Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XIII/Ephraim the Syrian and Aphrahat/Nisibene Hymns/Hymn IX

&#8230;My afflictions are as Job&#8217;s.&#160; Thy justice delivered him; let Thy grace have mercy on me!

2.&#160; In these two things is profit; that neither should the just, be weary in supplication, nor should the rebellious, multiply transgression.

3.&#160; With the sons Thou labourest, to chastise and help them; and that the fathers should not be grieved, by the sound of the scourge, they left me in peace.

4.&#160; Look, O my Lord, on my woods without, how they have been cut down! behold, O my Lord, my breasts within, that they are too weak, for me to bear my beloved ones!

5.&#160; With swords they have cut off, my wings that are without; again the fire kindles, in my bosom within, the incense of burnt offering.

6.&#160; The sun-worshippers have killed, my sons in the plain:&#160; and they that offer to Baal, have sacrificed my bulls in the city, my sheep with my babes.

7.&#160; In my fields is lamentation; in my halls wailing; in my vineyards terror; in my streets confusion.&#160; Who can suffice for me?

8.&#160; The Evil One who dealt treacherously, and disturbed me with his words, stirred up trouble within, so that my inward part, is wholly as my outward part.

9.&#160; With what face, O my Lord, shall I call on Thee to send, a camp of holy ones, to guard my bosom, which is full of uncleanness?

10.&#160; With Thy new leaven, Thou hast chastened creation.&#160; Make Thou the old leaven, which ensnares and humbles, to be like the new leaven!

11.&#160; By the manifest striving, of Thy power let us conquer; lest error should crown, those that strive for Thee, cleaving to them with blandishment!

12.&#160; If we look into our time, it is like our deceit; &#8212;for in the years of truthfulness, we practised divinations,&#8212;and secretly used enchantments.

13.&#160; If I look into the time, it provokes and into light,&#8212;brings secret things, that our deceit may be shamed,&#8212;which wore the raiment of Truth.

14.&#160; Verily it is truth, that overcomes all; &#8212;and the sea with its bitterness, cannot trouble it,&#8212;for it is pure in its nature.

15.&#160; In wisdom Thou hast made it, O my Lord, that it has laid bare our lust.&#8212;That the foolish should come to nought, and should not be encouraged,&#8212;Truth has withheld the crown.

16.&#160; On the tottering walls, whereon Thou hast given me victory,&#8212;the unthankful repay Thee, with sacrifice and libation, which provoke Thee openly.

17.&#160; If it were at that time, sacrifices had been offered;&#8212;there had been room even, for delusion to suppose,&#8212;that in these I was delivered.

18.&#160; Through the multitude of deliverances, Thou hast rebuked two things:&#8212;the delusion of graven images, and the teaching of magicians;&#8212;for in Thee, O my Lord, have I been delivered!