Psalm 22

Deus, Deus meus

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *

and are so far from my cry

and from the words of my distress?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *

by night as well, but I find no rest.

Yet you are the Holy One, *

enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

Our forefathers put their trust in you; *

they trusted, and you delivered them.

They cried out to you and were delivered; *

they trusted in you and were not put to shame.

But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *

scorned by all and despised by the people.

All who see me laugh me to scorn; *

they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,

“He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him; *

let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”

Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *

and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.

I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *

you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.

Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *

and there is none to help.

Many young bulls encircle me; *

strong bulls of Bashan surround me.

They open wide their jaws at me, *

like a ravening and a roaring lion.

I am poured out like water;

all my bones are out of joint; *

my heart within my breast is melting wax.

My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;

my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *

and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.

Packs of dogs close me in,

and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *

they pierce my hands and my feet;

I can count all my bones.

They stare and gloat over me; *

they divide my garments among them;

they cast lots for my clothing.

Be not far away, O Lord; *

you are my strength; hasten to help me.

Save me from the sword, *

my life from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion’s mouth, *

my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.

I will declare your Name to my brethren; *

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

Praise the Lord, you that fear him; *

stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel;

all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.

For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;

neither does he hide his face from them; *

but when they cry to him he hears them.

My praise is of him in the great assembly; *

I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

The poor shall eat and be satisfied,

and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *

“May your heart live for ever!”

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *

and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.

For kingship belongs to the Lord; *

he rules over the nations.

To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *

all who go down to the dust fall before him.

My soul shall live for him;

my descendants shall serve him; *

they shall be known as the Lord’s for ever.

They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *

the saving deeds that he has done.