Psalms 22:1-21

To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] Aijeleth Hashshahar [the hind of the morning dawn]. A Psalm of David.

1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You answer not; and by night I am not silent or find no rest.

3 But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].

4 Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted (leaned on, relied on You, and were confident) and You delivered them.

5 They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in, leaned on, and confidently relied on You, and were not ashamed or confounded or disappointed.

6 But I am a worm, and no man; I am the scorn of men, and despised by the people.

7 All who see me laugh at me and mock me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 He trusted and rolled himself on the Lord, that He would deliver him. Let Him deliver him, seeing that He delights in him!

9 Yet You are He Who took me out of the womb; You made me hope and trust when I was on my mother’s breasts.

10 I was cast upon You from my very birth; from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

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

12 Many [foes like] bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have hedged me in.

13 Against me they opened their mouths wide, like a ravening and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is softened [with anguish] and melted down within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a fragment of clay pottery; [with thirst] my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You have brought me into the dust of death.

16 For [like a pack of] dogs they have encompassed me; a company of evildoers has encircled me, they pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones; [the evildoers] gaze at me.

18 They part my clothing among them and cast lots for my raiment (a long, shirtlike garment, a seamless undertunic). )

19 But be not far from me, O Lord; O my Help, hasten to aid me!

20 Deliver my life from the sword, my dear life [my only one] from the power of the dog [the agent of execution].

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth; for You have answered me [kindly] from the horns of the wild oxen