Psalm 22

To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.

1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?footnote afootnote b

2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.footnote c

3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

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

7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,footnote d

8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.footnote efootnote f

9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.footnote g

10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.

11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.footnote h

12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.footnote i

14I 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.footnote j

15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

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

17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.footnote kfootnote l

21Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

24For 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.

25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

29All 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.

30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

The Psalm of the Cross

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

1My God, my God,why have You forsaken me?footnote aWhy 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.

3Yet You are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4In You our fathers trusted;they trusted and You delivered them. 5They cried out to You and were set free;they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

6But I am a worm and not a man,scorned by men and despised by the people. 7All who see me mock me;they sneer and shake their heads: 8“He trusts in the LORD,let the LORD deliver him;let the LORD rescue him,since He delights in him.”footnote b

9Yet You brought me forth from the womb;You made me secure at my mother’s breast. 10From birth I was cast upon You;from my mother’s womb You have been my God. 11Be not far from me,for trouble is nearand there is no one to help.

12Many bulls surround me;strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13They open their jaws against melike lions that roar and maul. 14I am poured out like water,and all my bones are disjointed.My heart is like wax;it melts away within me. 15My strengthfootnote cis dried up like a potsherd,and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.You lay me in the dust of death.

16For dogs surround me;a band of evil men encircles me;they have pierced my hands and feet.footnote d 17I can count all my bones;they stare and gloat over me. 18They divide my garments among themand cast lots for my clothing.footnote e

19But You, O LORD, be not far off;O my Strength, come quickly to help me. 20Deliver my soul from the sword,my precious life from the power of wild dogs. 21Save me from the mouth of the lion;at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!

22I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;I will praise You in the assembly.footnote f 23You who fear the LORD, praise Him!All descendants of Jacob, honor Him!All offspring of Israel, revere Him! 24For He has not despised or detestedthe torment of the afflicted.He has not hidden His face from him,but has attended to his cry for help.

25My praise for You resounds in the great assembly;I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You. 26The poor will eat and be satisfied;those who seek the LORD will praise Him.May your hearts live forever!

27All the ends of the earthwill remember and turn to the LORD.All the families of the nationswill bow down before Him. 28For dominion belongs to the LORDand He rules over the nations. 29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—even those unable to preserve their lives. 30Posterity will serve Him;they will declare the Lord to a new generation. 31They will come and proclaim His righteousnessto a people yet unborn—all that He has done.