Psalms 22:4-6

22:4 In you our ancestors ¹  trusted;

they trusted in you ²  and you rescued them.

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

in you they trusted and they were not disappointed. ³ 

22:6 But I ⁴  am a worm, ⁵  not a man; ⁶ 

people insult me and despise me. ⁷ 

[22:4]  ¹ tn Heb “fathers.”

[22:4]  ² tn The words “in you” are supplied in the translation. They are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).

[22:5]  ³ tn Or “were not ashamed.”

[22:6]  ⁵ tn The grammatical construction (conjunction + pronoun) highlights the contrast between the psalmist’s experience and that of his ancestors. When he considers God’s past reliability, it only heightens his despair and confusion, for God’s present silence stands in stark contrast to his past saving acts.

[22:6]  ⁶ tn The metaphor expresses the psalmist’s self-perception, which is based on how others treat him (see the following line).

[22:6]  ⁷ tn Or “not a human being.” The psalmist perceives himself as less than human.

[22:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “a reproach of man and despised by people.”