Hymns of the Greek Church

tr. Brownlie, 1900

Chapter 16

Ἀντί ἀγαθῶν ὧν ἐποίησας, Χριστέ

(Ἀντίφωνον ΙΑ’ Ἦχος πλ. β᾽)

For all the good performed by Thee,
O Christ, the Hebrews deemed it meet
To bear Thee from the judgment-seat
And nail Thee to the cruel tree;
They gave Thee vinegar and gall—
But render justice to them all.

ὁ αὐτός

’Twas not enough they should betray
And nail Thee to the Cross to die;
They wagged their heads and passed Thee by,
And mocked Thee on that woful day;
In vain they strove against Thee, Lord—
Give Thou to them their due reward.

ὁ αὐτός

The quaking earth inspires no dread,—
The temple veil asunder fell,
The rocks were rent—still they rebel,
E’en when the graves gave up their dead;
But vain they strove against Thee, Lord—
Give Thou to them their due reward.