Psalm 22 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 22

(A psalm by David for the music leader. To the tune "A Deer at Dawn." )

Suffering and Praise

   deserted me?

   Why are you so far away?

   Won't you listen to my groans

   and come to my rescue?

    ²I cry out day and night,

   but you don't answer,

   and I can never rest.

    ³Yet you are the holy God,

   ruling from your throne

   and praised by Israel.

    ⁴Our ancestors trusted you,

   and you rescued them.

    ⁵When they cried out for help,

   you saved them,

   and you did not let them down

   when they depended on you.

    ⁶But I am merely a worm,

   far less than human,

   and I am hated and rejected

   by people everywhere.

    ⁷Everyone who sees me

   makes fun and sneers.

   They shake their heads,

    ⁸and say,

   "Trust the LORD!

   If you are his favorite,

   let him protect you

   and keep you safe."

    ⁹You, LORD, brought me

   safely through birth,

   and you protected me

   when I was a baby

   at my mother's breast.

    ¹⁰From the day I was born,

   I have been in your care,

   and from the time of my birth,

   you have been my God.

    ¹¹Don't stay far off

   when I am in trouble

   with no one to help me.

    ¹²Enemies are all around

   like a herd of wild bulls.

   Powerful bulls from Bashan ^[a] are everywhere.

    ¹³My enemies are like lions

   roaring and attacking

   with jaws open wide.

    ¹⁴I have no more strength

   than a few drops of water.

   All my bones are out of joint;

   my heart is like melted wax.

    ¹⁵My strength has dried up

   like a broken clay pot,

   and my tongue sticks

   to the roof of my mouth.

   You, God, have left me

   to die in the dirt.

    ¹⁶Brutal enemies attack me

   like a pack of dogs,

   tearing at ^[b] my hands and my feet.

    ¹⁷I can count all my bones,

   and my enemies just stare

   and sneer at me.

    ¹⁸They took my clothes

   and gambled for them.

    ¹⁹Don't stay far away, LORD!

   My strength comes from you,

   so hurry and help.

    ²⁰Rescue me from enemy swords

   and save me from those dogs.

    ²¹Don't let lions eat me.

   You rescued me from the horns

   of wild bulls,

    ²²and when your people meet,

   I will praise you, LORD.

    ²³All who worship the LORD,

   now praise him!

   You belong to Jacob's family

   and to the people of Israel,

   so fear and honor the LORD!

    ²⁴The LORD doesn't hate

   or despise the helpless

   in all of their troubles.

   When I cried out, he listened

   and did not turn away.

    ²⁵When your people meet,

   you will fill my heart

   with your praises, LORD,

   and everyone will see me

   keep my promises to you.

    ²⁶The poor will eat and be full,

   and all who worship you

   will be thankful

   and live in hope.

    ²⁷Everyone on this earth

   will remember you, LORD.

   People all over the world

   will turn and worship you,

    ²⁸because you are in control,

   the ruler of all nations.

    ²⁹All who are rich

   and have more than enough

   will bow down to you, Lord.

   Even those who are dying

   and almost in the grave

   will come and bow down.

    ³⁰In the future, everyone

   will worship

   and learn

   about you, our Lord.

    ³¹People not yet born

   will be told,

   "The Lord has saved us!"