Nisibene Hymns

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 You be glory, Watcher, that came down, after them that slept: and utter the voice from the Tree, and waken them!— 3. You 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 you weep and in your doings, you 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 tomorrow he is not.— 9. Hear and let me be your counsellor, if you be willing: for these two, these burdens, are very bitter.— 10.

Cease a little while from this toil, and from this weeping: toil and weep as mortals, who tomorrow vanish.— 11. You are frantic with weeping, for your departed: and you 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 you are cast.— 13. Allow me to go to Sheol, and there to say: “Happy are you silent dead, how tranquil are you!”— 14. Hear the conclusion of our own words, If there be a resurrection: weep not, neither labour as though strangers.— 15.

You straggle as one who was to live, here forever: and you 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 you 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 you come forth I will cry and say, “Depart in peace!”— 19. Come, 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 you, O Lord, the living Sacrifice! Who by the sacrifice of Your 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!