Improperia

℣. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣ Because I brought thee out of the land of Egypt: Thou hast prepared a cross for thy Savior

℟. O Holy God. O Holy Strong One. O Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

℣.  Because I led thee through the desert 40 years: and fed thee with manna, and brought thee into a land exceedingly good, thou hast prepared a cross for thy Savior.

℟. O Holy God. O Holy Strong One. O Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

℣. What more ought I to do for thee, that I have not done? I planted thee, indeed, my most beautiful vineyard: and thou hast become exceedingly bitter to Me: for in My thirst thou gavest me vinegar to drink: and with a spear thou has pierced the side of thy Savior.

℟. O Holy God. O Holy Strong One. O Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

℣. For thy sake I scourged Egypt with its firstborn: and thou hast scourged Me and delivered Me up.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣. I brought thee out of Egypt having drowned Pharaoh in the Red Sea: and thou hast delivered Me to the chief priests.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣. I open the sea before thee: and thou with a spear hast opened My side.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣. I went before thee in a pillar of a cloud: and thou hast brought Me to the judgment hall of Pilate.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣. I fed thee with manna in the desert: and thou hast beaten Me with blows and scourges.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣. I gave you the water of salvation and from the rock to drink: and thou hast given me gall and vinegar.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣. For thee I struck the kings of the Canaanites: and thou hast struck My head with a reed.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣. I gave thee a royal scepter: and thou hast given to My head a crown of thorns.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.

℣. I have exalted thee with great power: and thou hast hanged me on the gibbet of the Cross.

℟. My people, what have I done to thee? Or in what have I grieved thee? Answer me.