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.

22 My God, my God,

why have You forsaken me?[fn]

Why are You so far from saving me,

so far from my words of groaning?

2 I cry out by day, O my God,

but You do not answer,

and by night,

but I have no rest.

3 Yet You are holy,

enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4 In You our fathers trusted;

they trusted and You delivered them.

5 They cried out to You and were set free;

they trusted in You and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by men and despised by the people.

7 All 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.”[fn]

9 Yet You brought me forth from the womb;

You made me secure at my mother’s breast.

10 From birth I was cast upon You;

from my mother’s womb You have been my God.

11 Be not far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;

strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13 They open their jaws against me

like lions that roar and maul.

14 I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are disjointed.

My heart is like wax;

it melts away within me.

15 My strength [fn] is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs surround me;

a band of evil men encircles me;

they have pierced my hands and feet.[fn]

17 I can count all my bones;

they stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my garments among them

and cast lots for my clothing.[fn]

19 But You, O LORD, be not far off;

O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword,

my precious life from the power of wild dogs.

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion;

at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!

22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;

I will praise You in the assembly.[fn]

23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him!

All descendants of Jacob, honor Him!

All offspring of Israel, revere Him!

24 For 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.

25 My praise for You resounds in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek the LORD will praise Him.

May your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the LORD.

All the families of the nations

will bow down before Him.

28 For dominion belongs to the LORD

and He rules over the nations.

29 All 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.

30 Posterity will serve Him;

they will declare the Lord to a new generation.

31 They will come and proclaim His righteousness

to a people yet unborn—

all that He has done.