Psalm of the Cross

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

1Unto the end, for the morning protection, a psalm for David. O God my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my sins.

2O my God, I shall cry by day, and thou wilt not hear: and by night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me.

3But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel.

4In thee have our fathers hoped: they have hoped, and thou hast delivered them.

5They cried to thee, and they were saved: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

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

7All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken with the lips, and wagged the head.

8He hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him: let him save him, seeing he delighteth in him.

9For thou art he that hast drawn me out of the womb: my hope from the breasts of my mother.

10I was cast upon thee from the womb. From my mother's womb thou art my God,

11depart not from me. For tribulation is very near: for there is none to help me.

12Many calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me.

13They have opened their mouths against me, as a lion ravening and roaring.

14I am poured out like water; and all my bones are scattered. My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels.

15My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath cleaved to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into the dust of death.

16For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant hath besieged me. They have dug my hands and feet.

17They have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared upon me.

18They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.

19But thou, O Lord, remove not thy help to a distance from me; look towards my defence.

20Deliver, O God, my soul from the sword: my only one from the hand of the dog.

21Save me from the lion's mouth; and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns.

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

23Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him.

24Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man. Neither hath he turned away his face from me: and when I cried to him he heard me.

25With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the sight of them that fear him.

26The poor shall eat and shall be filled: and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever.

27All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight.

28For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he shall have dominion over the nations.

29All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before him.

30And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him.

31There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made.