For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.
The Psalm of the Cross
Matthew 27:32–56; Mark 15:21–41; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–30
1To the chief Musician. Upon Aijeleth-Shahar. A Psalm of David. MyGod, myGod, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou] far from my salvation, from the words of my groaning?+ 2MyGod, I cry by day, and thou answerest not; and by night, and there is no rest for me:+ 3And thou art holy, thou that dwellest amid the praises of Israel.+ 4Our fathers confided in thee: they confided, and thou didst deliver them.+ 5They cried unto thee, and were delivered; they confided in thee, and were not confounded.+ 6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and the despised of the people.+ 7All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying:]+ 8Commit it to Jehovah — let him rescue him; let him deliver him, because he delighteth in him!+ 9But thou art he that took me out of the womb; thou didst make me trust, upon my mother's breasts.+ 10I was cast upon thee from the womb; thou art myGod from my mother's belly.+ 11Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help.+ 12Many bulls have encompassed me; Bashan's strong ones have beset me round.+ 13They gape upon me with their mouth, [as] a ravening and a roaring lion.+ 14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is become like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.+ 15My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my palate; and thou hast laid me in the dust of death.+ 16For dogs have encompassed me; an assembly of evil-doers have surrounded me: they pierced my hands and my feet.+ 17I may count all my bones. They look, they stare upon me;+ 18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.+ 19But thou, Jehovah, be not far [from me]; O my strength, haste thee to help me.+ 20Deliver my soul from the sword; my only one from the power of the dog;+ 21Save me from the lion's mouth. Yea, from the horns of the buffaloes hast thou answered me.+ 22I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.+ 23Ye that fear Jehovah, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and revere him, all ye the seed of Israel.+ 24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him: but when he cried unto him, he heard.+ 25My praise is from thee, in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before them that fear him.+ 26The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise Jehovah that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.+ 27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto Jehovah, and all the families of the nations shall worship before thee:+ 28For the kingdom is Jehovah's, and he ruleth among the nations.+ 29All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship; all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, and he that cannot keep alive his own soul.+ 30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.+ 31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done [it].+