Verse

Psalm chapter 22

English Standard Version

1To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! 27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 29All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
New International Version

New American Standard Bible

1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my help are the words of my groaning. 2My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. 3Yet You are holy, You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 4In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You rescued them. 5To You they cried out and they fled to safety; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. 6But I am a worm and not a person, A disgrace of mankind and despised by the people. 7All who see me deride me; They sneer, they shake their heads, saying, 8'Turn him over to the Lord; let Him save him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.' 9Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. 10I was cast upon You from birth; You have been my God from my mother’s womb. 11Do not be far from me, for trouble is near; For there is no one to help. 12Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. 13They open their mouths wide at me, As a ravening and roaring lion. 14I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. 15My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery, And my tongue clings to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. 16For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. 17I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; 18They divide my garments among them, And they cast lots for my clothing. 19But You, Lord, do not be far away; You who are my help, hurry to my assistance. 20Save my soul from the sword, My only life from the power of the dog. 21Save me from the lion’s mouth; From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me. 22I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 23You who fear the Lord, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. 24For He has not despised nor scorned the suffering of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. 25From You comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him. 26The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. May your heart live forever! 27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before You. 28For the kingdom is the Lord’S And He rules over the nations. 29All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust will kneel before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive. 30A posterity will serve Him; It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 31They will come and will declare His righteousness To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

What does Psalm chapter 22 mean?

Descriptions in this psalm indicate a painful execution—something David did not suffer. This implies that the terminology used here is symbolic of David's feelings. At the same time, it serves as a prophetic explanation of what would happen to the Promised One. These events would be fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus, who will reference this text from the cross (Matthew 27:46).

This passage opens with a statement of pain and suffering, commonly expressed by those who are suffering. In essence, this is the cry of someone asking, "Where are you, God?" That's a natural reaction to hardship, seen elsewhere in Scripture (Habakkuk 1:2–4). As in other places in Scripture, the eventual answer is always proven to be the same: God is there, and He is in control—there is hope (Psalm 22:1–2).

David immediately shifts to an expression of confidence in the Lord. The Bible defines faith as a trust based on experience. Hebrews chapter 11, for instance, notes that God's work in the lives of others is the basis of our trust in His promises (Hebrews 11:13–16). Even in what seems like a hopeless moment, David is confident that God is still in control (Psalm 22:3–5).

After expressing confidence, David then returns to describe the depths of his pain. This includes phrasing comparing the attacks of his enemies to those of dogs, lions, and wild oxen. The suffering one is depicted as emaciated, naked, humiliated, mocked, and battered. Despite skeptical claims, the most reliable manuscripts of these verses make it clear that this person is "pierced," further supporting this as a messianic prophecy (Psalm 22:6–21).

The last verses of the psalm shift to a hopeful tone. David anticipates that He will be delivered, one way or another, from this situation. He expects, at that time, to give God praise in a public setting. The imagery of these final verses is also prophetic. It looks ahead to the time when Christ will reign over the earth and all Israel will be reconciled to God (Psalm 22:22–31).

It is interesting to note that Jesus referred to the first words of this psalm during the crucifixion (Matthew 27:46) and also echoed the last words of this psalm at the moment of His death. Both Psalm 22 and Jesus' suffering on the cross ended with an expression of accomplishment and finality (Psalm 22:31; John 19:30).
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