Psalms 22
A messianic psalm of suffering that begins with the cry Jesus quoted on the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It describes pierced hands and feet, divided garments, and mockery, yet ends in universal praise.
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?
Jesus cries out Psalm 22:1 from the cross
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Read Matthew 27 ›My God, my God, why have you forsaken me
At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Read Mark 15 ›'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' Jesus on the cross quotes Psalm 22 — a psalm that ends in victory, not despair.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Read Matthew 27 ›I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.
Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them.
They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:
Passersby hurled insults, shaking their heads
And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
Read Matthew 27 ›“He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”
He trusts in God; let God rescue him
He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Read Matthew 27 ›Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure at my mother’s breast.
From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
Pierced hands and feet — nail marks in Jesus' hands
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
Read John 20 ›They crucified him there — piercing of hands and feet
When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.
Read Luke 23 ›I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me.
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
They divided his garments by casting lots
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Read Matthew 27 ›'They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.' A 1,000-year-old psalm describing crucifixion details — before crucifixion was even invented.
So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.” So that is what the soldiers did.
Read John 19 ›But You, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of wild dogs.
Save me from the mouth of the lion; at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!
I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.
I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters
He says: “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing Your praises in the assembly.”
Read Hebrews 2 ›You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All descendants of Jacob, honor Him! All offspring of Israel, revere Him!
For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He has not hidden His face from him, but has attended to his cry for help.
My praise for You resounds in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.
The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—even those unable to preserve their lives.
Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation.
They will come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn—all that He has done.
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