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Song (Psalm) 22

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.

Note: The Readers’ Version on the left is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn’t necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. It’s designed to be used alongside the Literal Version on the right which gives the English reader a window into what’s actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you’re wanting to fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.

Note that greyed words in the RV are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.

The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)

See also the FAQs and the Glossary.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

22:1 A cry of pain then a praise song

Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility; A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise

For the musical director: a song by David to the tune ‘The doe of the dawn’.

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.; For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Doe of the Dawn.”; For the leader: set to ‘Hind of the Dawn’: a psalm: for David; To the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.

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

Why are you so far from saving me

≡and far from ≈my plea for help?[ref]

2 My God, I call out in the daytime for help, but you don’t answer >me,

≈and at night I’m not silent either.

3 ≈Yet you are sinless—

≈accepting Yisrael’s praises.

4 Our ancestors trusted in you.

They trusted in you, and you rescued them.

5 They called out to you for help and they were rescued.

They trusted in you and were not disappointed.

6 ≈But I’m a worm and not a man

≈a disgrace to humanity and despised by the people.

7 Everyone who sees me, taunts me.

≈They ?≈make faces at me.

≈They shake their heads at me.[ref]

8 Go to Yahweh—he’ll save him.

≈He’ll rescue him because he likes him.[ref]

9 You brought me out from the womb.

≈You made me trust you when I was at my mother’s breasts.

10 I ?≈was forced to be dependant on you since birth.

≈You are my God since I was in my mother’s womb.

11 Don’t ≈distance yourself from me, because trouble is near.

≈There’s no one else who can help.

12 Many enemies surround me like angry bulls.

≈Strong bulls from Bashan have surrounded me.

13 They open their mouths wide against me

≈like a roaring lion tearing its victim apart.

14 I am being poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint.

≈My heart is like wax—it melts away within my chest.

15 My strength has dried up like a piece of fired clay.

≈My tongue sticks to ≈the roof of my mouth.

You’re ≈about to let me die and return to dust

16 because dogs have surrounded me.

≈A band of evil >men has encircled me.

They’ve pierced my hands and my feet.[fn]

17 I can count all my bones.

They stand looking, and stare at me.

18 They divide my clothes up among themselves,

≈They cast lots for my garments.[ref]

19 Yahweh, ≈don’t just stand at a distance.

≈Please hurry to help me, my strength.

20 Save my life from the sword

≈my ≈very existence from the ≈clutch of wild dogs.

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth.

≈Rescue me from the horns of the wild bulls.

22 I’ll ≈promote your name among my brothers.

≈I’ll praise you in ≈front of all the assembled people.[ref]

23 ≈You all who fear Yahweh, praise him.

≈All you descendants of Yakob, honour him.

≈Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Yisrael,

24 because he hasn’t despised or detested the suffering of ≈the one who’s going through it.

≈Yahweh hasn’t hidden ≈away from him.

≈When the suffering one called out to him, he heard.

25 ≈You’re the reason that I offer praise ≈when all the people gather.

≈I’ll fulfill my vows ≈publicly in front of those who fear him.

26 The oppressed >people will eat and be satisfied.

Those who are ≈interested in Yahweh will praise him.

May you all live forever.

27 Peoples from each end of the earth will remember and turn to Yahweh.

≈All the families of the nations will bow down before you,

28 because Yahweh ≈is the king

and rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous >people in the world will celebrate and worship >him.

≈All ≈mortal people will bow before him—those who can’t ≈extend their own lives.

30 Our ≈future offspring will serve him.

They’ll tell the next generation about the master.

31 They will come and tell about his righteousness.

They’ll tell what he’s done to people not yet born.

22For_the_director on the_doe_of the_dawn a_song of_Dāvid.

2 \f + \fr 22:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

1\f* god_of_my god_of_my to/for_why abandoned_me are_far from_helping_of_me the_messages_of groaning_of_my.

3 \f + \fr 22:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

2\f* god_of_my I_call_out by_day\f + \fr 22:3 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* and_not you_answer and_night and_not silence to_me.

4 \f + \fr 22:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

3\f* and_you(ms) are_holy sitting_of the_praises_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel).

5 \f + \fr 22:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

4\f* in/on/at/with_you fathers_of_our they_trusted they_trusted and_delivered_them.

6 \f + \fr 22:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

5\f* to_you they_cried_out and_saved in/on/at/with_you they_trusted and_not they_were_ashamed.

7 \f + \fr 22:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

6\f* and_I am_a_worm and_not a_man a_reproach_of humankind and_despised_of a_people.

8 \f + \fr 22:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

7\f* all_of see_of_me they_mock to_me they_make_a_separation in/on/at/with_mouths they_shake a_head.

9 \f + \fr 22:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

8\f* roll to YHWH deliver_him rescue_him if/because he_delights in/on/over_him/it.

10 \f + \fr 22:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

9\f* if/because you took_of_me from_womb trust_of_me on the_breasts_of mother’s_of_my.

11 \f + \fr 22:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

10\f* on_you I_was_throw from_birth from_womb_of mother’s_of_my god_of_my you.

12 \f + \fr 22:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

11\f* do_not be_far from_me if/because trouble is_near if/because there_is_not a_helper.

13 \f + \fr 22:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

12\f* surround_me bulls many mighty_bulls_of Bāshān encircle_me.

14 \f + \fr 22:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

13\f* they_have_opened against_me mouths_of_their a_lion tearing and_roaring.

15 \f + \fr 22:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

14\f* like_the_water I_have_been_poured_out and_ all_of _out_of_joint bones_of_my heart_of_my it_has_become like_the_wax it_has_melted in_the_middle breast_of_my.

16 \f + \fr 22:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

15\f* it_has_dried_up like_a_potsherd strength_of_my and_tongue_of_my\f + \fr 22:16 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* has_been_made_to_cling_to jaws_of_my and_in_dust_of death lay_me.

17 \f + \fr 22:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

16\f* if/because surrounded_me dogs a_company_of evil-doers encircled_me like_the_pierced hands_of_my and_feet_of_my.

18 \f + \fr 22:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

17\f* I_count all_of bones_of_my they they_look they_look in/on/at/with_me.

19 \f + \fr 22:19 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

18\f* they_distribute garments_of_my to/for_them and_for clothing_of_my they_throw a_lot.

20 \f + \fr 22:20 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

19\f* and_you(ms) Oh_YHWH do_not be_distant help_of_my to_help_of_me come_quickly.

21 \f + \fr 22:21 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

20\f* deliver from_sword life_of_my from_power_of a_dog precious_life_of_my.

22 \f + \fr 22:22 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

21\f* save_me from_mouth_of a_lion and_from_horns_of wild_oxen answer_me.

23 \f + \fr 22:23 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

22\f* I_will_recount name_of_your to_brothers_of_my in_the_middle the_assembly praise_you.

24 \f + \fr 22:24 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

23\f* Oh_those_fearing_of (of)_YHWH praise_him Oh_all_of the_offspring_of Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) glorify_him and_stand_in_awe from_him/it Oh_all_of the_offspring_of Yisrāʼēl/(Israel).

25 \f + \fr 22:25 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

24\f* if/because not he_has_despised and_not he_has_detested the_affliction_of an_afflicted_person and_not he_has_hidden his/its_faces/face from_him/it and_in/on/at/with_cried_for_help_he to_him/it he_heard.

26 \f + \fr 22:26 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

25\f* from_with_you praise_of_my in/on/at/with_assembly great vows_of_my I_will_pay before fear_of_him.

27 \f + \fr 22:27 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

26\f* they_will_eat humble_people and_satisfied they_will_praise YHWH seek_of_him hearts_of_your_all’s may_it_live to_forever.

28 \f + \fr 22:28 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

27\f* they_will_remember and_turn to YHWH all_of the_ends_of the_earth and_worship to_your_face all_of the_clans_of the_nations.

29 \f + \fr 22:29 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

28\f* if/because to/for_YHWH the_royalty and_rules in/on/at/with_nations.

30 \f + \fr 22:30 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

29\f* they_have_eaten and_worship\f + \fr 22:30 \ft OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

\f* all_of the_fat_people_of the_earth before_face/front_him all_of they_will_bow_down dust those_who_go_down_of and_soul_of_his not he_has_preserved_alive.

31 \f + \fr 22:31 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

30\f* offspring serve_him it_will_be_recounted about_master_of to_the_generation.

32 \f + \fr 22:32 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

22.

31\f* they_will_come and_proclaim righteousness_of_his to_people about_to_be_born if/because_that he_has_acted.

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