Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene Hymns.

 Ephraim Syrus

 Nisibene Hymns.

 Hymn II.

 Hymn III.

 Hymn IV.

 Hymn V.

 Hymn VI.

 Hymn VII.

 [Hymn VIII. is wanting, as also the earlier part of IX.]

 Hymn IX.

 Hymn X.

 Hymn XI.

 Hymn XII.

 Hymn XIII.

 Hymn XIV.

 Hymn XV.

 Hymn XVI.

 Hymn XVII.

 Hymn XVIII.

 Hymn XIX.

 Hymn XX.

 Hymn XXI.

 [XXII.–XXV. (wanting) XXVI. (only a fragment remains) XXVII.–XXXIV. (relate to Edessa and Carrhæ).]

 Hymn XXXV.

 Hymn XXXVI.

 Hymn XXXVII.

 Hymn XXXVIII.

 Hymn XXXIX.

 Hymn XL.

 Hymn XLI.

 Hymn XLII.

 Hymn LII.

 Hymn LIII.

 Hymn LIV.

 Hymn LV.

 Hymn LVI.

 Hymn LVII.

 Hymn LVIII.

 Hymn LIX.

 Hymn LX.

 Hymn LXI.

 Hymn LXII.

 Hymn LXIII.

 Hymn LXIV.

 Hymn LXV.

 Hymn LXVI.

 Hymn LXVII.

 Hymn LXVIII.

Hymn LXIV.

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.5 I.e. though boldness is matter of free will, it becomes a second nature.