CORPUS-PSALTERIUMVol. I
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Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I

Psalm XXII (22)

Cantillated — Lament Ascent

Paul Whitehorn

0:004:32
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Why Jesus Quoted This Song

Psalm 22 and Psalm 110 are among the psalms the New Testament quotes most.

When Jesus hung on the cross, dying for your sins, He cried out the opening line of a song His people knew by heart: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”

In His world the Scriptures were not only read; they were sung. Israel was commanded to teach God’s words to its children and to put them in a song so they would never forget (Deuteronomy 6:7; 31:19). The psalms were the songs of the Temple, the festivals and the home.

So when Jesus cried out that first line, everyone standing at the cross who knew the song knew how it went on: the mocking crowd, “they pierced my hands and my feet,” the soldiers casting lots for His clothes. And they knew how it ended: “He has done it!”

He was not telling the world that God had abandoned Him. He was pointing to the whole psalm and saying: this is about Me. I am the Messiah.

Paul Whitehorn

Study the Word

Psalm 22 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.

Heb 1

For the Chief Musician; set to “The Doe of the Morning.” A Psalm by David.

לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ עַל־אַיֶּ֥לֶת הַשַּׁ֗חַר מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

1Heb 2

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

אֵלִ֣י אֵ֭לִי לָמָ֣ה עֲזַבְתָּ֑נִי רָח֥וֹק מִֽ֝ישׁוּעָתִ֗י דִּבְרֵ֥י שַׁאֲגָתִֽי׃

2Heb 3

My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent.

אֱֽלֹהַ֗י אֶקְרָ֣א י֭וֹמָם וְלֹ֣א תַעֲנֶ֑ה וְ֝לַ֗יְלָה וְֽלֹא־דֽוּמִיָּ֥ה לִֽי׃

3Heb 4

But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel.

וְאַתָּ֥ה קָד֑וֹשׁ י֝וֹשֵׁ֗ב תְּהִלּ֥וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

4Heb 5

Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.

בְּ֭ךָ בָּטְח֣וּ אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ בָּ֝טְח֗וּ וַֽתְּפַלְּטֵֽמוֹ׃

5Heb 6

They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.

אֵלֶ֣יךָ זָעֲק֣וּ וְנִמְלָ֑טוּ בְּךָ֖ בָטְח֣וּ וְלֹא־בֽוֹשׁוּ׃

6Heb 7

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

וְאָנֹכִ֣י תוֹלַ֣עַת וְלֹא־אִ֑ישׁ חֶרְפַּ֥ת אָ֝דָ֗ם וּבְז֥וּי עָֽם׃

7Heb 8

All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,

כָּל־רֹ֭אַי יַלְעִ֣גוּ לִ֑י יַפְטִ֥ירוּ בְ֝שָׂפָ֗ה יָנִ֥יעוּ רֹֽאשׁ׃

8Heb 9

“He trusts in Yahweh. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”

גֹּ֣ל אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה יְפַלְּטֵ֑הוּ יַ֝צִּילֵ֗הוּ כִּ֘י חָ֥פֵֽץ בּֽוֹ׃

9Heb 10

But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust while at my mother’s breasts.

כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה גֹחִ֣י מִבָּ֑טֶן מַ֝בְטִיחִ֗י עַל־שְׁדֵ֥י אִמִּֽי׃

10Heb 11

I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb. You are my God since my mother bore me.

עָ֭לֶיךָ הָשְׁלַ֣כְתִּי מֵרָ֑חֶם מִבֶּ֥טֶן אִ֝מִּ֗י אֵ֣לִי אָֽתָּה׃

11Heb 12

Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help.

אַל־תִּרְחַ֣ק מִ֭מֶּנִּי כִּי־צָרָ֣ה קְרוֹבָ֑ה כִּי־אֵ֥ין עוֹזֵֽר׃

12Heb 13

Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

סְ֭בָבוּנִי פָּרִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים אַבִּירֵ֖י בָשָׁ֣ן כִּתְּרֽוּנִי׃

13Heb 14

They open their mouths wide against me, lions tearing prey and roaring.

פָּצ֣וּ עָלַ֣י פִּיהֶ֑ם אַ֝רְיֵ֗ה טֹרֵ֥ף וְשֹׁאֵֽג׃

14Heb 15

I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within me.

כַּמַּ֥יִם נִשְׁפַּכְתִּי֮ וְהִתְפָּֽרְד֗וּ כָּֽל־עַצְמ֫וֹתָ֥י הָיָ֣ה לִ֭בִּי כַּדּוֹנָ֑ג נָ֝מֵ֗ס בְּת֣וֹךְ מֵעָֽי׃

15Heb 16

My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.

יָ֘בֵ֤שׁ כַּחֶ֨רֶשׂ ׀ כֹּחִ֗י וּ֭לְשׁוֹנִי מֻדְבָּ֣ק מַלְקוֹחָ֑י וְֽלַעֲפַר־מָ֥וֶת תִּשְׁפְּתֵֽנִי׃

16Heb 17

For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and feet.

כִּ֥י סְבָב֗וּנִי כְּלָ֫בִ֥ים עֲדַ֣ת מְ֭רֵעִים הִקִּיפ֑וּנִי כָּ֝אֲרִ֗י יָדַ֥י וְרַגְלָֽי׃

17Heb 18

I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.

אֲסַפֵּ֥ר כָּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑י הֵ֥מָּה יַ֝בִּ֗יטוּ יִרְאוּ־בִֽי׃

18Heb 19

They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.

יְחַלְּק֣וּ בְגָדַ֣י לָהֶ֑ם וְעַל־לְ֝בוּשִׁ֗י יַפִּ֥ילוּ גוֹרָֽל׃

19Heb 20

But don’t be far off, Yahweh. You are my help. Hurry to help me!

וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אַל־תִּרְחָ֑ק אֱ֝יָלוּתִ֗י לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָׁה׃

20Heb 21

Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog.

הַצִּ֣ילָה מֵחֶ֣רֶב נַפְשִׁ֑י מִיַּד־כֶּ֝֗לֶב יְחִידָתִֽי׃

21Heb 22

Save me from the lion’s mouth! Yes, you have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen.

ה֭וֹשִׁיעֵנִי מִפִּ֣י אַרְיֵ֑ה וּמִקַּרְנֵ֖י רֵמִ֣ים עֲנִיתָֽנִי׃

22Heb 23

I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the assembly, I will praise you.

אֲסַפְּרָ֣ה שִׁמְךָ֣ לְאֶחָ֑י בְּת֖וֹךְ קָהָ֣ל אֲהַלְלֶֽךָּ׃

23Heb 24

You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel!

יִרְאֵ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ הַֽלְל֗וּהוּ כָּל־זֶ֣רַע יַעֲקֹ֣ב כַּבְּד֑וּהוּ וְג֥וּרוּ מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ כָּל־זֶ֥רַע יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

24Heb 25

For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.

כִּ֤י לֹֽא־בָזָ֨ה וְלֹ֪א שִׁקַּ֡ץ עֱנ֬וּת עָנִ֗י וְלֹא־הִסְתִּ֣יר פָּנָ֣יו מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וּֽבְשַׁוְּע֖וֹ אֵלָ֣יו שָׁמֵֽעַ׃

25Heb 26

My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.

מֵ֥אִתְּךָ֗ תְֽהִלָּ֫תִ֥י בְּקָהָ֥ל רָ֑ב נְדָרַ֥י אֲ֝שַׁלֵּ֗ם נֶ֣גֶד יְרֵאָֽיו׃

26Heb 27

The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever.

יֹאכְל֬וּ עֲנָוִ֨ים ׀ וְיִשְׂבָּ֗עוּ יְהַֽלְל֣וּ יְ֭הוָה דֹּ֣רְשָׁ֑יו יְחִ֖י לְבַבְכֶ֣ם לָעַֽד׃

27Heb 28

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.

יִזְכְּר֤וּ ׀ וְיָשֻׁ֣בוּ אֶל־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְיִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לְ֝פָנֶ֗יךָ כָּֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֥וֹת גּוֹיִֽם׃

28Heb 29

For the kingdom is Yahweh’s. He is the ruler over the nations.

כִּ֣י לַ֭יהוָה הַמְּלוּכָ֑ה וּ֝מֹשֵׁ֗ל בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃

29Heb 30

All the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who can’t keep his soul alive.

אָכְל֬וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּ֨וּ ׀ כָּֽל־דִּשְׁנֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ לְפָנָ֣יו יִ֭כְרְעוּ כָּל־יוֹרְדֵ֣י עָפָ֑ר וְ֝נַפְשׁ֗וֹ לֹ֣א חִיָּֽה׃

30Heb 31

Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.

זֶ֥רַע יַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ יְסֻפַּ֖ר לַֽאדֹנָ֣י לַדּֽוֹר׃

31Heb 32

They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it.

יָ֭בֹאוּ וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ צִדְקָת֑וֹ לְעַ֥ם נ֝וֹלָ֗ד כִּ֣י עָשָֽׂה׃

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.

My God

My God

why

have You

forsaken me

Far from saving me

far from my cry

I call by day

You do not answer

By night

no rest comes

Yet You are holy

enthroned in praise

Our fathers trusted

You delivered them

WHY

HAVE YOU

FORSAKEN ME

WHY

ARE YOU

SO FAR

I am a worm

not a man

Scorned

despised

They mock me

they shake their heads

"Let Him trust the LORD"

"Let Him be saved"

But You brought me forth

You held me

from birth

Do not be far

trouble is near

no one helps

They surround me

like beasts

like lions

closing in

My strength is gone

My bones pulled apart

My heart melts

within me

DELIVER ME

FROM THE SWORD

SAVE MY LIFE

FROM THE LION

YOU

HAVE

ANSWERED

ME

I will declare

Your name

to my brothers

In the assembly

I will praise You

You who fear the LORD

praise Him

All Israel

stand in awe

All the earth

will remember

All the nations

will bow down

The kingdom

belongs to the LORD

He rules

over all

Future generations

will serve Him

They will proclaim

His righteousness

To a people yet unborn

He has done it

Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.

Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.

About these songs. They are a summary and a commentary on the Psalms, not a word-for-word translation. Read what these songs are →

What These Songs Are, and What They Are Not

These songs are not a word-for-word translation of the Psalms. They were never meant to be. Nor do they try to capture every idea in every psalm. In a song, that would be impossible.

What we have done is capture the essence of each psalm: what matters most in it. Think of each song as a summary. Think of it as a cheat sheet. The purpose of the psalm is still being met. God's word to mankind is still being heard.

Behind many of these lines is word research: deep study of the meaning of the Hebrew. So where a line sounds different from your translation, and you think it is wrong, study it. We believe you will find that the essence of what we sing is true.

The truth is that no one can set the Psalms to music without also becoming a commentator. That is what this is. It is a modern commentary on the Psalms: not only the Psalms themselves, and not only the Psalms being sung. So do not think that every word of the psalm is here. It is not. Read the psalm itself, in full.

Why do this at all? Because we believe God intended humanity to be surrounded by His word. This was always the entertainment He wanted us to have: not hours of television, not a day lost in a phone looking at nonsense. The blessed man of Psalm 1 meditates on God's word day and night. How can we meditate on His word if we do not surround ourselves with it?

As ministers, our first responsibility is to share God's word with people. That is what these songs are for.

Paul Whitehorn