Hymn LX.
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.