Hymns and Homilies

15. Lo! I am afraid of both things, as well His death, as also His life. Then unto the Evil One His ministers made answer and counselled Him. Though both these things be grievous, somewhat lighter to us is the trouble, that we should choose His death rather than his life. Let Death tell us whether any one from among the righteous, has ever from the first been aroused again. The sons of the Giants and the renowned ones, there is none that has issued forth from her, even Hell, the Devourer. 16. The blowing of the wind, a man may feel after; but the Son of Mary, who shall search him out? for when He wept, by His tears He robbed me; and again when I bid Him cast Himself, from the holy Temple, I thought, that it was through fear He cast Himself not: yet when they threw Him from the hill-top, He flew through the air. On the well again when He was weary He sat. His variableness I understand not, for on the dry land alike and on the water He walks.

17. I have seen Him that He hungered, as a Son of man; yet this was done away by the bread which He multiplied. From the beginning I proved Him and I came to Him; He questioned me as though He knew me not; but this, too, was done away, when He showed that He knew our secrets. Again He chose Iscariot, as though He knew him not; then He turned and showed that He knew him, though he was binding and loosing. I was mistaken in Him, for He was baptized and emerged and overwhelmed me. 18. But one token there is which I have seen in Him that heartens me exceedingly above all. For while He was praying I saw Him and was glad, because He changed colour and was afraid: His sweat was as drops of blood, because He felt that His day was come. This is pleasant to me, exceedingly above all, if it be not that deceiving He has deceived me therein. But if beguiling He has beguiled me, this is both for me and for you alike, my ministers.

19. Then shouted the host of devils and said, Hateful is the sign that we see in thee, for never from the beginning has it thus happened to thee. In prompt counsels thou wast excellent: the Son of Mary captures our cities, while thou art prolonging thy discourse. Arise, go forth, let us fight with Him, for this were to us a reproach, that we being many should be overcome by one. And if thou art in pain or fear, give us counsel for the battle and stay thou behind. 20. This Jesus out of His own words it is, that I shall teach Him, and war with Him; for He said that he, even Satan, is divided, himself against himself, and that he cannot stand. Though He desires to fight with us, He has given us arms which are against Himself, gage and divide for me His disciples, for if ye divide them, with these you will conquer them, even with Eve and the serpent, the weak powers, whereby I conquered the first Adam.

21. Death unto the Evil One, made answer and said to him, Wherefore tarriest thou not according to thy wont? for lo! it is those that are despised and least, that thou ensnarest after thy custom: Jesus Who is great above all, wherewith hast thou sought to ensnare Him? The experience of His weapons moves thee to fear, which He hurled against thee when he was tempted of thee. Thou and I with thy followers, the host of us is too little for the battle with Him, the Son of Mary. 22. I counsel, then, if this our strife permits us to do anything: go thou into that disciple, let thyself loose, that head may speak with heads; and let loose all thy host, let it go and stir up the Pharisees. And beware, lest thou speak contentiously as thou art wont. If thou be a god, descend from hence, with fondness kiss them and betray Him; and, lo! we will bring on Him the envy and the sword of the Levites.

1. Our Lord subdued His might and constrained it, that His living death might give life to Adam. His hands He gave to the piercing of the nails, instead of the hand that plucked the fruit: He was smitten on the cheek in the judgment hall, instead of the mouth that ate it in Eden. And because his foot bore Adam thence, His feet were pierced. Our Lord was stripped, that He might make us modest: with the gall and vinegar He made sweet the bitterness of the serpent, which he had poured forth into mankind. R. Blessed is He Who gave me the victory and quickened the dead to His glory! 2. (Death.) - If Thou be God show Thy power; and if Thou be man, feel our power. And if it be Adam that Thou seekest, get Thee hence! because of his transgressions he is shut up here; Cherubim and Seraphim await not, in his stead to pay his debt. There is none among them mortal, so as to give his life in his stead. Who can open the mouth of hell, and plunge and bring him up from her, who has swallowed him and keeps a hold on him, and that forever!

3. I am He who has conquered all the wise men; and lo! in the corners they are heaped for me in hell. Come, enter, son of Joseph, and see terrible things; the limbs of the giants, the mighty corpse of Samson, and the skeleton of the stubborn Goliath; Og, moreover, the son of the giants, who made for himself a bed of iron and lay thereon, from whence I hurled him and cast him down; that cedar I laid low to the gate of hell. 4. I by myself alone have conquered multitudes, and one may single-handed seek to conquer me. Prophets and priests and men of renown have I carried off; I have conquered kings in their armies, and mighty men in their hunts, and righteous men in their excellencies. Streams of corpses are hurled by me into hell, and though they pour into her she is athirst. Though one be near or though he be far off, the end brings him to the gate of hell.

5. Silver I despised at the hand of the rich, and their offerings corrupted me not. The lords of slaves never once persuaded me, to take a slave instead of his lord, and a poor man instead of a rich man, or an old man instead of a child. As for wise that are able to charm wild beasts, their charms enter not into my ears. Hater of persuasion all men call me; and I the thing that is commanded me that I do. 6. Who is this, or whose son is He, or what His lineage who has conquered me? The book of families is by me; lo! I went in and read and studied the names from Adam till now, and not one of the dead do I forget. Family by family, lo! they are written, upon my limbs. Because of Thee, O Jesus, I went in and made a reckoning, that I might show Thee that there is none that escapeth my hands.

7. Yet were there two men (that I lie not) whose names have escaped me in Hell. For Enoch and Elijah came not to me. In all the world I have sought them; yea thither where Jonah descended, I descended and sought and they were not. And though I suppose that into Paradise, they have entered and escaped, a mighty Cherub guards it. The ladder Jacob saw, what if haply by it they have entered into Heaven! 8. Who is there that has measured the sand of the sea, and has spilt only two grains? This harvest wherein every day there labour, diseases as harvesters, I alone carry the handfuls and gather them up; other gatherers in making haste, drop handfuls. Vintagers overlook clusters; but two grapes have escaped me, in that great vintage which I alone have plucked. 9. I am He that has taken (said Death), on sea and on dry land, all prey in chase. Eagles of the air come to me; yea and dragons of the deep: creeping things and fowl and cattle; old men, youths and children. These will convince Thee, O Son of Mary, that this my power rules over all. Thy Cross how shall it conquer me, who by a tree lo! I have prevailed and conquered from old time?

10. But I was desirous to speak yet farther, for I am not wanting in words; yea words are not to be sought by me, for lo! deeds call on me close at hand. Not as you do I make promise, to the simple of secret things, that forsooth there is to be a resurrection at some time or other. If then Thou art very powerful, give a present pledge, that Thy distant promise also may be believed. 11. Death ended his speech of derision: and the voice of our Lord sounded into Hell, and He cried aloud and burst the graves one by one. Tremblings took hold on Death; Hell that never of old had been lighted up, into it there flashed splendours, from the Watchers who entered in and brought out the dead to meet Him, who was dead and gives life to all. The dead came forth, and the living were ashamed, they who thought that they had conquered the Life Giver of all.

12. But who gave me the day of Moses, (said Death) who made a feast for me? For that lamb that was slain in Egypt gave me, from every house the first fruit: heaps and heaps of the first born, at the gate of Hell he piled me them. But this Lamb of the festival, has robbed Hell; of the dead He has taken title and carried them off from me. That lamb filled the graves for me; but this has emptied the graves that were full. 13. The death of Jesus to me is a torment; I prefer for myself His life rather than His death. This is the Dead whose death (lo!) is hateful to me; in the death of all men else I rejoice, but His Death, even His, I detest; that He may come back to life I hope. While He was living He brought to life and restored three that were dead; but now by His death, at the gate of Hell they have trampled on me, the dead who have come to life, whom I was going to shut in.

14. I will haste and will close the gates of Hell, before this Dead, Whose death has spoiled me. Whoso hears will wonder at my humiliation, that by a dead man who is without I am overcome. All the dead seek to go forth, but this one presses to enter in. A medicine of life has entered into Hell, and has restored life to its dead. Who then has brought in and hidden from me, that living fire wherein have reposed, the cold and dark recesses of Hell? 15. Death has seen the Watchers in Hell; the immortal instead of the mortal; and he said Confusion has entered our abode, for in these two things is torment to me: That the dead have come forth out of Hell, and the Watchers that die not have entered therein. Lo! one at the pillow in this tomb, has entered and sat down by it, and a second his companion at His feet. I will entreat of Him and will persuade Him, with His pledge to ascend and go to His Kingdom.

16. Be not wroth against me, gracious Jesus, for the words that my pride has spoken before Thee! Who is there that when seeing Thy Cross, shall have doubted that Thou art man? Who is there that shall have seen Thy Power, and shall not believe that Thou art also God? Lo! thus by these two things I have learnt to confess that Thou art man and likewise art God! For as much as the dead in Hell repent not, go up among the living, O Lord, and preach repentance. 17. O Jesus King, receive my supplication, and with my supplication take to Thyself a pledge, even Adam the great pledge accept for Thyself, him in whom are buried all the dead; even as when I received him, in him were hidden all the living. The first pledge I have given Thee, the body of Adam; go Thou up therefore and reign over all; and when I shall hear Thy trumpet, I with mine own hand will lead forth the dead at Thy Coming.

18. Our King living has gone forth and gone up, out of Hell, as Conqueror. Woe He has doubled to them that are of the left hand; to evil spirits and demons He is sorrow, to Satan and to Death He is pain, to Sin and Hell mourning. Joy to them that are of the right hand, has come to-day. On this great day therefore, great glory let us give to Him, who died and is alive that, unto all He may, give life and resurrection!

1. Death was weeping for her, even for Sheol, when he saw her treasury that it was emptied. And he said, Who, then, has plundered thy riches? Gehazi stole and was discovered; I am stealing every day, but theft has not been laid to my charge. I am sent to Kings, in their sicknesses, their guards are set around them, guards are also at their gate. The soul of kings I snatch and I go forth. R., Blessed is He Who has broken the sting of Death by His Cross! 2. All women grieve that are barren; Sheol rejoices because of her barrenness; she is desolate if so be that she brings forth. The all-compelling Power constrained it, even the bosom that was barren and cold, and it rendered back though wont to deny its debts. Rebekah, when the two babes afflicted her, asked for death. How great then the pain of Sheol, when there smote her strange pangs; the dead were roused and brake forth and came out from her bowels.

3. Is this then perchance that saying, which was heard by me from Isaiah? (but I despised it) when he arose and said, "Who hath heard such a thing as this? that the earth should travail in one day, and bring forth a nation in one hour." Is it this that has come to pass? or else, is it reserved for us hereafter? And if it be this it is a vain shadow that I thought I am a king; I knew not it was but a deposit I was keeping. 4. Two utterances that were different, have I heard from him, even this Isaiah. For he said that a virgin should conceive and bring forth; and he said again that the earth should bring forth. But lo! the Virgin has brought Him forth, and Sheol the barren has brought Him forth; two wombs that contrary to nature, have been changed by Him; the Virgin and Sheol both of them. The Virgin in her bringing forth He made glad; but Sheol He grieved and made sad in His Resurrection.

5. I saw in the valley that Ezekiel, who quickened the dead when he was questioned; and I saw the bones that were in heaps and they moved. There was a tumult of bones in Sheol, bone seeking for his fellow, and joint for her mate. There was there none that questioned, or that was questioned, whether those bones lived. Unquestioned, the voice of Jesus, the Master of all creatures quickened them. 6. Sheol was made sorrowful when she saw them, even the sorrowful dead made to rejoice. She wept for Lazarus when he went forth, "Go in peace thou dead that livest, bewailed by two houses of mourning." Within and without were lamentations for him; for his sisters wept for him when he came into the grave unto me, and I wept for him as he went forth. In his death there was weeping among the living; likewise in Sheol is great mourning at his resurrection.

7. Now it is that I have tasted the taste of his sorrow, even of him who weeps over his beloved. The dead that are thus beloved of Sheol, how dear were they to their fathers! The limbs which I severed and carried away, lo! they are shorn away and carried off from me. If I thus suffer for the departure of him, the youth who was restored to life, blessed is He Who had compassion on the widow; in her only son He gave peace to her dwelling that had been made desolate. 8. Lo! this suffering which I cause men to suffer in their beloved ones, in the end on me it gathers itself altogether. For when the dead shall have left Sheol, for every man there will be resurrection, and for me alone torment. And who is he then that shall bear for me all these things, that I shall see Sheol left alone, because this voice which has rent the graves, makes her desolate and sends forth the dead that were in her midst?

9. If a man reads in the Prophets, he hears there of righteous wars. But if a man meditate in the story of Jesus, he learns of grace and tender mercy. And if a man think of Jesus, that He is a strange God it is a reproach against me. No other strange key into the gate of Sheol could ever be fitted. One is the key of the Creator, that which has opened it, yea, is to open it at His Coming. 10. Who is he that is able to join the bones, save that Power which created them? What is it that shall reunite the shreds of the body, save the hand of the Maker? What is it that shall restore the forms, save the finger of the Creator? He, who created and turned and destroyed, is He that is able also to renew and raise up. Another God is unable to enter in and restore creatures not his own.

11. But were he another Power, I should be very joyful that He is coming to me. Into the bosom of Sheol He would descend and learn that One alone is God. Mortals that have erred and preached that there are Gods many, lo! they are bound for me in Sheol, and their Gods have never grieved because of them. One God do I know, and His Prophets and His Apostles do I acknowledge.

1. My throne was set for me in Sheol: and one arose that was dead, and hurled me from it. Every man feared me alone, and I feared no man. Terror and trouble were among the living, rest and peace among the dead. In a man that was slain lo! there has entered into Sheol He that takes her captive. I used to take all men captive: the Son of Captivity Whom I took captive has taken me captive. He Whom I took captive has led her away and is gone to Paradise. R., Blessed is He Who has quickened the dead of Sheol by His Cross! 2. All men complain much against me; and I against one only have complained. Who is there among men so just as I? Has corruption touched my integrity? I held all men in affection, and whoso hates me knows it; I know not all my days what a bribe is. The person of a king have I not accepted. By me is preached equality, for bondman and his lord in Sheol I make equal.

3. Before God it is that I minister, with Whom is no acceptance of persons. What other is there that endures as I do, I that am cursed when I do good? Perversely are requited to me the benefits I have rendered. Though my deeds are goodly, my name is not goodly. Yet my mind rests in its integrity: in God it is that I comfort myself; for though He is good He is denied every day and endures it. 4. The old I remove from all sufferings, likewise the young from all sins. Secret contention I quell in Sheol; in our land there is no iniquity: it is Sheol and Heaven alone, that are removed from all sins; this earth that lies between, in her iniquity dwells. He therefore that is prudent will either go up into Heaven, or, if that be too hard, will go down to Sheol which is easy.

5. To one man because of one that is dead, every man hastes to comfort him. But for me though many of my dead have come to life, there is none that comes in and comforts me. Satan came in, against Whom, had been proclaimed seven woes even against him; though mightily the Son of Mary had trodden on him, yet uplifted is his spirit; for he is the serpent that strives though bruised. Better is it for me to fall and worship, before this Jesus Who has conquered me by His Cross. 6. When He enters at the gate of Sheol, in place of John who preached before His coming, then will I cry "Lo! He that quickens the dead is come; Thy servant am I from henceforth, Jesu! Because of The Body I reviled Thee, for it covered Thy Godhead. Be not angry, O Son of the King, against Thy treasury; at Thy command I have opened and closed. Though my wings be very swift it is at thy nod I haste to every quarter.

7. All that have been raised were not first born; for our Lord is the First-born of Sheol. How can any that is dead go before Him, that power whereby he was raised? There are last that are first, and younger that have become first-born. For though Manasseh was first-born, how could it be that Ephraim should take the birthright? And if the second born was set before him, how much rather shall the Lord and Creator prevent all in His Resurrection! 8. Lo! John as a herald declares that he is later, though he was elder-born; for he said, "Behold a man cometh after me, and yet He was before me." For how could he be before Him, that Power in Whom he preached? For everything that comes to pass because of another thing, is after that other even though it seem to be before. For the cause which called it into being, is elder than it and before it in all things.

9. The cause of Adam was elder than all creatures, which were made for him, for to him even to Adam He had respect continually, the Creator even while he was creating. Thus though Adam as yet was not, he was elder than all creatures. How much more then, my Lord, must this Thy manhood be elder, which in Thy Godhead is, from eternity with Him that begat Thee! To Thee be praise and through Thee to Thy Father from us all! 10. To Thee be praise for Thou art the first, in Thy Godhead and in Thy manhood! For even though Elijah was first to go up, he was not able to prevent Him, for whose sake he was taken up. For his type depended on Thy verity: and even though the types apparently are before Thy fulfilment, it is before them secretly. Creatures were before Adam; he was before them because for his sake they were made.

11. O my Lord, work for me this resurrection, not of Thy compulsion but of Thy love. For Thy compulsion gives life to sinners also: Iscariot would rather again choose for himself the death of Sheol, than the life of Gehenna. Work for me then the resurrection that is of Thy mercy; and even though Thy justice permits not, let there be occasion for Thy grace. This only let it remember for me, that in it I have sought refuge.

1. There have come to me ransomers from among the saints, but none has plundered me like the Son of Mary. For lo! Elijah brought a dead man to life; and even though he himself escaped from my hands, yet had I consolation after him, for the dead man whom he quickened, I carried off from him. By Elisha son of Shaphat, I was beaten as with rods, for he brought two dead men to life. By one staff I in turn bore away both the prophet and the dead whom he had raised. R., Blessed is He Who cleft the tombs of Sheol by His voice! 2. I feared him even Gehazi when I saw, him lay the staff upon the youth. The thief took the staff away and returned; Elisha came and bowed himself; laid himself low as the child and raised himself up, and walked hither and thither. I marvelled at the new mysteries which I saw there, which restored but one youth to life. It was well with me then when those were but mysteries, and not now when the dead have rebelled and conquered me.

3. Moses when I saw the mighty splendour upon his face, I feared him: yet not according to what I feared befel it me. Nisan in Sheol he caused to spring for me; for a pasture, a pasture of corpses, of six hundred thousand fell. - This lowly and despised whom I contemned, has healed the sick and the diseased: to others He has multiplied bread, but our bread even ours from our mouths He snatches. 4. A mighty feast there was in Sheol, when I swallowed up Korah and his company. A great delight Satan made for me, when he made strife among the Levites. A fount of milk and honey, made he flow for me in a dry place, when the congregation of transgressors went down to Sheol. - Lo! the righteous have lived and come forth: Moses sent down the living thither, but Jesus has revived and brought up the dead.

5. It was well with me then, in the day of the zealous, those in whose swords I had delight. Phinehas the zealous pierced and gave me, on the head of his spear for my delight, Zimri and Cozbi both together; on the head of his lance he presented them to me. To whom then were there ever two fatted oxen, offered on the head of a spear? - But instead of Cozbi, daughter of princes, the daughter of Jairus has Jesus rescued from my hands. 6. The censer of Aaron caused me to fear, for he stood between the dead and the living and conquered me. The Cross causes me to fear more exceedingly, which has rent open the graves of Sheol. The Crucified Whom on it I slew, now by Him am I slain. Not very great is his reproach, who is overcome by a warrior in arms. Worse to me is my reproach than my torment, in that by a crucified man my strength has been overcome.

7. The lance of Phinehas again has caused me to fear, for by the slaughter he wrought with it he hindered the pestilence. The lance guarded the tree of life, it made me glad and made me sad; it hindered Adam from life, and it hindered death from the people. But the lance that pierced Jesus, by it I have suffered; He is pierced and I groan. There came out from Him water and blood; Adam washed and lived and returned to Paradise. 8. The Sadducees were as a mouth for me, and disputed with Him after my mind, that there is no rising of the dead at all. Jesus answered them in a saying, which I alone understood; He spake aloud the hateful word and saddened me, "I am the God of him even of Abraham, and God is not the God of the dead." It was well with me then these were but words, and He had not yet showed me the life of the dead indeed.

9. Jesus son of Nun, slew thirty kings, and filled the graves and pits for me; he laid waste Jericho and filled Sheol. But this Jesus who is come, has wasted the graves of their dead, and has filled the cities of the upper world. Wherefore thus when lo! they are like in their names, are they unlike in their doings? That gave me the body of Achor, but this snatched from me the body of Lazarus. 10. Moses trod down that Egyptian, with his meekness he mingled justice. Whence has this new law sprung for me, "If one smite thee on thy cheek, turn to him thy other cheek, and see that thou hate him not?" Instead of the strong man of zeal who trod down and slew, a new man of mercy has risen for us. Samuel hewed Agag in pieces, but Jesus healed the paralytic.

11. Tender mercy which had as it were waxed less, lo! in this time has waxed great. And moreover it was then detested, lest through it one should transgress the commandment; for without mercy Saul and Ahab, were slain because they desired, to have mercy on the evil ones, and they were not slain who were deserving of punishment. In my time Jesus has changed this, by giving life to all men and having compassion on His slayers. 12. I remember Samson that lion's whelp, who brake and gave me the pillars of Philistia; also that mighty man of valor Abner son of Ner, took for me that fleet wild roe, Asahel son of Zeruiah, and smote him and cast him on the ground. Benaiah in the holy temple slew Jacob, justly as it is written. - Because justice has restrained her sword, henceforth penitents shall rejoice in grace. 13. David measured the Edomites, by line and line and destroyed them. How merciful then art Thou, O Son of David! David's justice was twofold, when he put to death two lines, and saved one full line alive. - Lo! the Son of David teaches us, "Forgive thy brother even unto seventy times seven." There justice was measured; but here clemency is without measure.

14. Of zeal and strength David was possessed; the lion and the bear he slew together. He left that mighty lion and hasted, to meet the strong giant. With a stone he quenched his light, and his soul left him and he perished. But Jesus cried to the young man that was dead "Young man!" Even the dead to Him are sleepers. That young man He brought to life and rescued from me. The despised swine He drowned for me in the sea. 15. The Levites slew because of the calf, their fathers and their brethren. Jephthah by his own hands was ready to slay his daughter. The King of Moab on the wall, was sacrificing his first-born son: In presence of his sword I rejoice. - By Jesus the sword was blunted; yea the fever was rebuked, the sister of Sheol: the mother-in-law of Simeon was healed, but the fame of her healing smote Sheol with pain.

16. This Jesus though he be the Son of the Just One, all that He preaches is grace. But to me this His grace is torment. Envy is the cause of pleasure to us, for Envy at the beginning mixed for me the first shedding of blood. Why is it guilty in the sight of the Son of Mary Who is come commanding, "Thou shalt not be angry against thy brother?" He has taken away the sword from between brethren; while in the sword of Cain I had pleasure from the beginning. 17. An honeycomb in the midst of the skeleton, Samson found - was it then a mystery? This Jesus has multiplied for us mysteries. Amid billows of mysteries have I fallen, which show me in parable the life of the dead, in all mysteries and in all types. "Out of the eater came forth meat" was Samson's parable. But to me it has befallen contrariwise; for the eater has come forth to me out of the meat, for out of Adam lo! has come the Son of Adam Who has destroyed me.

18. Just men likewise have robbed me manifold, when by them was preached the rising of the dead: but they mingled with my sorrows great consolation. By the prayer of Asa and Hezekiah, I was fed upon the dead, yea I feasted upon corpses. Elijah slew the prophets of Baal and gave them to me, who on the bread of Jezebel had waxed fat. The righteous has constrained me to devour, but Jesus has compelled me to disgorge all that I had eaten. 19. I was afraid because of the sprinkled blood, which Moses sprinkled on every door; for though the blood of the slain, it was that which saved the living. Blood from of old I feared not, save that blood that was on the doors, and this moreover that was on the Tree. The blood of the slain is a delight, and is as sweet perfume: but the blood of Jesus is to me a terror; for whenever I come and smell His blood, the savour of life that lurks therein terrifies me.

20. Priests and pontiffs, anointed men and kings, who foreshow types of the rising of the dead, have never triumphed through their crosses. Crowns and diadems were set on them; and when I engaged in struggles with them, I was smitten sometimes and sometimes also I smote. But this carpenter's son with his crown of thorns, has humbled and cast down my pride, in His shame and His dying: Sheol has seen Him, yea, and fled from before Him. 21. When the sea saw Moses and fled, it feared because of his rod, and likewise because of his glory. His splendour and his rod and his power, the rock also saw which was cleft. But Sheol when her graves were rent, what saw she in Him even in Jesus? - Instead of splendour He put on the paleness of the dead and made her tremble. And if His paleness when slain slew her, how shall she be able to endure, when He comes to raise the dead, in His Glory!

1. The Evil One perceived his great humiliation, and boasted himself in the presence of his servants: he spoke great words to persuade them and said: "The knowledge which I possess, little of it is by nature; and much of it, yea all of it, is by learning. I to myself have been master, and have exercised my understanding. Without a teacher I have learnt all; I have armed myself with every weapon, and have won by it the crown which I desired among mankind." R., Blessed is He that has come and undone the snares of sin! 2. Among the Pharisees I clothed myself in hatred, that I might contend with Him, even the Son of Mary. Wrath like a bow rained shafts; boldness railed upon Him; fury rebelled against Him; ingratitude slandered Him; envy and jealousy in their wrath, strove with Him; and blasphemy took up stones. The Healer came in and stood among the sick, and I stirred up the diseased in contention against Him.

3. Because He fell not under reproach, it was in questions that I took refuge. Many times did I stir up occasions, but I saw that my falsehood was rebuked, and my impudence was made known, and my vain babbling was despised. To the windings of contention I betook myself. Everywhere that I disputed with Him, all my labor was as chaff, and the word of truth scattered it on every side. 4. I saw that there is a warrior and a mighty lord, in cunning within man: [and the snake that is without makes it fear.] His lusts within him is coiled continually; his jealousy hisses like a serpent. Deadly desires he begets, and of a fever he is in dread. Command as a drug, is able to quell derision, which smites unto destruction. It is love that avails to break the sting secret and bitter of the tongue.

5. Who is more foolish than men, who rather than for himself cares for his dwelling! The garments that are in his chest he examines daily, and a worm is lurking in his members. The rents that are in his clothes he mends, but a rent is made in his soul. His house is lighted up but his heart is dark. He shuts up his senses but opens his windows. He closes his door and guards his money; his mouth is open and the treasure of his thought is stolen. 6. The fool makes more of his beasts than of himself, for he cares for his possessions rather than for his soul. Good seed he sows in his ground; in his heart he sows tares. His understanding is thrown open and cast down; but at the fences of his vineyard he labours. He chooses and plants vine-plants; while his mind is a vine of the vines of Sodom. He keeps off the wild ass from his sowing; but the wild boar of the wood devours his thoughts.

7. I am a furnace to the sons of men, and in me are tried their counsels. Therefore is it lawful to me to weave deceit. I teach the Chaldean art: by reason of the true things that befall, the false things are believed. In the midst of Egypt I closed men's eyes; I showed insects, men thought they were though they were not. By closing men's eyes I teach the signs of the Zodiac, though they are not in the heavens. 8. By reason of my swiftness I fly and see, and I show beforehand to the soothsayer; they who err concerning me count me a prophet. But sometimes I make bold; and I ask that for an hour, secret things be revealed to me, that true men may be proved by me even as Job, likewise deceivers as Saul. For the one I revealed his sorcery; and for the other I purged his truth and he was praised.

1. The Evil One said, "I fear Him, even Jesus, lest He destroy my arts. For lo! I am thousands of years old, and never have I had repose. I have seen nothing established, that I have turned from and left. There has come One making the unchaste pure: there is sorrow since He has destroyed all that I had built. Many have been my labours and my teachings, that I might cover all creation with all evils. R., Blessed is He Who came and laid bare the wiles of the Crafty One! 2. I matched my speed with the swift, and I outstripped them: I waged war; the tumult of multitudes was armour to me. In the tumult of the people I rejoiced, because it gave me ready room, for grievous is the onslaught of multitudes. By the strength of multitudes I raised a great mountain, a tower I stretched unto heaven. If they waged war with the Height, how much more shall they conquer Him whose warfare is on earth?

3. As time serves and as help offers, I wage war, but cautiously. The people used to hear that God is one; they made for themselves a multitude of gods. And when they saw the Son of God, they made haste to the One God, that as though confessing God they might deny Him, and as though in zeal might flee from Him; so that they in all times perverse shall be found to be without God. 4. Lo! I am ancient of many years, and no infant have I ever rejected. The burden of children have I ofttimes borne, so that from the beginning I might make them acquire habits that are not goodly, that their faults might grow up with them. But there are foolish fathers, who do not crush the seed that I have sown in their sons; and there are some who like good husbandmen, root up faults from the mind of their children.

5. As with a chain I have bound men with sloth, and they sat in idleness. I have drawn away their senses from all good things; their eyes from reading, their mouths from singing praise, their understanding from doctrine. For hurtful and vain fables how eager are they; for empty talk how ready! If the word of life fell among them, they either thrust it from them, or rose and went forth from its presence. 6. How many Satans are there among men! and me even me alone every man curses. For lo! the anger of men - it is a devil that grinds him every day. Demons are like wayfarers, who depart if they are compelled: but against anger though all righteous men adjure, it is not rooted out from its place. Instead of pernicious envy, every one hates a weak and wretched demon.

7. The enchanter is put to shame with the wizard, who every day tames serpents. The viper that is within him is out of his power; for the lust that is within him he tames not. Secret sin like an asp, when it breathes on him he is scorched. Even when he takes the viper through his cunning, delusion smites him secretly. He lulls the snake by his incantations: he wakens against himself mighty wrath by his incantations. 8. I set my stings and I sat and waited: who is long-enduring as I with all? Beside the patient-spirited I sat, and step by step I bewitched him, so that he came unto despair. Him who was ashamed of his transgressions, habits subdued him: little by little I mastered him, till he became under the yoke, till he came in to it and was used to it and did not even wish to go forth.

9. I perceived and saw that the long-enduring is he that can subdue all. At the time when I conquered Adam, he was but one. I left him till he had begotten children, and I sought for myself another task, for idleness is not to my taste. I counted the sands of the sea, that thereby I might make my spirit patient, and might prove my memory whether it would suffice, for the sons of men when they were multiplied. Before they were multiplied, I proved them in many things. 10. The servants of the Evil One disputed with him, and they refuted his words with their rejoinder. "But lo! Elisha brought the dead to life, and conquered death in the upper chamber, and brought to life the widow's son. Lo! now is he in bondage in Sheol." But because the reasoning of the Evil One was very powerful, with their own words he refuted their words. "How has Elisha been overcome? Lo! in Sheol he brought the dead to life by his bones."

11. "If Elisha, who was of small power, was great in might in the midst of Sheol, and if so be he brought one dead to life therein, how many dead then will be raised therein, by the death of Jesus the mighty! Hence even from this consider ye, how much greater therefore is Jesus, than we my comrades. For lo! by His craftiness He deceived you, and ye sufficed not to determine His greatness when ye compared Him to the prophets. 12. "Your consolations are of small power," said the Evil One to them of his company. "For He Who brought Lazarus to life though dead, how can Death suffice against Him? And if Death conquers Him, it is that He wills to be subdued unto him; and if so be He wills to be subdued, fear ye greatly, for He dies not in vain. He has wrought in us great terror, lest when dying He may enter in to raise Adam to life."

13. Death looked forth from within his den, and marvelled when he saw our Lord crucified, and he said "O raiser of the dead to life where art thou! Thou shalt be to me for meat, instead of the sweet Lazarus, whose savour lo! it is still in my mouth. Jairus' daughter shall come and see this Thy cross. The widow's son gazes on Thee. A tree caught Adam for me: blessed be the Cross which has caught for me the Son of David!" 14. Death opened his mouth and said, "Hast Thou not heard, O Son of Mary, how Moses was great and excellent above all? became a God and wrought the works of God? slew the first-born and saved the first-born? turned aside the pestilence from the living? To the mount I went up with Moses, and He Whose glory be blessed gave him to me from hand to hand. For however great the son of Adam becomes, dust he is and to his dust returns, because he is of the ground."

15. Satan came with his servants, that he might see our Lord cast into Sheol, and might rejoice with Death his Counsellor; and he saw Him sorrowful and mourning, because of the dead who at the voice of the Firstborn, lived and came forth thence even from Sheol. The Evil One arose to console Death his kinsman. "Thou hast not destroyed as much as thou wast able. Even as Jesus is in thy midst, to thy hand shall come they that have lived and that live. 16. "Open for us to see Him, yea and mock Him: let us answer and say, Where is Thy power? For lo! three days have passed for Him, and let us say to Him, O Thou of three days, Who didst raise Lazarus, when he had lain four days, raise Thine own self.'" Death opened the gates of Sheol, and there shone from it the splendour of the face of our Lord; and like the men of Sodom they were smitten; they groped and sought the gate of Sheol, which they had lost.

1. The Evil One wailed "Where now, is there a place for me to flee to from the righteous? I stirred up Death to slay the Apostles, that I might be safe from their blows. By their deaths now more exceedingly am I cruelly beaten. The Apostle whom I slew in India is before me in Edessa: he is here wholly and also there. I went there, there was he: here and there I have found him and been grieved." R., Blessed is the might that dwells in the hallowed bones! 2. The bones that merchantmen carried, or was it then that they carried him? For lo! they made gain each of the other. But for me what did they profit me? yea they profited each by each, while to me from both of them there was damage. O that one would show me that bag of Iscariot, for by it I acquired strength! The bag of Thomas has slain me, for the secret strength that dwells in it tortures me.

3. Moses the chosen carried the bones, in faith as for gain. And if he a great prophet believed, that there is benefit in bones, the merchant did well to believe, and did well to call himself merchant. That merchant made gain, and waxed great and reigned. His storehouse has made me very poor: his storehouse has been opened in Edessa, and has enriched the great city with benefit. 4. At this storehouse of treasure I was amazed, for small was its treasure at first; and though no man took from it, poor was the spring of its wealth. But when multitudes have come round it, and plundered it and carried off its riches, according as it is plundered, so much the more does its wealth increase. For a pent-up spring, if one seeks it out, when deeply pierced it flows forth mightily and abounds.

5. It is evident that Elisha was a fountain in a thirsting people: and because they that thirsted sought him not out, his outflow was not great. But when Naaman sought him out, he abounded and poured forth healing. The fountain into the midst of a fountain, he took him and plunged him; for in the river he cleansed the leper. Jesus the Sea of benefits, into Siloam sent the blind man whose eyes were opened. 6. Gehazi, with the staff that brought to life the dead, was unable to raise the child. And how could the famous prophet have been brought up by the sorceress? We were they that mocked Saul, for instead of one demon whom he questioned, two demons came up and mocked him. From the bones of Elisha learn also of the bones of Samuel; for though Elisha's bones brought to life the dead, the sorcerers could not bring up the dead, the living and sacred bones.

7. And though I asked this petition, He who gives all gave it not to me. For though the demons were troubled, by the bones of some priest, or magician or wizard, of Chaldean or soothsayer, yet I was aware that this was but mockery. In two ways I cause men to err: either I make the Apostles to lie, or I make my Apostles like the Apostles. 8. The party of the demons lo! it is spoiled; the party of the devils endures stripes: though there be none that lifts the rod openly, the demons cry out with pain; though there be none that fetters and binds, the spirits hang bound. This silent judgment, which is calm and still, and works not even by questioning, the one power that is all sufficing, lo! it dwells in the bones of this second Elisha.

9. He gave judgment unto His Twelve, that they might judge the twelve Tribes. And if so be that they are to judge the sons of the great Abraham, this is then no great matter, that they shall judge demons now. And unless they make the crucifiers fulfil the judgment that is to be, by our judgment shall they be proved. For worse than we did they cry out, in presence of the Apostles the judges of the tribes. 10. For a wolf was Saul the Apostle, and on the blood of the sheep I reared him; and he waxed strong and became a singular wolf. But nigh to Damascus suddenly, the wolf was changed into a sheep. He said that the Apostles, are to judge Angels; for by the Angels he signified the priest as it is written. If so be then they are thus powerful, woe to the demons from the strokes of their bones!

Concerning Satan and Death.

1. I heard Death and Satan, as they disputed, which was the more powerful, among men. R., To Thee be glory, Son of the Shepherd of All, Who deliveredst His flock from the secret wolves that devoured it, the Evil One and Death! - 2. Death showed his power, that he conquers all; Satan showed his guile, that he makes all to sin. - 3. Death, To thee, O Evil One, none hearkens save he that wills: to me he that wills and he that wills not, even to me they come. - 4. Satan, Thine, O Death, is but the force of tyranny: mine are snares and nets of subtlety. - 5. D., Hear, O Evil One, that who so is subtle breaks off thy yoke: but none is there that is able to escape my yoke. - 6. S., Thou, Death, on him that is sick provest thy might: but I over them that are whole, am exceeding powerful. - 7. D., The Evil One prevails not over all those that revile him: but for me he that has cursed me and he that curses me, come into my hands. - 8. S., Thou, Death, from God, hast gotten thy might: I alone by none am I helped, when I lead men to sin. - 9. D., Thou, O Evil-One, like a weakling: while like a king I exercise my dominion. - 10. S., Thou art

a fool, O Death, not to know how great am I: who suffice to capture free will, the sovereign power. - 11. D., Thou, O Evil One, like a thief, lo! thou goest round: I like a lion break in pieces and fear not. - 12. S., To thee, O Death, none does service or worship: to me kings do service of sacrifice as to God. - 13. D., On Death there are many that call, as on a kind Power: on thee, O Evil One, none has called or calls. - 14. S., Markest thou not this, O Death, how many there are: who in sundry fashions call on me and make oblation? - 15. D. Hated is thy name, O Satan, nor canst thou clear it: thy name every one curses, hide thy reproach. - 16. S., Thine ear, O Death, has waxed dull, that thou hearest not: how against thee all men groan, conceal thyself. - 17. D., My face is shown to the world, for I am guileless: not like thee who without guile canst not abide. - 18. S., Thou hast not in aught surpassed me for it is true: that thou art hateful as I to the sons of men. - 19. D., Of me all men are afraid as of a lord: but as for thee they hate thee as the Evil One. - 20. S., For thee, O Death, they hate thy

name, and also thy work: my name they hate but my delights they greatly love. - 21. D., To bitterness of teeth is turned, this thy sweetness: penitence of soul cleaves ever unto thy lusts. - 22. S., Sheol is hated because in her is no repentance: a pit that swallows and closes on all movements. - 23. D., Sheol is a gulf wherein whoso falls shall rise again: sin is hated because it cuts off the hope of man. - 24. S., Though I mislike penitents, I give place for repentance: thou cuttest off hope from the sinner who dies in his sin. - 25. D., It was of thee that at first his hope was cut off: for he whom thou hast not caused to sin dies happily. - 26. Blessed is He who raised against each other those cursed servants: that we might see them as they have seen us and mocked at us. - 27. This that we have seen of them is a pledge, my brethren: of what we shall see of them hereafter when we rise again.

1. Come, let us hear how they contend for victory: the guilty ones who never have conquered, nor will conquer. - 2. Death said unto the Evil One, In the end the victory is mine: for Death is master of the close, as a conqueror. - 3. Satan, This were to be Death indeed, wert thou able: to bring to death a living man, by means of lusts. - 4. D., Lo! I who behold the dead, both good and bad: the righteous who despise thee, O Evil One, me they despise not. - 5. S., This dying of the body, is sleep for a time: think not, O Death, that thou art Death, who art as a shadow. - 6. D., Thee, O Evil One, the just have conquered, yea will conquer: but these that have conquered thee, lo! I conquer. - 7. S., Even this that thou bringest to death the just, is not of thyself: because of Adam whom I conquered, they drink this cup. - 8. D., Lo! Sheol is full of the men of Sodom, and the Assyrians: and the giants who were in the flood, who is like me? - 9. S., These, O Death, all of them, by me were slain: I am he that caused them to sin so that they perished. - 10. D., Joseph who conquered thee I conquered, O Satan: in the chamber he conquered thee but

I conquered, and cast him into the tomb. - 11. S., Moses who conquered thee, O Death, by sprinkling of blood: he conquered thee in Egypt, but at the rock, who conquered him? - 12. D., Elijah who feared thee not, O Satan: fled before Jezebel's face, because he feared me. - 13. S., Aaron who withstood thee, O Death, with smoke of incense: to him I gave earrings of gold: and he fashioned a calf. - 14. D., Thou wentest down to contend with Job, and he conquered thee and came up: but I, after he had conquered thee, then conquered him. - 15. S., David who by his sackcloth stayed that pestilence: him on the house-top I conquered, who had conquered Goliath. - 16. D., Jehu who destroyed the house of Baal, the temple of the Evil One: was unable to destroy Sheol, the stronghold of my realm. - 17. S., Solomon who snatched from thy mouth, a child by his judgment: him in his old age I made a builder of idol-altars. - 18. D., Samuel who in respect of gold scorned thee, O Satan: him I conquered, the conqueror, who conquered bribes. - 19. S., Samson who in respect of the lion's whelp, scorned thee, O Death: through Delilah, frail vessel, I yoked him to the mill. - 20. D., Josiah from his childhood despised thee, Evil One: but me not even in his old age,

could he withstand. - 21. S., Hezekiah withstood thee, Death, when he overcame the bound of life: I misled him and he neglected the miracle, and showed his treasures. - 22. D., John who conquered thee, Evil One, and absolved and baptized: I extinguished that torch, which had disclosed thee. - 23. S., Simon overcame thee, when he brought to life that blessed woman: in a woman he overcame thee and by a woman I overcame him and made him deny. - 24. S., Apostles and prophets with one voice, curse thee, O Death: "Where is the victory of Death, and the sting of Sheol?" - 25. Thy Lord in Sheol thou hast shut up, O cursed servant: God hates thee and also man, hold then thy peace. - 26. S., It was the will of Him who gives life to all, that shut him in Sheol: it was thou that called Him to this, when thou madest Adam sin. - 27. O comrade of Nabal who in the wilderness reproached his lord: abhorred be thy mouth which said to Him, "Fall down and worship me!"

1. Hear, O Freedom, the dispute of two servants: how they are convicted by each other, that they are powerless. - 2. R., To Thee be glory by Whose humiliation Adam was exalted: and by Whose death he was raised, and regained Eden! - 3. If then the Evil One overcome thee, great is the shame: Death his comrade has convicted him, as being weak. - 4. And if again Death subdue thee, lo! what reproach: for the Evil One his comrade derides him, as but a shadow. - 5. Their dispute is for thee a mirror, wherein thou mayest see: that they both are but as chaff, before thy breath. - 6. Yea and Prophets and Apostles, in their promises: assure thee that they like flowers, shall fade at the rising. - 7. S., Thou, Death, art he whom they hate, the quick and dead: for every combination thou dissolvest, and destroyest. - 8. D., It is not open death that kills, O Satan: thy death which is secret kills the sons of men. - 9. S., My name is not hateful as thine, for the angel: showed himself in Satan's likeness to Balaam on the way. - 10. D., How fit is this thy name, O Satan: who hast erred and made unwary Adam err, from the way! - 11. S., Wander not like one ignorant, and lose thy cause: dispute, O Death, if thou are competent, for

replying. - 12.D., I know that thou art wily, O Satan: so that thou out of sand canst twist a snare. - 13. S., Thy disputing, Death, is ended: for he who is worsted: when his words fail and are ended, begins to rail. - 14. D., Among all I am conqueror, and by thee am I worsted? Let Adam persuade thee whom I have overcome, O Satan! - 15. S., I am he who bound Adam, and cast him before thee: the mighty man whom my wiles had bound, thou didst come and subdue. - 16. D., I am he who have been crowned anew, with a diadem in the world: for Adam, chief of the mighty, I hold captive in Sheol. - 17. S., I killed him by secret death, even Adam when he sinned: thou, Death, hast slain one that was dead, killed by me. - 18. D., In thy desire to conquer, Evil One, thou hast made thyself hated: for thou art Death as well as Satan, and this seems a little thing to thee. - 19. S., Thou hast then been silenced, Death, as a weakling: for neither in words nor in deeds, hast thou strength to stand. - 20. D., It is for thy evil thou conquerest, O Evil One, if thou discernest: thy crown is wholly of shame, if thou perceivest. - 21. I shall be defeated and thou shalt be cursed, O

Satan: it is well for me to be ignorant, and not mischievous. - 22. Blessed be the Just One who divided them, though they were quite of one mind: Blessed be the Good One who made us of one mind, when we were divided. - 23. I will overcome the Evil One through Thy forgiveness, O All-Merciful: and I shall overcome death through Thy Resurrection, O All-Life-giver!

1. Lo! the Evil One reproached Death, and was in turn reproached: from each and to each and against each, were their taunts. - 2. R., To Thee be glory, Son of the Lord of All, Who diedst for all: for He was raised to give life to all, in the day of His Coming! - 3. S., Jonah who conquered thee, and returned back from Sheol, became my advocate in asking, why sinners were spared? - 4. D., Slander not, O Evil One, the son of Amittai: he showed a face of anger, that they might praise thee more. - 5. S., Quite powerless is all thy persuasion, O tyrant Death: for there pleases me nothing, of all thou hast said. - 6. D., For when was the word of truth pleasing to thee? A gulf is between thee and truthfulness, O lying one. - 7. I am righteous all my days, with nought to repent: I am he that rescues from thee the sons of men. - 8. S., Proclaim thy repentance, Death, thou art well come: lo! Saul also among the prophets, great cause of scorn. - 9. If thou, Death, be justified, then for myself: I cut not off hope, likewise, of repentance. - 10. D., No idol with my Lord have I made, O hater of thy Lord! lo! thou by dead idols, slayest the living. - 11. S., That thou, Death, art half of

me, I know, and I half of thee: if half of me repents, it repents, but I marvel. - 12. D., Thy partner am I in share, but not in sin: mine are the slain and thine the slayers, whom thou madest sin. - 13. S., My craftiness weeps for itself, when I dispute with thee: my wiles mourn over me, when I meet thee. - 14. D., Workers of witchcraft and soothsayers, with all their offences: the fire that thou kindledst in the world, in Sheol I have quenched. - 15. S., Thou penitent who strainest out gnats, and swallowest the just: the chaste shall rend thee, who cry, from within thy belly. - 16. D., It is the treasure-house where I keep all the righteous: their resurrection threatens ill to thee, who didst persecute them. - 17. S., The greedy one who carries all creatures, in his bowels: lo! he casts up to me that I am robbed, of my possessions. - 18. D., Before the stroke lament not, for it has not yet reached thee: the day will come when thou shalt cry out, and I shall hear and rejoice. - 19. The fire will come that shall strip off thee thy very skin: as by the potsherd thou didst strip the skin of Job. - 20. D., The savour of sloth begins, as if to hover on me; it is then a dream that

I ceased, for a short space. - 21. It was not that words failed me, and therefore I was silent: it is for the time I grieve, that has passed idly. - 22. The hurt done by thy speech is very great: would I had not heard it! For my whole mind is intent upon my work. - 23. This humankind that is lost, was undone by wandering thought: slothfulness, with negligence, brought it under yoke. - 24. The madness of desire bid for wealth, and bought it: contention with boastfulness, were the sureties. - 25. With persistence for strength, I wage my war: and if I neglect but a little, my sway is naught. - 26. By continual dropping, I clean the rocks: for continual dropping can dissolve even a mountain. - 27. Habit even over nature, becomes master: it trains and leads even lions, as beasts of burden. - 28. Habit, repose, and increase, with persistence; by these is freedom conquered, though stubborn above all. - 29. If its will be firmly set, it breaks the fetters; but if lax, a fragile net, can capture it. - 30. If so be that Freedom shouts, we are scattered: but if she be silent we gather together, to mock at her. - 31. Let us cease from much speaking, lest it lead to much sloth: with one mind let us assail the wall, and lo! it is broken down. - 32. S., Go thou

and see to diseases, and I to snares: for to me sins and to thee pestilences, are great solace. - 33. And even though I have paused, I have not paused from my cares: for my will at no time rests, but is ready.

1. With Freedom is thy struggle, O Evil One: it can cast on thee a muzzle, if it so please. - 2. R., To Thee be glory in whose victory we have gained strength: and in whose resurrection we defy even Death itself! - 3. Lo! again these two exposed each other, how weak both are: Death reminded the Evil One of thy mightiness (O Freedom). - 4. Thy fire is in thy nest, O Death, and thou perceivest not: the fate of the departed, to thee is overthrow. - 5. Lo! Death and the Evil One proclaim thy mightiness (O Freedom): yea, the Evil One calls to mind thy faith. - 6. If then these that were against thee are on thy side: this is a great thing that thy persecutors have become thy heralds, - 7. D., I confess, O Evil One, that as usury: I lay up the King's treasures, till His Coming. - 8. S., I, O Death, rather deny that this belongs to God: this treasure of subtlety, which I have stored. - 9. D., Thy coinage is fraudulent, then, O Satan: that into the treasuries of God, is not received. - 10. S., A new coinage do I coin, in kingly wise: lo! my merchantmen bring loss, into the world. - 11. God created everything out of nothing: and I created great sin out of nothing - 12. D., Closed and bound be thy mouth, Evil

One, who art thus bold: to set thyself, lo! in comparison with the Creator. - 13. S., To me, O Death, it is lawful to dare and speak: thy tongue, even thine, is a slave, and under fear. - 14. D., A gulf is henceforth between us, O Satan: for madly against thy Lord, lo! thou assailest. - 15. S., Wherefore doubtest thou, O Death, of our concord? Be to us comrade and member: and lo! we reign. - 16. Come, draw we our pair of swords, against mankind: I secretly, thou openly, and lo! we end them. - 17. Sin and Sheol they too gave counsel to those two: saying "If ye be divided, ye are undone." - 18. See the waters how if dispersed, they run low: but if gathered they gain strength, and thus ye likewise. - 19. If divided ye perish, as the feeble: but yoked together ye reign, as the mighty. - 20. Love melts down many, as in a furnace: and makes one powerful mass, that overcomes all. - 21. In it are wisdom and cunning, and force and power: it is greater far than an image of sixty cubits. - 22. Be reconciled, let us assemble and go, against that party: which if it be at one can never be defeated. - 23. These things the troublers discoursed, and gathered and came: Thy day, Lord, will gather them, into Gehenna. - 24. Through Thy mercy, Lord, will

I worship Thee, when I have risen: at Thy trumpet I will praise Thy Son, when I am purged.

1. Listen, my brethren, to Death, mocking the Evil One: that caused the head of our race to sin, and its mother. - 2. R., To Thee be glory that by Thy humiliation, Satan is subdued: and that Thy abasement has exalted Adam, who was abased. - 3. D., Thy great nakedness shall be seen, by the sons of Adam; as thou mockedst his nakedness, when thou madest him sin. - 4. Eve will cease from that serpent, and rail at thee: for thou, O Dragon, wast he that beguiled her simpleness. - 5. Abel will see him, even, Cain, who has come to thee: the disciple of his wrath will blame his cursed master. - 6. S., Noah who conquered the flood, as it were death: by the mouth of Ham I laughed at, when wine overcame him. - 7. D., Noah was not harmed, but thy garment, wherewith thou clothedst him: even cursings, he put on, and became a slave. - 8. S., Lot who overcame anger which is, thy likeness, Death: to his daughters I gave such counsels, as were pleasing to me. - 9. D., And Lot's wife who was thy vessel hearkened, to thy counsel: may half of thee be dried up, as thy whole vessel was dried up! - 10. Gehenna be overturned, upon thy head: as thy malice overturned Sodom, its dwellers! - 11. Floods of fire be stirred against thee, in the

resurrection: who against Moses and Elijah, didst stir the people! - 12. Let the just mock thee at the last, and Joseph rejoice! whose brethren mocked him, set on by thee! - 13. Let vapour of smoke come in, and choke thy senses: as the waters of the sea choked, the senses of the wicked! - 14. Let chaste women also mock thee, by whose counsel: the daughters of Midian mocked, the foolish people! - 15. Flame be kindled on thy head, for Samson's sake: for by a woman thou shavedst his locks, that lion of strength! - 16. S., Saul whom I conquered by envy, by witchcraft conquered thee: for he asked for and brought up Samuel, out of his grave. - 17. D., Slander not the living dead, for he came not up: thou wast he that came up in the phantom for thou wast worthy. - 18. Let the commandment hang thee over the flame, thou Evil One! for by thee they hanged Absalom, upon a tree. - 19. In the fire mayst thou see thyself humbled, among vile women! for Solomon by thee was degraded, among profane women. - 20. Justice be measured to thee, as thou didst inflame her! even Jezebel who devoured the prophets, thou kindledst her. - 21. In fire mayst thou justly burn, who madest them drunken! the two whom Elijah burnt up, when they went up and assailed him. - 22. On

thee also be coals heaped! may he see and rejoice: that Naboth in whom thou heapedst, a pile of stones! - 23. Be thou clad in scorn in the day of judgment, before all beholders! who clothedst Gehasi in a leprosy, by means of thy theft. - 24. With lightning for a dart be thou pierced, O Satan! who in the heart of Josiah, didst fix thy darts. - 25. Sink thou in the dregs of Gehenna, O Satan! who didst sink Jeremiah in the mire of the pit. - 26. Daniel escaped from the pit, whither thou didst cast him: may he have comfort in seeing thee, in the furnace for ever! - 27. Be thy wickedness returned on thy head, Hater of man: as his wickedness was returned on the head, of Haman thy fellow! - 28. May the King's Bride mock thee, as did Esther: when thou beseechest her in the judgment-day, to plead for thee! - 29. Fire released the righteous ones, whom thou hadst bound: a mighty bond be to thee, the flame of fire! - 30. Be thou torn in sunder, and may the seven brothers, see thy defeat: the sons of Shemuni who by thy wolves, were torn in sunder! - 31. May fire triumph over thy pate, as thou didst mock: the two heads of Nazarites, sons of the barren! - 32. May fire make mock of thy head, for mother

and daughter: triumphed over John's head, when thou didst madden them! - 33. Flame triumphed over thy head, O Evil One: for on the charges thou didst triumph, over John's head!

1. Lo! Death was prompt beforehand, to mock Satan: him who was doomed to become a mockery at the last. - 2. R., Glory to Thee Who by Thy crucifixion, didst conquer the Evil One: and by Thy resurrection gain victory, likewise over Death! - 3. And for our Lord's sake Death spake curses on him: who was the cause of His shame, and crucifixion. - 4. D., The fiery pit be thy grave, O Satan: who blasphemedst the Voice from the grave, that rent the graves - 5. My Lord I know, and the Son of my Lord, O thou Satan! thou hast denied thy Lord, and crucified the Son of thy Lord. - 6. This is the name that fits thee, "Slayer of thy Lord": when He appears Whom thou slewest, He shall slay thee. - 7. At thee shall every one shake the head, for by thee the chiefs: shook their heads at Him, the Lord of life. - 8. A bruised reed under the feet, of the just shalt thou be: for through thee they put a reed in His hand, Who upholds all. - 9. With a crown of thorns was He crowned, to signify: that He took the diadem of the kingdom, of the house of David. - 10. With a crown of thorns was He crowned, the King of kings: but He took the diadem of the king, of those that

shamed him. - 11. In the robes of mockery that they gave him, in those He mocked them: for He took the raiment of glory, of priests and kings. - 12. To vinegar is thy memory akin, O thou Satan: who didst offer vinegar for the thirst, of the Fount of Life. - 13. The hand shall every man lift against thee who strengthenedst the hand that smote Him by Whose hand, all creatures stand. - 14. He was smitten by the hand and He cut off the hand, of Caiaphas: the hand of the priesthood is cut off, in the cutting off of the unction. - 15. On the pillar again they stretched Him, as for scourging: Him Whose pillar went before, to guide their tribes. - 16. The pillar on the pillar, He was scourged: He removed Himself from out of Zion, and its fall came. - 17. When they put two beams together, to form the Cross: He broke them, even the two staves, the guardians of them. - 18. Ezekiel put together the sticks, the two in one: in the two beams of the Cross, their staves have ceased. - 19. The two sticks, as it were wings, bore the people: lo! his two staves were broken, even as his wings. - 20. The bosom and wings of the Cross, He opened in mercy: its pinions bowed and bore the nations, to go to Eden. - 21. It

is akin to the Tree of Life, and unto the son of its stock: it leads its beloved that on its boughs, they may feed on its fruits. - 22. Go howl and weep, Evil One, for me and for you: for not one of us shall enter the "Garden of Life." - 23. S., Now that thou hast confessed O Death, come let me tell thee: that all this discourse of thine, to me is idle talk. - 24. I will go and watch the snares, which I have set: thou too, Death, fly and look after, all that are sick. - 25. Our Lord has brought both to nought, on either hand: the Evil One shall be brought to nought here, and Death hereafter there.

1. Lo! Death for us on Satan, inflicts vengeance: come let us hear his shame and rejoice, for he rejoiced in our shame. - 2. R., To Thee be glory from Thy flock, from Thee: are subdued both Death and Satan, under Thy Feet! - 3. D., Evil ones shall be hung upright, but thou, head downward: for, reversely, thou crucifiedst, Simon on the tree. - 4. S., Touching all else I am silent, Death, for my time wanes: Simon himself conjured me, "Crucify me thus." - 5. Were it the just that cursed me, I had not grieved: the curse of Death unto me, is worse than hell. - 6. D., The shame of our Lord I have not spoken of, it is too great for my mouth: that I should weigh and compare His Passion, with Thy torment. - 7. Twelve judgment thrones shall He set, for His Twelve: for by the twelve tribes thou, even thou, shall be condemned. - 8. A halter unbought shalt thou hang thee, O thou Satan: as that Thy disciple hung him, a halter for a price. - 9. Haply yon hell in mercy, shall be emptied: and thou shalt dwell there alone, with Thy ministers. - 10. Manifold are Thy curses, and how shall I count them? Lo! the sum of all thy curses, is on thy members. - 11. The evil in the fire shall stab thee, who madest them evil: they shall upbraid thee "wherefore, broughtest thou us hither?" - 12. Sinners shall rail against thee, and haply their threats: shall be worse to thee than the torment, of yonder hell. - 13.

These shall be unto thee there, all of them Satans: as thou hast been to them here, the one Satan. - 14. The Watchers shall seize and hurl thee down, calling to mind: how through thee men hurled their Lord, from the height to the depth. - 15. All men will run to stone thee, not forgetting that through thee the maddened people ran, to stone their Maker. - 16. On thee, Evil One, from all mouths shall be, the spitting of wrath: for through thee they spat on Him Whose spittle, gave sight to the blind. - 17. On thee, Evil One, from all tongues, shall be all curses: for through thee men blasphemed Him, Who opened dumb mouths. - 18. Blessed is He Who avenged our wrong, though in silence: and stirred up Death against the Evil One, to fall upon him! - 19. Sound we Hosannas, my brethren, as did Gideon: who when he sounded, the oppressors, fell on one another!

1. O what amazement befel the Evil One, of a sudden, my brethren: when the sinful woman was corrected, and gained Wisdom! - 2. R., Glory to the One Who alone, conquered the Evil One; and to Him yea Him be also confession, Who vanquished Death! - 3. The Evil One marvelled "Where is her laughter? where her perfumes? where her dancing and outward ornament, and inward wickedness?" - 4. Instead of that light laughter, she is given up to tears: She has cut off her hair to wipe the dust, off the feet of Jesus. - 5. Naught lasts in her of any doctrine, nor abides in her: from our instruction she has escaped and cast away, all that I taught her. - 6. She has denied us and our acquaintance, and even as though: she had never seen me she has blotted my image, out of her mind. - 7. The living leaven of Jesus flew to her, Jesus was silent: but she made bold to press and enter, though none called her. - 8. She forgot our love of many years, and in the twinkling of an eye: from between me and her she removed it, and set Death there. - 9. For instead of laughter weeping delights her, and instead of paint: a shower of tears, and instead of ornament, a sad countenance. - 10. Zaccheus I made chief of extortioners, and her I

made: chief of wantons; my two wings, Jesus has broken. - 11. If so be Zaccheus becomes his disciple, and if so be she: becomes his hearer, henceforth they fetter, my craftiness. - 12. Carved images henceforth are a mockery and the carvers: a derision, and the worshippers a laughing-stock. - 13. I shut men's eyes that they might not perceive, that they are carved images: Jesus opens their eyes to see that they are the works of men's hands. - 14. If Jesus has chosen for Himself preachers, then our preaching: whereof the whole world is full, is put to silence. - 15. For lo! the Chaldeans with the soothsayers, and lo! the wizards: with the diviners they are smitten and the priests, with all evil ones! - 16. Ye priests are ended and have given up the Ghost from henceforth, depart ye diviners! become husbandmen, the Chaldeans likewise, shall close their books. - 17. If the Hebrews have become His disciples, who by all miracles: were not subdued, who of the nations, shall not obey him? - 18. If he begins to set straight the reverse, He brings to naught our speech: henceforth He will not hesitate against us, He who rebukes all men. - 19. In that I was worshipped in all temples, our disgrace is greater: than our honour was, for all men spit, upon our altars. - 20. Flesh of sacrifice becomes abhorred, into fragments:

idols are broken, and carven images burn, under their pots. - 21. All our work becomes a laughing-stock, and a ruin: all that we have built, and a mockery, all that we have taught. - 22. The secret mysteries that I taught them, laboriously: are about to be spread abroad, on the housetops. - 23. Of the Egyptians I was more proud, than of any nation: for they used to worship even, the onions and garlic. - 24. Lo! I fear lest even here, where delusion was so great: truth shall prevail that there exceedingly, Jesus may reign. - 25. And if when He was an infant, and fled and went down, Egypt marvelled: yea lulled him - this strangler of babes, loved their Babe. - 26. Was it a pledge He went down to give her, as a betrother: giving assurance that when of full age, He will also take her to wife? - 27. Pharaoh cannot set his foot firm, for this is no stammerer: that he should deceive Him, and no bondman, that he should lie unto Him. - 28. Moses smote and the Egyptians rebelled, and he chastised the people: and the Hebrews rebelled - Jesus is smitten, and gives life to all. - 29. This is hard to understand that not by force; lays He His yoke: on the rebellious: He was rebuked, and He instructs others. - 30. The spittle of His mouth, wiped off and took away,

the shame of Adam: by the smiting of His cheeks, He rooted out our wrathfulness, from His disciples. - 31. By the nails which he received, He made me to suffer. I rejoiced when I crucified Him: and I knew not that He was crucifying me, in His crucifixion.

1. In wisdom let us hearken to Death, O my beloved: how he accuses us for our weeping, and for our mourning. - 2. R., To thee be praise Who cameth down, to follow Adam: and foundest Adam and also in the children of Adam. - 3. And rightly perhaps he says, "Ye slay: without mercy and lo! ye weep, as though merciful." - 4. Ye have made me as a cruel one, O ye murderers: for ye slay one another, without my help! - 5. While Death was but desiring to come, the sword came before him: let us see then against whom cries out, the blood of the slain. - 6. Against you cry out the strangled, who were suffocated: for it shames me of the rope, of their strangulations. - 7. They take away from me even my rest, for without me: how could the strangled and the slain, enter Sheol? - 8. Lo! your infants are cast out, as those in Egypt: your sons have ye sacrificed to demons, O demoniacs! - 9. While Death was but desiring to taste, of your corpses: Cain refreshed me beforehand, with blood of man. - 10. While I was but desiring to wait patiently, till Adam should die: before I had power ye gave me power, over your bodies. - 11. Cain with his sword overthrew, the gate of Sheol: for it was closed and before the time, he

first opened it. - 12. He by treading made the way of Sheol, without my help: for in the way ye have trodden out for me, lo! I walk therein. - 13. Nine hundred years I sat and waited, for Adam to die: but Cain not even a day, endured his brother. - 14. Robbers upon the highways, are worse than I: I am slumbering while they, are watching to slay. - 15. Lo! your slaughtered in the graves, and your murdered in your ways; and your strangled upon your stakes! - 16. "If I rebelled against my lord, yea and slew him: who was he that slew these here," said Jehu. - 17. And if I Death have taken, your departed: the strangled, the slain, and the slaughtered, who was it slew them? - 18. Ye are Satan to each other, and the Evil One is abhorred: ye are pestilence to each other, and Death is blamed! - 19. Your own will to you is Satan, yea and a murderer: but of Death and of Satan, all men complain. - 20. Poison of Death ye give also to drink, each to other: lo! how many Deaths have ye, beside me. - 21. Wiles, stratagems, yea and snares, sword and poison: how many Deaths from you and in you, lo! are there born. - 22. The judge in the judgment-hall, is a second Death: he slays for secret reward, but I for

naught. - 23. I have seen bribery and marvelled at it, that ran and outran me: how many slain does bribery, slay, and none perceives! - 24. I am ashamed that so unskilfully, I conduct myself: if I take even one corpse, all men perceive it. - 25. In the houses weeping and in the streets, also wailing: and even unto the gates of Sheol, they groan over me. - 26. Groan over yourselves that ye are thus hateful, and ye hate me: Sheol henceforth shall groan over you, O murderers! - 27. With torture, scourging and fire, yea with stoning: ye put to death the sons of men, and ye are proud! - 28. I am more modest than you and merciful, also reverent: for with reverence I bear away, your departed. - 29. On the bed I deal gently, with him that is sick: and quietly I lay him to sleep, for but a while.

1. Lo! Death, the King of silence, complains, my brethren: that we have filled his abode with the wailing, of Hope cut off. - 2. R., To Him be great praise Who comest down, to us here below: and suffered and rose again and in His Body, raises our bodies! - 3. While we weep like madmen, at the gates of Sheol: hearken what Death says, reproaching us. - 4. It shames me, says Death, that ye, have overcome me: the half of Sheol suffices not, to contain your slain. - 5. For alien corpses together, lie heaped in Sheol: there are two divisions there, the dead, the slain. - 6. Whereas I should complain that ye have wronged me, lo! ye are weeping: ye have burst the gate of Sheol, and done me hurt. - 7. For ye are like unto an infant, which while yet weeping: laughs again as ye also, over your dead. - 8. For there is no discretion in your mourning, and no understanding: in your laughter - for to me ye seem like, to a weaned babe. - 9. One hour weeping and wailing, and after a little: both jesting and wantonness, as of children. - 10. For ye are unable to become, perfect men: that weep not yea and laugh not, as the discreet. - 11. Touching your books we are grieved, that they have toiled over them: who should read them unto you, even

the divine Scriptures. - 12. The readers are crying aloud, for ye are deaf: this their crying proves concerning you, that ye are as stocks. - 13. For since the reader and the interpreter, are crying aloud: your ears therefore are heavy, or else your hearts. - 14. For if there were with you an ear, open to persuasion: it were meet to hear little, and to do much. - 15. But because its hearing is closed, whoso knocks at it: the voice returns back to him, who sent it forth. - 16. There is no crying with me of mine, I am not deaf: none that reads or interprets for me, I am not dull. - 17. The breath that is from Him commands me, sons the God of truth: and with the command there follows, also the fulfilment. - 18. With me is no holding back, no turnings aside: I wot no arrow even, could outstrip me. - 19. But your voices are scorned by me, when ye are weeping: over the graves of your departed, in the cutting off of hope. - 20. Were it possible or permitted, when ye are weeping: I would go forth and tell you, to your faces. - 21. "I am endeavouring to give, an account of the death: and your voices disturb me, that I err in my count." - 22. Ye nations, let not your understanding, become childish: like that nation whose

intelligence, was never great. - 23. In which prudence bestows not itself, as in a fool: for its thoughts are darkness, without discernment. - 24. For your infants and your sons, in the resurrection: they shall be foremost to come forth, as the first fruits - 25. Then after them shall come the just, as victorious: last shall come forth the sinner, as put to shame. - 26. For although in the twinkling of an eye, they be quickened: yet is it in order that their ranks, come forth from Sheol. - 27. Prophets come forth and Apostles, and holy Fathers: following them in due array, according to command. - 28. Lo! that which now is sown, in random mixture: is yielded back in great order, as garden-herbs. - 29. For though one in the sowing, should mix all seeds: that which is earlier than its fellow, prevents its fellow, - 30. And not as their going down was confused, so disordered shall be: their coming up from the earth, for its order is fixed. - 31. Lo! I have been against myself, in what I have said: for secret things which ye comprehended not, from me ye have learned. - 32. Instead of the tears that profit not, which are at the tomb: pour them forth in your prayer, in the midst of the Church. - 33. For to the dead there is profit in these, and likewise to the living:

weep not with a weeping that afflicts, both dead and living!

1. Who shall weigh the recompense of Abraham? whom I marvelled at when he bound, his only son. - 2. R., To thee be glory, Voice that bringest to life the dead in Sheol: and they have come up as preachers, of His Son Who quickens all! - 3. At that time I came forth in haste, to see the marvel: how that his knife was drawn out, against his beloved. - 4. I gathered my manifold memories, from all quarters: and I collected my spirit to marvel, at that illustrious one. - 5. How therefore can ye read, that great story? ye have despised the reading of it, in your very ears. - 6. The sword of Jephthah rebukes, him that laments: his daughter was to him a mirror of life from the dead. - 7. She gave herself for her father, so commend ye: your life to the Father of all, in the hope of your end. - 8. In the womb then did ye not make trial, of a mystery of Sheol? yet in Sheol ye had more rest, than in the womb. - 9. It is stubborn in you to stand up against, my mighty will: for lo! to succour them I take away, your departed. - 10. By the king of Moab who slew, his son with his hands: he is put to shame who laments, for the departed one. - 11. He was a

profane man, lo! according, to what you read: but ye are doctors and teachers, as ye suppose. - 12. He endured, but ye are furious, in your mourning: against the will of the Lord of all, while ye are weeping. - 13. I fear however to let pass, the story of Job: through this feeble mouth of mine, for I am unworthy. - 14. So in like manner I turn aside, from mention of their bones: though I praise Him who granted, that they should come to me. - 15. Dishonour not your members, by your sins: for in Sheol the bones are despised, of evildoers. - 16. Whenever I see the body of one of the evil: I trample on it and curse, even his memory. - 17. But wherever I see a bone, of one of the just; I set it apart and honour it, and do it worship. - 18. Ye feeble ones understand not, all my ordinances: with you orders are confused, for ye are blind. - 19. It is Moses alone that I know, to have honoured like me: the bones of that Joseph whom I magnify. - 20. But Moses did such honour, to one pure body: but I to the body and the bones, of all the righteous. - 21. Brightly shine the bones of Prophets, and of Apostles: a lamp to me in darkness, are all the righteous. - 22. I worship Him Who

lightens for me, the darkness of Sheol: the splendour of Moses who was so great, was as the sun to me.

1. O feeble ones, why weep ye, over your dead: who in death are at rest from sorrows and sins? - 2. R., Glory to Him Who endured all, for the sake of all men: yea tasted death for the sake of all, to bring all to life - 3. I reveal unto you, that even Satan, though much content: at your weeping, yet laughs much, at your mourning. - 4. In mockery he winks at me and nods to me, as a jester: "Come let us laugh at sinners, for lo! they are mad." - 5. Truly they have given up remembrance of that fire, which I have hidden for them: and lo! the fools are drunken with weeping, for their departed. - 6. Instead of weeping as though, without provision: I had plundered and sent forth their dead, lo! they are mad. - 7. The souls of the evil are to be afflicted, till the judgment day: and these weep over the graves, like to madmen. - 8. They care not for their own sins, that haply to-morrow: they must go in shame of face, to join their dead. - 9. And thus shall all be put to shame alike, family by family: in Sheol the wretches shall repent without avail. - 10. Leave the drunken and the madman, until that day: wherein each shall shake off his wine wherewith he was maddened. - 11. I will go to gather them, like children: that they may play the wanton and the madman, until they perish. - 12. Lo! I have revealed to you the mystery, the secret of my comrade:

go forth therefore, depart, amend, in repentance. - 13. Leave me, I too will depart, I will see to my affairs: that with open face I may give my account to my Lord. - 14. I know that the wind as it blew, has borne away my words: for ye are the same whom I, ofttimes have proved. - 15. I remember Jeremiah how he, compared boldness: to the Indian who changes not his skin, though it is of freedom. - 16. For this too belongs to it, even to freedom: that it binds itself by the will, as though by nature. - 17. For so powerful is the will, in them that are free: that it may be likened to nature, through its workings.

1. Man, O Death, despise thou it not, that image of Adam: which like a seed is committed to earth, till the Resurrection. - 2. R., To thee be glory Who didst descend and plunge, after Adam: and draw him out from the depths of Sheol, and bring him into Eden! - 3. Death, I marvel at this seed, and at your words: for lo! after five thousand years, it springs not yet. - 4. M., Its present state passes away, as winter does: and as a handful of corn it comes in the resurrection, to the garner of life. - 5. D., That there is vintage-time, lo! I know, but I have not seen: the dead at any time sown, or yet reaped. - 6. M., There is coming a reaping, O Death, that will leave thee bare: and the Watchers shall go forth as reapers, and make thee desolate. - 7. D., When did I become husbandman, instead of vine-dresser? who has turned Sheol the wine-press, into a tilled field? - 8. M., Does not the seed then teach thee, which decays and dies: and is cut off from hope, yet from the rain, recovers hope? - 9. D., A dream have ye seen ye feeble ones, of life from the dead: for in waking time the resurrection, ye do not see. - 10. M., Thy drowsiness hinders thee, that thou seest not: the multitudes of

mysteries which cry aloud, of the resurrection. - 11. D., I know that seeds come to life, but I have not seen: bones that grew in Sheol, and sprang and came up. - 12. M., All thy discourse is like thyself, for lo! Ezekiel: has taught thee how in the valley, the dead come to life. - 13. D., Trees have I seen how in summer, they put on their garments: but bones in their nakedness, are cast into Sheol. - 14. M., Moses broke by his splendour, thy heart, O Death: the son of Adam has regained and put on, the glory of Adam. - 15. D., Our law in Sheol is this, to keep silence: for you are words and for me deeds, O feeble ones. - 16. M., How are the aged passed over if thou be vinedresser? He Who hindered thee from taking their lives, the same quickens all. - 17. The babe in the womb confutes thee, which is as buried there: to me it proclaims life from the dead, but to thee despoiling. - 18. The despised flower despises thee, for it is shut up and passed over: yet though lost it is not lost, but blossoms again. - 19. The chick cries out from the egg, wherein it is buried: and the graves are rent by a Voice, and the body arises. - 20. For a body too is the chick, that is

in the egg: lo! its body to our body proclaims, the life from the dead. - 21. With the locust thy plea is overthrown, and ended, O Death: for in coming forth from the dust it teaches, the life from the dead. - 22. D., I had been content if already, the resurrection had been: for the day of resurrection had disturbed me less, than your judgments. - 23. Merciful is the Son of the Highest, yea good and just: and will not harshly avenge on me, the death of Adam. - 24. Have ye then no understanding, to perceive this: that your father laid on you, this retribution?

1. Hold your peace, O mortals (said Death), a little while: and be like me who am so silent, in the midst of Sheol. - 2. R., To Thee be glory, Watcher, that didst come down, after them that slept: and utter the voice from the Tree, and waken them! - 3. Ye are grieving, yea, weeping, for him that has gone: as though he came to grind for me, the mill in Sheol. - 4. Great is the peace I give, unto the wearied: I wax not weary as you, nor weary them. - 5. I hear all manner of curses, from thankless men: the sons of Adam are like Adam, who was thankless to his Lord. - 6. Contrary one to the other are your voices, and your doings: with your voices ye weep and in your doings, ye fight daily. - 7. I heard weeping and I thought to myself, that none labours: I saw toiling and I thought to myself, that no man dies. - 8. The struggles of man made me think, that he is not mortal: his great weeping made me think, that to-morrow he is not. - 9. Hear and let me be your counsellor, if ye be willing: for these two, these burdens, are very bitter. - 10. Cease a little while from this toil, and from this weeping: toil ye and weep as mortals, who to-morrow vanish. - 11. Ye are

frantic with weeping, for your departed: and ye struggle in toiling, for your possessions. - 12. It is well with the infants that die, and blessed are they: for they are freed from the misery, whereunto ye are cast. - 13. Suffer me to go to Sheol, and there to say: "Happy are ye silent dead, how tranquil are ye!" - 14. Hear the conclusion of our own words, If there be a resurrection: weep not ye, neither labour as though strangers. - 15. Ye straggle as one who was to live, here forever: and ye weep as one who never, should rise again. - 16. Hear my words, if there be with you place for hearing: and prepare you provision that when I call ye may answer. - 17. For I hearken even I, to Him that calls me: and will restore your bodies, with your treasures. - 18. Let there be peace between us, until that day: and when ye come forth I will cry and say, "Depart in peace!" - 19. Come ye, you and I even now, shall give glory: to Him that brings to death and to life, that He may give aid. - 20. Praise from us all be to thee, O Lord, the living Sacrifice! Who by the sacrifice of Thy Body hast given life to quick and dead. - 21. Praise to Him Who clothed Himself in our body, and died and

rose again: He died in us and we live in Him, blessed be He Who sent Him!