Improperia: Popule meus

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The Improperia (or "Reproaches") are a series of antiphons and responses which are part of the Good Friday liturgy in the Roman Rite (although you may not have ever heard them). They are presented as Christ crying out to His people (contextually, the Israelites) for the injustices they showed their God after all the wonders God had performed for them. In the Byzantine Rite, they are found in various hymns of Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The Improperia appear in the Pontificale of Prudentius (846-61) and gradually came into use throughout Europe in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, finally being incorporated into the Roman Ordo in the fourteenth century.

O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
For I brought you out of the land of Egypt,
but you brought out* a cross for your Savior.
Holy is God! Holy and mighty! Holy and immortal!
Have mercy upon us!
For I led you through the desert for forty years,
and fed you with manna,
and brought you into a land of plenty,
but you prepared* a cross for your Savior.
Holy is God! Holy and mighty! Holy and immortal!
Have mercy upon us!
What more should I have done for you, that I did not do?
Indeed, I planted you, my precious chosen vine,
but you have become terribly bitter to me.
Indeed, you gave me vinegar to drink in my thirst,
and have pierced your Savior's side with a lance.
Holy is God! Holy and mighty! Holy and immortal!
Have mercy upon us!
I scourged the first-born of Egypt for your sake:
yet you scourged me and handed me over.
O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!
I plunged Pharaoh into the Red Sea and plucked you out of Egypt's hand:
yet you handed me over to the high priests.
O my people...
I parted the sea before you:
yet you parted my side with a lance.
O my people...
I led you as a pillar of cloud:
yet you led me into Pilate's palace.
O my people...
I rained down manna for you in the desert:
yet you rained down blows and lashes on me.
O my people...
I gave you saving water from the rock to drink:
yet for drink you gave me gall and vinegar.
O my people...
I struck down for you the kings of the Canaanites:
yet you struck the head of your King with a reed.
O my people...
In your hands I placed a royal scepter:
yet upon my head you placed a crown of thorns.
O my people...
I raised you up in great power:
yet you raised me up on a cross.
O my people...