Psalm 22*The Prayer of an Innocent Person1For the leader; according to “The deer of the dawn.”* A psalm of David. I 2My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish?a 3My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief.b 4Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the glory of Israel.c 5In you our fathers trusted; they trusted and you rescued them. 6To you they cried out and they escaped; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.d 7*But I am a worm, not a man, scorned by men, despised by the people.e 8All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me:f 9“He relied on the Lord—let him deliver him; if he loves him, let him rescue him.”g 10For you drew me forth from the womb, made me safe at my mother’s breasts. 11Upon you I was thrust from the womb; since my mother bore me you are my God.h 12Do not stay far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help.i II 13Many bulls* surround me; fierce bulls of Bashan* encircle me. 14They open their mouths against me, lions that rend and roar.j 15Like water my life drains away; all my bones are disjointed. My heart has become like wax, it melts away within me. 16As dry as a potsherd is my throat; my tongue cleaves to my palate; you lay me in the dust of death.* 17Dogs surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and my feet 18I can count all my bones.k They stare at me and gloat; 19they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots.l 20But you, Lord, do not stay far off; my strength, come quickly to help me. 21Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the grip of the dog. 22Save me from the lion’s mouth, my poor life from the horns of wild bulls.m III 23Then I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the assembly I will praise you:*n 24“You who fear the Lord, give praise! All descendants of Jacob, give honor; show reverence, all descendants of Israel! 25For he has not spurned or disdained the misery of this poor wretch, Did not turn away* from me, but heard me when I cried out. 26I will offer praise in the great assembly; my vows I will fulfill before those who fear him. 27The poor* will eat their fill; those who seek the Lord will offer praise. May your hearts enjoy life forever!”o IV 28All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord; All the families of nations will bow low before him.p 29For kingship belongs to the Lord, the ruler over the nations.q 30*All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God; All who have gone down into the dust will kneel in homage. 31And I will live for the Lord; my descendants will serve you. 32The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought.r Book IntroductionFootnotesScripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Home |