Psalm of the Cross

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

1To the Overseer, on 'The Hind of the Morning.' -- A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation, The words of my roaring?

2My God, I call by day, and Thou answerest not, And by night, and there is no silence to me.

3And Thou art holy, Sitting -- the Praise of Israel.

4In Thee did our fathers trust -- they trusted, And Thou dost deliver them.

5Unto Thee they cried, and were delivered, In Thee they trusted, and were not ashamed.

6And I am a worm, and no man, A reproach of man, and despised of the people.

7All beholding me do mock at me, They make free with the lip -- shake the head,

8'Roll unto Jehovah, He doth deliver him, He doth deliver him, for he delighted in him.'

9For thou art He bringing me forth from the womb, Causing me to trust, On the breasts of my mother.

10On Thee I have been cast from the womb, From the belly of my mother Thou art my God.

11Be not far from me, For adversity is near, for there is no helper.

12Many bulls have surrounded me, Mighty ones of Bashan have compassed me,

13They have opened against me their mouth, A lion tearing and roaring.

14As waters I have been poured out, And separated themselves have all my bones, My heart hath been like wax, It is melted in the midst of my bowels.

15Dried up as an earthen vessel is my power, And my tongue is cleaving to my jaws.

16And to the dust of death thou appointest me, For surrounded me have dogs, A company of evil doers have compassed me, Piercing my hands and my feet.

17I count all my bones -- they look expectingly, They look upon me,

18They apportion my garments to themselves, And for my clothing they cause a lot to fall.

19And Thou, O Jehovah, be not far off, O my strength, to help me haste.

20Deliver from the sword my soul, From the paw of a dog mine only one.

21Save me from the mouth of a lion: -- And -- from the horns of the high places Thou hast answered me!

22I declare Thy name to my brethren, In the midst of the assembly I praise Thee.

23Ye who fear Jehovah, praise ye Him, All the seed of Jacob, honour ye Him, And be afraid of Him, all ye seed of Israel.

24For He hath not despised, nor abominated, The affliction of the afflicted, Nor hath He hidden His face from him, And in his crying unto Him He heareth.

25Of Thee my praise is in the great assembly. My vows I complete before His fearers.

26The humble do eat and are satisfied, Praise Jehovah do those seeking Him, Your heart doth live for ever.

27Remember and return unto Jehovah, Do all ends of the earth, And before Thee bow themselves, Do all families of the nations,

28For to Jehovah is the kingdom, And He is ruling among nations.

29And the fat ones of earth have eaten, And they bow themselves, Before Him bow do all going down to dust, And he who hath not revived his soul.

30A seed doth serve Him, It is declared of the Lord to the generation.

31They come and declare His righteousness, To a people that is borne, that He hath made!