enemies are looking at me;
they just keep staring.
18They divide my clothes among themselves,
and they throw lots for what I am wearing.
19Lord, don’t leave me!
You are my strength—hurry and help me!
20Save me from the sword.
Save my precious life from these dogs.
21Rescue me from the lion’s mouth.
Protect me from the horns of the bulls.#22:21 Protect me … bulls Or “You have answered me and protected me from the horns of the bulls.” This could be both a prayer for help (like the first half of the psalm) and also a statement that God had answered this prayer (like the second half of the psalm).
22I will tell my people about you.
I will praise you in the great assembly.
23Praise the Lord, all you who worship him!
Honor him, you descendants of Jacob!
Fear and respect him, all you people of Israel!
24He does not ignore those who need help.
He does not hate them.
He does not turn away from them.
He listens when they cry for help.
25Lord, because of you I offer praise in the great assembly.
In front of all these worshipers I will do all that I promised.
26Poor people, come eat and be satisfied.#22:26 come eat … satisfied This person was giving a thank offering that would be shared with other people at the Temple. This was how someone shared their happiness when God blessed them. See Lev. 3:1-5 and Deut. 14:22-29.
You who have come looking for the Lord, praise him!
May your hearts be happy#22:26 be happy Literally, “live.” forever.
27May those in faraway countries remember the Lord and come back to him.
May those in distant lands worship him,
28because the Lord is the King.
He rules all nations.
29The people have eaten all they wanted
and bowed down to worship him.
Yes, everyone will bow down to him—
all who are on the way to the grave, unable to hold on to life.
30Our descendants will serve him.
Those who are not yet born will be told about him.
31Each generation will tell their children
about the good things the Lord has done.
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