Psalm 22:1
New International Version
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

New Living Translation
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?

English Standard Version
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?

King James Bible
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?

New American Standard Bible
For the music director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my help are the words of my groaning.

NASB 1995
For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

NASB 1977
My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. According to Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my groaning.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] Aijeleth Hashshahar (The Doe of the Dawn). A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: according to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director: according to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A Davidic psalm. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning?

American Standard Version
For the Chief Musician; set to Aijeleth hash-Shahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

Contemporary English Version
My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why are you so far away? Won't you listen to my groans and come to my rescue?

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician; set to Aijeleth hash-Shahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; according to [ayyeleth hashachar]; a psalm by David.] My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away from helping me, so far away from the words of my groaning?

Good News Translation
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I have cried desperately for help, but still it does not come.

International Standard Version
My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from delivering me— from my groaning words?

Majority Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. To the tune of ?The Doe of the Dawn.? A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?

NET Bible
For the music director; according to the tune "Morning Doe;" a psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician; set to "The Doe of the Morning." A Psalm by David.] My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

World English Bible
For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “DOE OF THE MORNING.” A PSALM OF DAVID. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Far from My salvation, "" The words of My roaring?

Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer, on 'The Hind of the Morning.' -- A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation, The words of my roaring?

Smith's Literal Translation
To the overseer upon the first place of the dawn; chanting of David. My God, my God, wherefore forsookest thou me? far off from my salvation the words of my groaning.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Unto the end. For the tasks of early morning. A Psalm of David. O God, my God, look upon me. Why have you forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my offenses.

New American Bible
For the leader; according to “The deer of the dawn.” A psalm of David. [2] My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish?

New Revised Standard Version
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
MY God, my God, why hast thou let me to live? and yet thou hast delayed my salvation from me, because of the words of my folly.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My God, my God, why have you left me and have removed from me my salvation in the words of my folly?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader; upon Aijeleth ha-Shahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me, And art far from my help at the words of my cry?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, concerning the morning aid, a Psalm of David. O God, my God, attend to me: why hast thou forsaken me? the account of my transgressions is far from my salvation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Psalm of the Cross
1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning? 2I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.…

Cross References
Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Mark 15:34
At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

Matthew 26:38
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

John 12:27
Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.

Luke 22:44
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Isaiah 53:3-4
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. / Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

Lamentations 1:12
Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger?

Job 30:20
I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me.

Job 3:24
I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.

Psalm 42:9
I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”

Psalm 43:2
For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?


Treasury of Scripture

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

A.

Psalm 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Psalm 42:1,2
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God…

my God

Psalm 31:14-16
But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God…

Psalm 43:1-5
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man…

Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

why hast

Psalm 26:9
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

Psalm 37:28
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalm 71:11
Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

far

Psalm 22:11
Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Psalm 16:1
Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

helping [heb.

Isaiah 46:13
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

words

Psalm 32:3,4
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long…

Psalm 38:8
I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

Job 3:24
For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

Jump to Previous
Chief Choirmaster Crying David Dawn Deliverance Director Doe Far Forsaken Groaning Helping Hind Leader Morning Music Musician Music-Maker Psalm Roaring Salvation Shahar Turned Words
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Chief Choirmaster Crying David Dawn Deliverance Director Doe Far Forsaken Groaning Helping Hind Leader Morning Music Musician Music-Maker Psalm Roaring Salvation Shahar Turned Words
Psalm 22
1. David complains in great discouragement
9. He prays in great distress
23. He praises God














My God, my God
This phrase is a profound expression of personal relationship and deep distress. The Hebrew words used here are "Eli, Eli," which denote a personal claim to God, emphasizing a covenant relationship. In the context of ancient Israel, calling upon God in such a personal manner reflects a deep-seated faith and reliance on the divine. This phrase is famously echoed by Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:46), highlighting its messianic significance and the fulfillment of prophecy. It underscores the intimacy and yet the agony of feeling abandoned by the One whom the psalmist, and later Jesus, trusts completely.

why have You forsaken me?
The Hebrew root for "forsaken" is "azab," which means to leave, abandon, or desert. This word choice conveys a profound sense of desolation and abandonment. Historically, this cry reflects the psalmist's acute sense of being left alone in a time of dire need. In the broader scriptural context, this phrase captures the tension between faith and experience, where the believer feels the absence of God's presence despite His promises. For Christians, this verse is pivotal in understanding the suffering of Christ, who bore the weight of sin and experienced separation from the Father, fulfilling the prophetic nature of the psalm and providing a pathway for redemption.

(1) My God, my God.--Heb., Eli, Eli, lama azavtani, where the Targum paraphrases sabbacthani, the form used by our Saviour on the cross. (See Notes, N. T. Comm., Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34.) The LXX. and Vulgate insert "look upon me." (Comp. English Prayer Book version.) For the despairing tone comp. Psalm 80:14. It suits the whole of pious Israel in her times of trouble even better than any individual.

The second part of the verse is obscure from its lyric conciseness, but the Authorised Version has given the meaning, though sacrificing the rhythm--

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me,

Far from my aid, from the words of my groaning?"

i.e., far from listening to the words that escape me only in groans.

Roaring.--A word used generally of a lion (Isaiah 5:29; comp. Judges 14:5); but also of a man (Psalm 38:9). Hitzig's conjecture, "from my cry," instead of "from my help," is very plausible, since it makes the parallelism complete and involves a very slight change. The LXX. and Vulg. have "the words of my offences." . . .

Verse 1. - My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Not a cry of despair, but a cry of loving faith, "My God, my God - Why hast thou for a time withdrawn thyself?" It is remarkable that our Lord's quotation of this passage does not follow exactly either the Hebrew or the Chaldee paraphrase - the Hebrew having 'azab-thani for sabacthani, and the Chaldee paraphrase metul ma for lama. May we not conclude that it is the thought, and not its verbal expression by the sacred writers, that is inspired? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? It is very doubtful whether our translators have done right in supplying the words which they have added. The natural translation of the Hebrew would be, Far from my salvation are the words of my roaring. And this rendering yields a sufficiently good sense, viz. "Far from effecting my salvation (or deliverance) are the words of my roaring;" i.e. of my loud complaint. Our Lord's "strong crying and tears" in the garden (Hebrews 5:7) did not produce his deliverance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For the choirmaster.
לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

To the tune of
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

“The Doe
אַיֶּ֥לֶת (’ay·ye·leṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 365: lofty tree', a city and harbor on the Red Sea

of the Dawn.”
הַשַּׁ֗חַר (haš·ša·ḥar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7837: Dawn

A Psalm
מִזְמ֥וֹר (miz·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4210: Instrumental music, a poem set to notes

of David.
לְדָוִֽד׃ (lə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

My God,
אֵלִ֣י (’ê·lî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

my God,
אֵ֭לִי (’ê·lî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

why
לָמָ֣ה (lā·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

have You forsaken me?
עֲזַבְתָּ֑נִי (‘ă·zaḇ·tā·nî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

Why are You so far
רָח֥וֹק (rā·ḥō·wq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious

from saving me,
מִֽ֝ישׁוּעָתִ֗י (mî·šū·‘ā·ṯî)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3444: Something saved, deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity

[so far] from my words
דִּבְרֵ֥י (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of groaning?
שַׁאֲגָתִֽי׃ (ša·’ă·ḡā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7581: A rumbling, moan


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OT Poetry: Psalm 22:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 21:13
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