Psalm 22

For the music director; according to the tune “Morning Doe;” a psalm of David.

1My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.

2My God, I cry out during the day,

but you do not answer,

and during the night my prayers do not let up.

3You are holy;

you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.

4In you our ancestors trusted;

they trusted in you and you rescued them.

5To you they cried out, and they were saved;

in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.

6But I am a worm, not a man;

people insult me and despise me.

7All who see me taunt me;

they mock me and shake their heads.

8They say,

“Commit yourself to the Lord!

Let the Lord rescue him!

Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him.”

9Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb

and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts.

10I have been dependent on you since birth;

from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11Do not remain far away from me,

for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.

12Many bulls surround me;

powerful bulls of Bashan hem me in.

13They open their mouths to devour me

like a roaring lion that rips its prey.

14My strength drains away like water;

all my bones are dislocated;

my heart is like wax;

it melts away inside me.

15The roof of my mouth is as dry as a piece of pottery;

my tongue sticks to my gums.

You set me in the dust of death.

16Yes, wild dogs surround me –

a gang of evil men crowd around me;

like a lion they pin my hands and feet.

17I can count all my bones;

my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.

18They are dividing up my clothes among themselves;

they are rolling dice for my garments.

19But you, O Lord, do not remain far away!

You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!

20Deliver me from the sword!

Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!

21Rescue me from the mouth of the lion,

and from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered me!

22I will declare your name to my countrymen!

In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!

23You loyal followers of the Lord, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him!

24For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed;

he did not ignore him;

when he cried out to him, he responded.

25You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers.

26Let the oppressed eat and be filled!

Let those who seek his help praise the Lord!

May you live forever!

27Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him!

Let all the nations worship you!

28For the Lord is king

and rules over the nations.

29All of the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship;

all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him,

including those who cannot preserve their lives.

30A whole generation will serve him;

they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.

31They will come and tell about his saving deeds;

they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.