Psalms 22

1 For the leader; set to ‘Deer of the Dawn’. A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you left me, my rescue so far from the words of my roaring?

Unto the end, for the morning protection, a psalm for David. O God my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins.

2 I cry in the day, you do not answer, I cry in the night but find no rest.

O my God, I shall cry by day, and thou wilt not hear: and by night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me.

3 You are the Holy One, throned on the praises of Israel.

But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel.

4 In you our ancestors trusted, they trusted and you delivered them.

In thee have our fathers hoped: they have hoped, and thou hast delivered them.

5 They cried to you, and found safety, in you did they trust and were not put to shame.

They cried to thee, and they were saved: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6 But I am a worm, not a person; insulted by others, despised by the people.

But I am a worm, and no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people.

7 All who see me mock me, with mouths wide open and wagging heads:

All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken with the lips, and wagged the head.

8 “He relies on the Lord; let him save him. Let him rescue the one he holds dear!”

He hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him: let him save him, seeing he delighteth in him.

9 But you drew me from the womb, laid me safely on my mother’s breasts.

For thou art he that hast drawn me out of the womb: my hope from the breasts of my mother.

10 On your care was I cast from my very birth, you are my God from my mother’s womb.

I was cast upon thee from the womb. From my mother’s womb thou art my God,

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is nigh, and there is none to help.

Depart not from me. For tribulation is very near: for there is none to help me.

12 I am circled by many bulls, beset by the mighty of Bashan,

Many calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me.

13 who face me with gaping jaws, like ravening roaring lions.

They have opened their mouths against me, as a lion ravening and roaring.

14 Poured out am I like water, and all my bones are loosened. My heart is become like wax, melted within me.

I am poured out like water; and all my bones are scattered. My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels.

15 My palate is dry as a sherd, my tongue sticks to my jaws; in the dust of death you lay me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath cleaved to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into the dust of death.

16 For dogs are round about me, a band of knaves encircles me, gnawing my hands and my feet.

For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant hath besieged me. They have dug my hands and feet.

17 I can count my bones, every one. As for them, they feast their eyes on me.

They have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared upon me.

18 They divide my garments among them, and over my raiment cast lots.

They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.

19 But you, O Lord, be not far, O my strength, hasten to help me.

But thou, O Lord, remove not thy help to a distance from me; look towards my defence.

20 Deliver my life from the sword my life from the power of the dogs.

Deliver, O God, my soul from the sword: my only one from the hand of the dog.

21 Save me from the jaws of the lion, from the horns of the wild oxen help me.

Save me from the lion’s mouth; and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns.

22 I will tell of your fame to my kindred, and in the assembly will praise you.

I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee.

23 Praise the Lord, you who fear him. All Jacob’s seed, give him glory. All Israel’s seed, stand in awe of him.

Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him.

24 For he has not despised nor abhorred the sorrow of the sorrowful. He hid not his face from me, but he listened to my cry for help.

Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man. Neither hath he turned away his face from me: and when I cried to him he heard me.

25 Of you is my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.

With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the sight of them that fear him.

26 The afflicted will eat to their heart’s desire, and those who seek after the Lord will praise him. Lift up your hearts forever.

The poor shall eat and shall be filled: and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever.

27 All will call it to mind, to the ends of the earth, and turn to the Lord; and all tribes of the nations will bow down before you.

All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight.

28 For the kingdom belongs to the Lord: he is the Lord of the nations.

For the kingdom is the Lord’s; and he shall have dominion over the nations.

29 To him will bow down all who sleep in the earth, and before him bend all who go down to the dust, and those who could not preserve their lives.

All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before him.

30 My descendants will tell of the Lord to the next generation;

And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him.

31 they will declare his righteousness to people yet to be born: He has done it.

There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made.