Nisibene Hymns

¹ Lo! Death was prompt beforehand, to mock Satan: him who was doomed to become a mockery at the last.— 2. R., Glory to You Who by Your crucifixion, conquered the Evil One: and by Your resurrection gain victory, likewise over Death!— 3. And for our Lord's sake Death spoke curses on him: who was the cause of His shame, and crucifixion.— 4. D., The fiery pit be your grave, O Satan: who blasphemed the Voice from the grave, that rent the graves— 5. My Lord I know, and the Son of my Lord, O you Satan!

You have denied your Lord, and crucified the Son of your Lord.— 6. This is the name that fits you, “Slayer of your Lord”: when He appears Whom you slew, He shall slay you.— 7. At you shall every one shake the head, for by you the chiefs: shook their heads at Him, the Lord of life.— 8. A bruised reed under the feet, of the just shall you be: for through you they put a reed in His hand, Who upholds all.— 9. With a crown of thorns was He crowned, to signify: that He took the diadem of the kingdom, of the house of David.— 10.

With a crown of thorns was He crowned, the King of kings: but He took the diadem of the king, of those that shamed him.— 11. In the robes of mockery that they gave him, in those He mocked them: for He took the raiment of glory, of priests and kings.— 12. To vinegar is your memory akin, O you Satan: who offered vinegar for the thirst, of the Fount of Life.— 13. The hand shall every man lift against you who strengthened the hand that smote Him by Whose hand, all creatures stand.— 14.

He was smitten by the hand and He cut off the hand, of Caiaphas: the hand of the priesthood is cut off, in the cutting off of the unction.— 15. On the pillar again they stretched Him, as for scourging: Him Whose pillar went before, to guide their tribes.— 16. The pillar on the pillar, He was scourged: He removed Himself from out of Zion, and its fall came.— 17. When they put two beams together, to form the Cross: He broke them, even the two staves, the guardians of them.— 18.

Ezekiel put together the sticks, the two in one: in the two beams of the Cross, their staves have ceased.— 19. The two sticks, as it were wings, bore the people: lo! His two staves were broken, even as his wings.— 20. The bosom and wings of the Cross, He opened in mercy: its pinions bowed and bore the nations, to go to Eden.— 21. It is akin to the Tree of Life, and unto the son of its stock: it leads its beloved that on its boughs, they may feed on its fruits.— 22. Go howl and weep, Evil One, for me and for you: for not one of us shall enter the “Garden of Life.”— 23. S., Now that you have confessed O Death, come let me tell you: that all this discourse of yours, to me is idle talk.— 24.

I will go and watch the snares, which I have set: you too, Death, fly and look after, all that are sick.— 25. Our Lord has brought both to nought, on either hand: the Evil One shall be brought to nought here, and Death hereafter there.