Psalm 22:1-31 VOICE

[1] My God, my God, why have You turned Your back on me? Your ears are deaf to my groans. [2] O my God, I cry all day and You are silent; my tears in the night bring no relief. [3] Still, You are holy; You make Your home on the praises of Israel. [4] Our mothers and fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You rescued them. [5] They cried out to You for help and were spared; they trusted in You and were vindicated. [6] But I am a worm and not a human being, a disgrace and an object of scorn. [7] Everyone who sees me laughs at me; they whisper to one another I'm a loser; they sneer and mock me, saying, [8] "He relies on the Eternal; let the Eternal rescue him and keep him safe because He is happy with him." [9] But You are the One who granted me life; You endowed me with trust as I nursed at my mother's breast. [10] I was dedicated to You at birth; You've been my God from my mother's womb. [11] Stay close to me- trouble is at my door; no one else can help me. [12] I'm surrounded by many tormenters; like strong bulls of Bashan, they circle around me with their taunts. [13] They open their mouths wide at me like ravenous, roaring lions. [14] My life is poured out like water, and all my bones have slipped out of joint. My heart melts like wax inside me. [15] My strength is gone, dried up like shards of pottery; my dry tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; You lay me in the dust of death. [16] A throng of evil ones has surrounded me like a pack of wild dogs; They pierced my hands and ripped a hole in my feet. [17] I count all my bones; people gawk and stare at me. [18] They make a game out of dividing my clothes among themselves; they cast lots for the clothes on my back. [19] But You, O Eternal, stay close; O You, my help, hurry to my side. [20] Save my life from violence, my sweet life from the teeth of the wild dog. [21] Rescue me from the mouth of the lion. From the horns of the wild oxen, You responded to my plea. [22] I will speak Your Name to my brothers and sisters when I praise You in the midst of the community. [23] You who revere the Eternal, praise Him- descendants of Jacob, worship Him; be struck with wonder before Him, all you children of Israel. [24] He's not put off by the suffering of the suffering one; He doesn't pretend He hasn't seen him; when he pleaded for help, He listened. [25] You stir my praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who humble their hearts before Him. [26] Those who are suffering will eat and be nourished; those who seek Him will praise the Eternal. May your hearts beat strong forever! [27] Those from the farthest reaches of the earth will remember and turn back to look for the Eternal; All the families of the nations will worship You. [28] The Eternal owns the world; He exercises His gentle rule over all the nations. [29] All the wealthy of the world will eat and worship; all those who fall in the dust will bow before Him, even the life that is headed to the grave. [30] Our children will serve Him; future generations will hear the story of how the Lord rescued us. [31] They will tell the generations to come of the righteousness of the Lord, of what He has done.