Psalm 22 - Easy To Read Version

¹ My God, my God!\par Why did you leave me?\par You are too far away to save me!\par You are too far away to hear my cries for help!\par

² My God, I called to you during the day.\par But you did not answer me.\par And I continued calling you in the night.\par

³ God, you are the Holy One.\par You sit as King.\par The praises of Israel are your throne.\par

⁴ Our ancestors {\cf2\super [124]} trusted you.\par Yes, they trusted you, God,\par and you saved them.\par

⁵ God, our ancestors {\cf2\super [125]} called to you for help,\par and they escaped \{their enemies\}.\par They trusted you,\par and they were not disappointed!\par

⁶ So, am I a worm and not a man?\par The people are ashamed of me.\par The people despise me.\par

⁷ Everyone who looks at me\par makes fun of me.\par They shake their heads\par and stick out their tongues at me.\par

⁸ They tell me:\par “Call to the Lord for help.\par Maybe he will save you.\par If he likes you so much,\par then surely he will rescue you!”\par

⁹ God, \{the truth is\} that you really are\par the One I depend on.\par You have taken care of me\par since the day I was born.\par You assured and comforted me\par while I was still at my mother’s breasts.\par

¹⁰ You have been my God\par since the day I was born.\par I was put in your care as soon as\par I came out of my mother’s body.\par

¹¹ So, God, don’t leave me!\par Trouble is near.\par And there is no person to help me.\par

¹² People are all around me.\par They are like powerful bulls that surrounded me.\par

¹³ Their mouths are wide open\par like a lion roaring\par and tearing at an animal.\par

¹⁴ My strength is gone,\par like water poured out on the ground.\par My bones have separated.\par My courage is gone! {\cf2\super [126]} \par

¹⁵ My mouth {\cf2\super [127]} is as dry\par as a piece of broken pottery.\par My tongue is sticking\par to the top of my mouth.\par You have put me in the “dust of death.”\par

¹⁶ The “dogs” are all around me.\par That pack {\cf2\super [128]} of evil people\par has trapped me.\par Like a lion, \{they have pierced\}\par my hands and my feet.” {\cf2\super [129]} \par

¹⁷ I can see my bones.\par And the people are staring at me!\par They keep looking at me! {\cf2\super [130]} \par

¹⁸ Those people are dividing my clothes\par among themselves.\par They are throwing lots {\cf2\super [131]} for my robe.\par

¹⁹ Lord, don’t leave me!\par You are my strength.\par Hurry and help me!\par

²⁰ Lord, save my life from the sword.\par Save my precious life from those dogs.\par

²¹ Rescue me from the lion’s mouth.\par Protect me from the bulls’ horns. {\cf2\super [132]} \par

²² \{Lord,\} I will tell my brothers about you.\par I will praise you in the great assembly.\par

²³ Praise the Lord, all you people who worship him!\par Show honor to the Lord, you descendants {\cf2\super [133]} of Israel!\par Fear and respect the Lord,\par all you people of Israel.\par

²⁴ Why? Because the Lord helps poor people who have troubles.\par The Lord is not ashamed of them.\par He doesn’t hate them.\par If people call to the Lord for help,\par he will not hide from them.\par

²⁵ \{Lord,\} my praise in the great assembly comes from you.\par In front of all these worshipers,\par I will offer the sacrifices\par that I promised to give.\par

²⁶ Poor people, come eat and be satisfied. {\cf2\super [134]} \par You people who came looking for the Lord, praise him!\par May your hearts be happy {\cf2\super [135]} forever!\par

²⁷ May the people in all the faraway countries\par remember the Lord and come back to him!\par May the people in all the foreign countries\par worship the Lord.\par

²⁸ Why? Because the Lord is the King.\par He rules all nations.\par

²⁹ Strong, healthy people have eaten\par and bowed down before God.\par In fact, all people,\par those who will die\par and those who are already dead,\par will bow down before God!\par

³⁰ And in the future,\par our descendants will serve the Lord.\par People will tell about him forever.\par

³¹ Each generation will tell the children\par about the good things\par that God has done. {\cf2\super [136]} \par