Psalms 22:1--24:10

Psalm 22

For the music director; according to the tune “Morning Doe;” a psalm of David.

22:1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.

22:2 My God, I cry out during the day,

but you do not answer,

and during the night my prayers do not let up.

22:3 You are holy;

you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.

22:4 In you our ancestors trusted;

they trusted in you and you rescued them.

22:5 To you they cried out, and they were saved;

in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.

22:6 But I am a worm, not a man;

people insult me and despise me.

22:7 All who see me taunt me;

they mock me and shake their heads.

22:8 They say,

“Commit yourself to the Lord!

Let the Lord rescue him!

Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him.”

22:9 Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb

and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts.

22:10 I have been dependent on you since birth;

from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.

22:11 Do not remain far away from me,

for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.

22:12 Many bulls surround me;

powerful bulls of Bashan hem me in.

22:13 They open their mouths to devour me

like a roaring lion that rips its prey.

22:14 My strength drains away like water;

all my bones are dislocated;

my heart is like wax;

it melts away inside me.

22:15 The roof of my mouth is as dry as a piece of pottery;

my tongue sticks to my gums.

You set me in the dust of death.

22:16 Yes, wild dogs surround me –

a gang of evil men crowd around me;

like a lion they pin my hands and feet.

22:17 I can count all my bones;

my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.

22:18 They are dividing up my clothes among themselves;

they are rolling dice for my garments.

22:19 But you, O Lord, do not remain far away!

You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!

22:20 Deliver me from the sword!

Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!

22:21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion,

and from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered me!

22:22 I will declare your name to my countrymen!

In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!

22:23 You loyal followers of the Lord, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him!

22:24 For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed;

he did not ignore him;

when he cried out to him, he responded.

22:25 You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers.

22:26 Let the oppressed eat and be filled!

Let those who seek his help praise the Lord!

May you live forever!

22:27 Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him!

Let all the nations worship you!

22:28 For the Lord is king

and rules over the nations.

22:29 All of the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship;

all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him,

including those who cannot preserve their lives.

22:30 A whole generation will serve him;

they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.

22:31 They will come and tell about his saving deeds;

they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

23:1 The Lord is my shepherd,

I lack nothing.

23:2 He takes me to lush pastures,

he leads me to refreshing water.

23:3 He restores my strength.

He leads me down the right paths

for the sake of his reputation.

23:4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff reassure me.

23:5 You prepare a feast before me

in plain sight of my enemies.

You refresh my head with oil;

my cup is completely full.

23:6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days,

and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

Psalm 24

A psalm of David.

24:1 The Lord owns the earth and all it contains,

the world and all who live in it.

24:2 For he set its foundation upon the seas,

and established it upon the ocean currents.

24:3 Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord?

Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?

24:4 The one whose deeds are blameless

and whose motives are pure,

who does not lie,

or make promises with no intention of keeping them.

24:5 Such godly people are rewarded by the Lord,

and vindicated by the God who delivers them.

24:6 Such purity characterizes the people who seek his favor,

Jacob’s descendants, who pray to him. (Selah)

24:7 Look up, you gates!

Rise up, you eternal doors!

Then the majestic king will enter!

24:8 Who is this majestic king?

The Lord who is strong and mighty!

The Lord who is mighty in battle!

24:9 Look up, you gates!

Rise up, you eternal doors!

Then the majestic king will enter!

24:10 Who is this majestic king?

The Lord who commands armies!

He is the majestic king! (Selah)