Psalms 22

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.” Naming Our keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.” The line’s distinctive content terms include confounded, cried, delivered. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” The line’s distinctive content terms include despised, people, reproach. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include deliver, delighted, LORD. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.” The line’s distinctive content terms include breasts, didst, hope. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.” The line’s distinctive content terms include help, near, trouble. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.” Naming Bashan and Many keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gaped, lion, mouths. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bones, bowels, heart. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cleaveth, death, dried. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bones, look, stare. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” The line’s distinctive content terms include garments, lots, vesture. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But be not thou far from me, O LORD : O my strength, haste thee to help me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include haste, help, LORD. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.” Naming Deliver keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.” Naming Save keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” The line’s distinctive content terms include brethren, congregation, declare. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Ye that fear the LORD , praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.” Naming Israel and Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD : and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For the kingdom is the LORD’s : and he is the governor among the nations.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.