Psalms 22

1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned/deserted me? Why do you stay so far from me, and why do you not hear/help me [RHQ]? Why do you not hear me when I am groaning?

For the music director. To the tune “Doe of the Dawn.” A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan, asking for help?

2 My God, every day I call to you during the daytime and during the night, but you do not answer me, so I am not able to sleep.

My God, every day I cry out to you, but you don't answer; at night too, but I get no rest.

3 But you are holy. You sit on your throne as king, and [we the people of] Israel praise you [PRS].

Yet you are holy, and the praises of Israel are your throne.

4 Our ancestors trusted in you. [Because] they trusted in you, you rescued them.

Our forefathers trusted in you; they trusted and you rescued them.

5 When they cried out to you, you saved them. They trusted in you, and (they were not disappointed/you [saved them] as you said that you would).

They cried out to you for help, and they were saved. They trusted in you and were not defeated.

6 But [you have not rescued me] [People despise me and consider that I am not a man]; [they think that] I am [as worthless as] a worm! Everyone [HYP] scorns me and despises me.

But I'm a worm, not a man, scorned and despised by everyone.

7 Everyone who sees me [HYP] makes fun of me. They sneer at me and [insult me by] shaking their heads [at me as though I were an evil man]. They say,

People who see me mock me. They laugh at me and shake their heads, saying,

8 “He trusts in Yahweh, so Yahweh should save him! [He says that] Yahweh is very pleased with him; if that is so, Yahweh should rescue him!”

“He trusts in the Lord—well then, let the Lord save him! If the Lord is such a friend, then let the Lord rescue him!”

9 [Why do] you [not] protect me [now as you did] when I was born? I was safe even when I was (nursing/drinking milk from my mother’s breasts).

However, you brought me safely through birth, and led me to trust in you at my mother's breasts.

10 [It was as though] you adopted me right when I was born. You have (been my God/taken care of me) ever since I was born.

I was entrusted to you from birth; from the time I was born you have been my God.

11 So, (do not stay far from/stay close to) [LIT] me now because [enemies who will cause me much] trouble are near me, and there is no one [else] who can help me.

Do not be distant from me, because trouble is close by and no one else can help.

12 [My enemies] surround me [like] a herd/group of wild bulls. [Fierce people, like those] strong bulls that graze [on the hills] in Bashan [area], encircle me.

Enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me.

13 [They are like] roaring lions that are attacking the animals that they want to kill [MET] [and eat]; they rush toward me [to kill] me; they [are like lions that] have their mouths open, [ready to tear their victims to pieces] [MET].

Like roaring lions tearing at their prey they open their mouths wide against me.

14 I am completely exhausted [MET], and all my bones are out of their joints/places. I [no longer expect that God will save me]; [that expectation is gone completely], like wax that has melted away.

I feel like I'm being poured out like water. I'm falling apart as if all my bones have become loose. My mind feels like it's wax melting inside me.

15 My strength is [all dried up] [MET] like a broken piece of a clay jar that has dried [in the sun]. [I am so thirsty that] my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. O God, [I think that you are about to let] me die and become dirt!

My strength has dried up like a piece of broken pottery. My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. You're burying me as if I'm already dead.

16 My enemies [MET] surround me like a pack/group of wild dogs. A group of evil men has encircled me, [ready to attack me]. They have [already] smashed my hands and my feet.

Evil men surround me like a pack of dogs. They have pierced my hands and feet.

17 [I am so weak and thin that] my bones can be seen and counted. My enemies stare at me and (gloat/are happy) about [what has happened to] me.

I'm so thin I can count all my bones. People stare at me and gloat.

18 They looked at the clothes that I [was wearing] and gambled to determine which piece each of them would get.

They divide my clothing among them; they roll dice for my clothes.

19 O Yahweh, do not stay far away from me! You who are my [source of] strength, come quickly and help me!

But you, Lord, don't be far away from me! You are my strength—hurry, come and help me!

20 Rescue me from [those who want to kill me with] their swords. Save me from those who are [like wild/fierce] dogs [MET].

Save me from death by the sword! Save my life—the only one I have—from the dogs!

21 Snatch me away from [my enemies who are] like lions whose jaws [are already open, ready to chew me up] Grab me away from [those men who are like] wild oxen [that attack other animals with] their horns [MET]!

Rescue me from the mouth of the lion and from the wild bulls!

22 [But you have saved me, so] I will declare to my fellow [Israelis] how great you [MTY] are. I will praise you among the group of your people gathered [to worship you].

I will tell my people all the wonderful things you have done; I will praise you in the congregation.

23 You people who have an awesome respect for Yahweh, praise him! All you who are descended from Jacob, honor Yahweh! All you Israeli people, revere him!

Praise the Lord, all who worship him! Honor him, every descendant of Jacob! Be in awe of him, every descendant of Israel!

24 He does not despise or ignore those who are suffering; he does not hide (his face/himself) from them. He has listened to them when they cried out to him for help.

For he has not ridiculed or scorned the suffering of the poor; he has not turned away from them, he has listened to their cries for help.

25 Yahweh, in the great gathering [of your people], I will praise you for what you have done. In the presence of those who revere you, I will offer [the sacrifices] that I promised.

You are the subject of my praise in the great assembly. I will fulfill my promises before those who worship you.

26 The poor people [whom I have invited to the meal] will eat as much as they want. All who come worship Yahweh will praise him. I pray that [God will enable] you all to live a long and happy life!

The poor shall eat, and they shall be satisfied. All who come to the Lord will praise him—may you all live forever!

27 I pray that [people in all nations, even] in the remote areas, will think about Yahweh and turn to him, and that people from all the clans in the world will bow down before him.

Everyone in the whole world will repent and return to the Lord; all the nations will worship before you.

28 Because Yahweh is the king! He rules all the nations.

For kingly power belongs to the Lord; he is the one who rules over the nations.

29 I desire that all the rich people on the earth will bow before him. Some day they will die, but I want them to prostrate themselves on the ground in his presence [before they die].

All who prosper come to feast and worship. Bow down before him, all those destined for the grave—for none can keep themselves alive.

30 People (in the future generations/who have not been born yet) will also serve Yahweh. Our descendants will be told about what Yahweh [has done].

Our descendants will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the Lord.

31 People who are not yet born, [who will live in future years], will be told how Yahweh rescued his people. People will tell them, “Yahweh did it!”

They will come and tell those yet to be born how good the Lord is, and all that he has done!