Nisibene Hymns

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 you be praise Who came down, to follow Adam: and foundest Adam and also in the children of Adam.— 3. And rightly perhaps he says, “You slay: without mercy and lo! You weep, as though merciful.”— 4. You have made me as a cruel one, O you murderers: for you 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 you 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 you 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 you 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. You are Satan to each other, and the Evil One is abhorred: you 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 you give also to drink, each to other: lo!

How many Deaths have you, 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 you are thus hateful, and you hate me: Sheol henceforth shall groan over you, O murderers!— 27. With torture, scourging and fire, yea with stoning: you put to death the sons of men, and you 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.