Psalms

Chapter 22

The Psalm of the Cross

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

Commentary not yet available

1 My God, my God,

why have You forsaken me? [a]

Why are You so far from saving me,

so far from my words of groaning?

Commentary not yet available

2 I cry out by day, O my God,

but You do not answer,

and by night,

but I have no rest.

Commentary not yet available

3 Yet You are holy,

enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Commentary not yet available

4 In You our fathers trusted;

they trusted and You delivered them.

Commentary not yet available

5 They cried out to You and were set free;

they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

Commentary not yet available

6 But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by men and despised by the people.

Commentary not yet available

7 All who see me mock me;

they sneer and shake their heads:

Commentary not yet available

8 “He trusts in the LORD,

let the LORD deliver him;

let the LORD rescue him,

since He delights in him.” [b]

Commentary not yet available

9 Yet You brought me forth from the womb;

You made me secure at my mother’s breast.

Commentary not yet available

10 From birth I was cast upon You;

from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

Commentary not yet available

11 Be not far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.

Commentary not yet available

12 Many bulls surround me;

strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Commentary not yet available

13 They open their jaws against me

like lions that roar and maul.

Commentary not yet available

14 I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are disjointed.

My heart is like wax;

it melts away within me.

Commentary not yet available

15 My strength [c] is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You lay me in the dust of death.

Commentary not yet available

16 For dogs surround me;

a band of evil men encircles me;

they have pierced my hands and feet. [d]

Commentary not yet available

17 I can count all my bones;

they stare and gloat over me.

Commentary not yet available

18 They divide my garments among them

and cast lots for my clothing. [e]

Commentary not yet available

19 But You, O LORD, be not far off;

O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

Commentary not yet available

20 Deliver my soul from the sword,

my precious life from the power of wild dogs.

Commentary not yet available

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion;

at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!

Commentary not yet available

22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;

I will praise You in the assembly. [f]

Commentary not yet available

23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him!

All descendants of Jacob, honor Him!

All offspring of Israel, revere Him!

Commentary not yet available

24 For He has not despised or detested

the torment of the afflicted.

He has not hidden His face from him,

but has attended to his cry for help.

Commentary not yet available

25 My praise for You resounds in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.

Commentary not yet available

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek the LORD will praise Him.

May your hearts live forever!

Commentary not yet available

27 All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the LORD.

All the families of the nations

will bow down before Him.

Commentary not yet available

28 For dominion belongs to the LORD

and He rules over the nations.

Commentary not yet available

29 All 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.

Commentary not yet available

30 Posterity will serve Him;

they will declare the Lord to a new generation.

Commentary not yet available

31 They will come and proclaim His righteousness

to a people yet unborn—

all that He has done.

Commentary not yet available

Footnotes