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Psalm 22

Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility

To 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 find no rest.

³ Yet you are holy,
   enthroned on the praises of Israel.
⁴ In you our ancestors trusted;
   they trusted, and you delivered them.
⁵ To you they cried, and were saved;
   in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

⁶ But I am a worm, and not human;
   scorned by others, and despised by the people.
⁷ All who see me mock at me;
   they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
⁸ ‘Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
   let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’

⁹ Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
   you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
¹⁰ On you I was cast from my birth,
   and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
¹¹ Do not be far from me,
   for trouble is near
   and there is no one to help.

¹² Many bulls encircle me,
   strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
¹³ they open wide their mouths at me,
   like a ravening and roaring lion.

¹⁴ I am poured out like water,
   and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
   it is melted within my breast;
¹⁵ my mouth^* is dried up like a potsherd,
   and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
   you lay me in the dust of death.

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter

23Then Job answered:
² ‘Today also my complaint is bitter;^*
   his^* hand is heavy despite my groaning.
³ O that I knew where I might find him,
   that I might come even to his dwelling!
⁴ I would lay my case before him,
   and fill my mouth with arguments.
⁵ I would learn what he would answer me,
   and understand what he would say to me.
⁶ Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
   No; but he would give heed to me.
⁷ There an upright person could reason with him,
   and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge.

⁸ ‘If I go forward, he is not there;
   or backward, I cannot perceive him;
⁹ on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him;
   I turn^* to the right, but I cannot see him.
¹⁶ God has made my heart faint;
   the Almighty^* has terrified me;
¹⁷ If only I could vanish in darkness,
   and thick darkness would cover my face!^*