22
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?* O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,§ He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.**†† But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.‡‡ 10  I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. 11  Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.§§ 12  Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.*** 14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.††† 15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17  I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19  But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20  Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.‡‡‡§§§ 21  Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22  I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23  Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24  For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25  My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26  The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27  All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28  For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30  A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31  They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
* 22:1 Aijeleth…: or, the hind of the morning 22:1 helping…: Heb. my salvation 22:2 am…: Heb. there is no silence to me § 22:7 shoot…: Heb. open ** 22:8 He trusted…: Heb. He rolled himself on †† 22:8 seeing…: or, if he delight in ‡‡ 22:9 didst…: or, kept me in safety §§ 22:11 none…: Heb. not a helper *** 22:13 gaped…: Heb. opened their mouths against me ††† 22:14 out of…: or, sundered ‡‡‡ 22:20 my darling: Heb. my only one §§§ 22:20 power: Heb. hand