Psalm 22

1. For the music director; according to the tune “Doe of the Dawn”
   A psalm of David.

Aaargh! – cry out to God

1. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
       I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.
2. My God, I cry out during the day,
       but you do not answer,
       and during the night my prayers do not let up.

Confidence – statement of trust

3. You are holy;
       you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.
4. In you our ancestors trusted;
       they trusted in you and you rescued them.
5. To you they cried out, and they were saved;
       in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.

Because… – the problem

6. But I am a worm, not a man;
       people insult me and despise me.
7. All who see me taunt me;
       they mock me and shake their heads.
8. They say,
       “He trusts in the LORD!
       Let the LORD rescue him!
       Let the LORD deliver him, for he delights in him.”

Confidence – statement of trust

9. Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb
       and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts.
10. I have been dependent on you since birth;
        from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Do… the actual prayer: please God do this…

11. Do not remain far away from me,
        for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.
12. Many bulls surround me;
        powerful bulls of Bashan hem me in.
13. They open their mouths to devour me
        like a roaring lion that rips its prey.
14. My strength drains away like water;
        all my bones are dislocated;
        my heart is like wax;
        it melts away inside me.
15. The roof of my mouth is as dry as pottery;
        my tongue sticks to my gums.
        You set me in the dust of death.
16. Yes, wild dogs surround me —
        a gang of evil men crowd around me;
        they have pierced my hands and feet
17. I can count all my bones;
        my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.
18. They divide up my clothes among themselves;
        they roll dice for my garments.
19. But you, O LORD, do not remain far away!
        You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!
20. Deliver me from the sword!
        Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!
21. Rescue me from the mouth of the lion,
        and from the horns of the wild oxen!

End – with thanks & praise

•     You have answered me!

22. I will declare your name to my community!
        In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!
23. You loyal followers of the LORD, praise him!
        All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
        All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him!
24. For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed;
        he did not ignore them;
        when they cried out to him, he responded.
     
25. You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly;
        I will fulfill my promises before the LORD’s loyal followers.
26. Let the oppressed eat and be filled!
        Let those who seek his help praise the LORD!
        May you live forever!
27. Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the LORD and turn to him!
        Let all the nations worship you!
28. For the LORD is king
        and rules over the nations.
29. All of the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship;
        all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him,
        including those who cannot preserve their lives.
30. A whole generation will serve him;
        they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.
31. They will come and tell about his saving deeds;
        they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.

NET revised by AMF