Psalm 123

Looking for God’s Favor

A song of ascents.

¹⁷ Carrying^(A) the cross by himself,^(B) he went out to what is called Place of the Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. ¹⁹ Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city,^(C) and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews,’^(D) but that he said, ‘I am the king of the Jews.’”

²² Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” This happened that the Scripture^(E) might be fulfilled^(F) that says: They divided my clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.^[a](G) This is what the soldiers did.

Jesus’s Provision for His Mother

²⁵ Standing^(H) by the cross^(I) of Jesus were his mother,^(J) his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.^{(K) 26} When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved^(L) standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The Finished Work of Jesus

²⁸ After^(M) this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished^(N) that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.”^{(O) 29} A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch^(P) and held it up to his mouth.

³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.”^(Q) Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.^(R)

Jesus’s Side Pierced

³¹ Since it was the preparation day,^(S) the Jews did not want the bodies^(T) to remain on the cross^(U) on the Sabbath^(V) (for that Sabbath was a special^[b] day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away.^{(W) 32} So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him. ³³ When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead.^{(X) 34} But one of the soldiers pierced^(Y) his side^(Z) with a spear, and at once blood and water^(AA) came out. ³⁵ He who saw this has testified^(AB) so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.^{(AC) 36} For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled:^(AD) Not one of his bones will be broken.^{[c](AE) 37} Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.^[d](AF)

Jesus’s Burial

³⁸ After^(AG) this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body.^(AH) Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus^(AI) (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds^[e] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ They took Jesus’s body^(AJ) and wrapped it in linen cloths^(AK) with the fragrant spices, according to the burial^(AL) custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. ⁴² They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.