26 As the Roman soldiers led Yeshua out of the city, they grabbed a man that was coming in from the countryside. He was Simon from Cyrene, and they forced him to carry the stake and follow along behind Yeshua.

27 Following along behind them, was a large crowd of people including women who were wailing for Yeshua and chanting sad songs, 28 but he turned to them and spoke, “Women of Yerushalem, don’t weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children, 29 because the time is coming when they’ll say, ‘Blessed are the childless couples and the women who never bore or raised a child.’ 30 [ref]Then they’ll start being the mountains to fall on top of them and begging the hills to smother them, 31 because if this what happens while we’re still a nation, what will happen when the country is gone?”

32 There were also two other criminals being led along to be executed with Yeshua.

33 When they got to the place named ‘The Skull’, they attached Yeshua onto a stake[fn] and the same for the two criminals, one on each side of him, 34 [ref]but when they divided his clothes, the soldiers threw dice to divide them up.

35 [ref]The people observing were standing there, and some of the Jewish leaders were there too, sneering at him and saying, “He saved others, so now if he’s God’s son, the chosen messiah, let him save himself.”

36 The soldiers also mocked him, going up and offering cheap wine to him, 37 saying, “If you’re the king of the Jews, then save yourself,” 38 as an inscription had been placed above him that said, “This is the king of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals that was hanging there insulted him, saying, “Aren’t you the messiah? Save yourself and us too.”

40 But the other criminal told him off, saying, “Don’t you even respect God when you too have been sentenced to death. 41 At least we deserve our punishment that fits what we’ve done, but in contrast, this man did nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Yeshua, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”

43 “I can assure you,” he replied, “that you’ll be with me in paradise today.”