Psalm of the Cross

(Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30)

1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

2O my God, I cry in the day time, but you hear not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

3But you are holy, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel.

4Our fathers trusted in you: they trusted, and you did deliver them.

5They cried to you, and were delivered: they trusted in you, and were not confounded.

6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

9But you are he that took me out of the womb: you did make me hope when I was on my mother's breasts.

10I was cast on you from the womb: you are my God from my mother's belly.

11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13They gaped on me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the middle of my bowels.

15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue sticks to my jaws; and you have brought me into the dust of death.

16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare on me.

18They part my garments among them, and cast lots on my clothing.

19But be not you far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste you to help me.

20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

21Save me from the lion's mouth: for you have heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22I will declare your name to my brothers: in the middle of the congregation will I praise you.

23You that fear the LORD, praise him; all you the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all you the seed of Israel.

24For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither has he hid his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.

25My praise shall be of you in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you.

28For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.

29All they that be fat on earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, that he has done this.