The Psalm of the Cross
(Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21–41; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–30)
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?
2I cry out by day, O my God,
but You do not answer,
and by night,
but I have no rest.
3Yet You are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4In You our fathers trusted;
they trusted and You delivered them.
5They cried out to You and were set free;
they trusted in You and were not disappointed.
6But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.
7All who see me mock me;
they sneer and shake their heads:
8“He trusts in the LORD,
let the LORD deliver him;
let the LORD rescue him,
since He delights in him.”
9Yet You brought me forth from the womb;
You made me secure at my mother’s breast.
10From birth I was cast upon You;
from my mother’s womb You have been my God.
11Be not far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13They open their jaws against me
like lions that roar and maul.
14I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are disjointed.
My heart is like wax;
it melts away within me.
15My 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.
16For dogs surround me;
a band of evil men encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet.
17I can count all my bones;
they stare and gloat over me.
18They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.
19But You, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
20Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of wild dogs.
21Save me from the mouth of the lion;
at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!
22I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;
I will praise You in the assembly.
23You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All descendants of Jacob, honor Him!
All offspring of Israel, revere Him!
24For 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.
25My praise for You resounds in the great assembly;
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.
26The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise Him.
May your hearts live forever!
27All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD.
All the families of the nations
will bow down before Him.
28For dominion belongs to the LORD
and He rules over the nations.
29All 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.
30Posterity will serve Him;
they will declare the Lord to a new generation.
31They will come and proclaim His righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
all that He has done.
