Psalm of the Cross

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

1For the Chief Musician; set to Aijeleth hash-Shahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

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

3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not ashamed.

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,

8Commit thyself unto the LORD; let him deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighteth in him.

9But thou art he that took me out the womb: thou didst make me trust when I was upon my mother's breasts.

10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art 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 gape upon me with their mouth, 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 midst of my bowels.

15My Strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of evil-doers have enclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.

17I may tell all my bones; they look and stare upon me:

18They part my garments among them, and upon my vesture do they cast lots.

19But be not thou far off, O LORD: O thou my succour, haste thee to help me.

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

21Save me from the lion's mouth; yea, from the horns of the wild-oxen thou hast answered me.

22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and stand in awe of him, all ye the seed of Israel.

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

25Of thee cometh my praise 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 after him: let your heart live for ever.

27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the ruler over the nations.

29All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he that cannot keep his soul alive.

30A seed shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord unto the next generation.

31They shall come and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done it.