My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
Holy God, holy and strong!
Holy immortal one, have mercy.
I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom
But you led your Saviour to the Cross.
Holy God, holy and strong!
Holy immortal one, have mercy.
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.
Holy God, holy and strong!
Holy immortal one, have mercy.
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.
Holy God, holy and strong!
Holy immortal one, have mercy.
For your sake I scourged your captors and their firstborn sons,
But you brought your scourges down on me.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
I led you from slavery to freedom
And drowned your captors in the sea,
But to your high priests you handed me over.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
I opened the sea before you,
But you opened my side with a spear.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud,
But you led me to Pilate’s court.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
With manna in the desert I bore you up,
But you struck me down and scourged me.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
I gave you saving water from the rock,
But you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
For you I stuck down the kings of Cannan,
But with a reed you struck my head.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
I gave you a royoal sceptre,
But you gave me a crown of thorn.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!
I raised you to the height of majesty,
But high on a cross, you raised me.
My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you?
Answer me!