Psalm 22 - Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

To the director: To the tune “The Deer of Dawn.”[a] A song of David.

22 My God, my God, why have you left me?
You seem too far away to save me,
too far to hear my cries for help!
2 My God, I kept calling by day,
and I was not silent at night.
But you did not answer me.

3 God, you are the Holy One.
You sit as King upon the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted you.
Yes, they trusted you, and you saved them.
5 They called to you for help and escaped their enemies.
They trusted you and were not disappointed!
6 But I feel like a worm, less than human!
People insult me and look down on me.
7 Everyone who sees me makes fun of me.
They shake their heads and stick out their tongues at me.
8 They say, “Call to the Lord for help.
Maybe he will save you.
If he likes you so much, surely he will rescue you!”

9 God, the truth is, you are the one who brought me into this world.
You made me feel safe while I was still at my mother’s breasts.
10 You have been my God since the day I was born.
I was thrown into your arms as I came from my mother’s womb.

11 So don’t leave me!
Trouble is near, and there is no one to help me.
12 My enemies surround me like angry bulls.
They are like the powerful bulls of Bashan, and they are all around me.
13 Their mouths are opened wide,
like a lion roaring and tearing at its prey.

14 My strength is gone,
like water poured out on the ground.
My bones have separated.
My courage is gone.[b]
15 My mouth[c] is as dry as a piece of baked pottery.
My tongue is sticking to the roof of my mouth.
You have left me dying in the dust.
16 The “dogs” are all around me—
a pack[d] of evil people has trapped me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.[e]
17 I can see each one of my bones.
My enemies are looking at me;
they just keep staring.
18 They divide my clothes among themselves,
and they throw lots for what I am wearing.

19 Lord, don’t leave me!
You are my strength—hurry and help me!
20 Save me from the sword.
Save my precious life from these dogs.
21 Rescue me from the lion’s mouth.
Protect me from the horns of the bulls.[f]

22 I will tell my people about you.
I will praise you in the great assembly.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who worship him!
Honor him, you descendants of Jacob!
Fear and respect him, all you people of Israel!
24 He does not ignore those who need help.
He does not hate them.
He does not turn away from them.
He listens when they cry for help.

25 Lord, because of you I offer praise in the great assembly.
In front of all these worshipers I will do all that I promised.
26 Poor people, come eat and be satisfied.[g]
You who have come looking for the Lord, praise him!
May your hearts be happy[h] forever.
27 May those in faraway countries remember the Lord and come back to him.
May those in distant lands worship him,
28 because the Lord is the King.
He rules all nations.
29 The people have eaten all they wanted
and bowed down to worship him.
Yes, everyone will bow down to him—
all who are on the way to the grave, unable to hold on to life.
30 Our descendants will serve him.
Those who are not yet born will be told about him.
31 Each generation will tell their children
about the good things the Lord has done.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 22:1 Psalm 22 “The Deer of Dawn” This is probably the name of the tune for this song, but it might refer to a music style or type of instrument.
  2. Psalm 22:14 My courage is gone Literally, “My heart is melted inside me like wax.”
  3. Psalm 22:15 mouth Or “strength.”
  4. Psalm 22:16 pack A group of dogs. Dogs travel together in packs to hunt and kill other animals for food.
  5. Psalm 22:16 They … feet Literally, “Like a lion, my hands and feet.”
  6. Psalm 22:21 Protect me … bulls Or “You have answered me and protected me from the horns of the bulls.” This could be both a prayer for help (like the first half of the psalm) and also a statement that God had answered this prayer (like the second half of the psalm).
  7. Psalm 22:26 come eat … satisfied This person was giving a thank offering that would be shared with other people at the Temple. This was how someone shared their happiness when God blessed them. See Lev. 3:1-5 and Deut. 14:22-29.
  8. Psalm 22:26 be happy Literally, “live.”

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 22 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

22 To the Overseer, on `The Hind of the Morning.' -- A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation, The words of my roaring? 2 My God, I call by day, and Thou answerest not, And by night, and there is no silence to me. 3 And Thou [art] holy, Sitting -- the Praise...
Read More

Psalm 22 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

22 To (the) overcomer, for the morrowtide hind, the psalm of David. God, my God, behold thou on me, why hast thou forsaken me? the words of my trespasses be far from mine health. (To the overcomer, for the labourer in the morning, the song of David. God, my God, look thou upon me, why hast thou aban...
Read More

Psalm 22 - World English Bible (WEB)

For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David.22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?2 My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent.3 But you are holy...
Read More

Psalm 22 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 22For the worship leader. A song of David to the tune “Deer of the Dawn.”[a]Jesus prayed this individual lament from the cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Though it begins with a sense of abandonment, it ends on a triumphant note.1 My God, my God, why have You turned Your back on me? Your ear...
Read More

Psalm 22 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Suffering ServantPsalm 221 For the music director, on “The Doe of the Dawn,” a psalm of David.2 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?Distant from my salvation are the words of my groaning.[a]3 O my God, I cried out by day, but You did not answer,by night, but there was no rest for me.4 Yet You a...
Read More

Psalm 22 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and HostilityTo the choirmaster: according to The Hind of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.22 [a]My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?2 O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by nigh...
Read More

Psalm 22 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and HostilityTo the choirmaster: according to The Hind of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?2 O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, ...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 22Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and HostilityTo the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 22Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and HostilityTo the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 22Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and HostilityTo the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?(A)2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night b...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 22For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Doe of the Dawn.”1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. 3 Yet you...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New Life Version (NLV)

A Cry of Fear and a Song of Praise22 My God, my God, why have You left me alone? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words I cry inside myself? 2 O my God, I cry during the day, but You do not answer. I cry during the night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet You are holy. The praises Israel g...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the MessiahTo the Chief Musician. Set to [a]“The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.22 My (A)God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?Why are You so far from helping Me,And from the words of My groaning?2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;And i...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 22[a]For the director of music. To the tune of ‘The Doe of the Morning’. A psalm of David.1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.[b] 3 Yet you...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 22[a]For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?(A) Why are you so far(B) from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?(C)2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,(D) by night,(E) but I find no res...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 22For the director of music. A psalm of David to the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.”1 My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why do you seem so far away when I need you to save me? Why do you seem so far away that you can’t hear my groans?2 My God, I cry out in the daytime. But you don’t ...
Read More

Psalm 22 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 22[a]For the music director, according to the tune “Morning Doe”;[b] a psalm of David.22 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?[c]I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.[d]2 My God, I cry out during the day,but you do not answer,and during the night my prayers do not let up.[e]3 You ar...
Read More