THE REPROACHES

My people, what have I done to you?

How have I afflicted you?

Holy God, holy and strong!

Holy immortal one, have mercy.

I led you out of Egrpt,

from slavery to freedom

But you led your Saviour to the Cross.

For forty years I led you

safely through the desert.

I fed you with manna from heaven.

And brought you to a land of plenty;

But you led your Saviour to the cross.

What more could I have done for you?

I planted you as my fairest vine,

but you yielded only bitterness:

When I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink,

And with a lance you pierced

your Saviour's side. (2)

For your sake I scourged your captors

and their firstborn sons,

But you brought your scourges down on me. (1)

I led you from slavery to freedom

And drowned your captors in the sea,

But to your high priests you handed me over. (1)

I opened the sea before you,

But you opened my side with a spear. (1)

I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud,

But you led me to Pilate's court. (1)

With manna in the desert I bore you up,

But you struck me down and scourged me. (1)

I gave you saving water from the rock,

But you gave me gall and vinegar to drink. (1)

For you I struck down the kings of Canaan,

But with a reed you struck my head. (1)

I gave you a royal sceptre,

But you gave me a crown of thorns. (1)

I raised you to the height of majesty,

But high on a cross, you raised me. (1)