Hymn LXI.
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 per
haps 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.