Psalms — Chapter 22

For the leader; on ayyeleth ha-shaḥar.aayyeleth ha-shaḥar Meaning of Heb. uncertain. A psalm of David.

My God, my God,why have You abandoned me;why so far from delivering meand from my anguished roaring?

My God,I cry by day—You answer not;by night, and have no respite.

But You are the Holy One,enthroned,the Praise of Israel.bBut You are the Holy One, / enthroned, / the Praise of Israel Or “But You are holy, enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”

In You our ancestors trusted;they trusted, and You rescued them.

To You they cried outand they escaped;in You they trustedand were not disappointed.

But I am a worm, less than human;cless than human Or “inconsequential.” scorned by everyone, despised by people.

All who see me mock me;they curl their lips,dthey curl their lips Lit. “they open wide with a lip.” they shake their heads.

“Let him commit himself to GOD;let [God] rescue him,let [God] save him,for [God] is pleased with him.”

You drew meedrew me Meaning of Heb. uncertain. from the womb,made me secure at my mother’s breast.

I became Your charge at birth;from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

Do not be far from me,for trouble is near,and there is none to help.

Many bulls surround me,mighty ones of Bashan encircle me.

They open their mouths at melike tearing, roaring lions.

My life ebbs away:fMy life ebbs away Lit. “I am poured out like water.” all my bones are disjointed;my heart is like wax,melting within me;

my vigor dries up like a shard;my tongue cleaves to my palate;You commit me to the dust of death.

Dogs surround me;a pack of evil ones closes in on me,like lions [they maul] my hands and feet.glike lions [they maul] my hands and feet With Rashi; cf. Isa. 38.13.

I take the count of all my boneswhile they look on and gloat.

They divide my clothes among themselves,casting lots for my garments.

But You, O ETERNAL One, be not far off;my strength, hasten to my aid.

Save my life from the sword,my precious lifehprecious life Lit. “only one.” from the clutches of a dog.

Deliver me from a lion’s mouth;from the horns of wild oxen rescueirescue Lit. “answer.” me.

Then will I proclaim Your fame to my kin,praise You in the congregation.

You who fear GOD, give praise!All you offspring of Jacob, show honor!Be in dread, all you offspring of Israel!

For [God] did not scorn, and did not spurn,the pleajplea Or “plight.” of anyone lowly;[God] did not turn awaykturn away Lit. “hide His face.” from them;when they cried out, [God] listened.

Because of You I offer praiselBecause of You I offer praise Lit. “From You is my praise.” in the great congregation;I pay my vows in the presence of God’s worshipers.

Let the lowly eat and be satisfied;let all who seek GOD give praise.Always be of good cheer!

Let all the ends of the earth pay heed and turn to GOD,and the peoples of all nations prostrate themselves before You;

for sovereignty is GOD’s,who rules the nations.

mMeaning of verse uncertain; in contrast to others “All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship; / All they that go down to the dust shall kneel before Him, / Even he that cannot keep his soul alive.” All those in full vigor shall eat and prostrate themselves;all those at death’s door, whose spirits flag,shall bend the knee in submission.

Offspring shall serve [God];the Sovereign’s fame shall be proclaimed to the generation

to come;they shall tell of the beneficence to people yet to be born,for [God] has acted.