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

1.&#160; I will call in my affliction, on the Power that subdues all;&#8212;that is able to subdue, the Captor in his wrath,&#8212;as it overcame Legion.&#160; R., Glory to His grace!

2.&#160; The Evil One has repaid me my brethren, debts that he borrowed not of me:&#8212;the good God likewise has repaid me, mercies that I lent Him not.&#8212;Come and marvel ye at these two things!

3.&#160; The good God has divided and given, my misdeeds to His grace,&#8212;my offences to His justice; His mercy has blotted out my misdeeds&#8212;His judgment has requited my offences.

4.&#160; Sin was exceeding wroth, and abode in alarm,&#8212;when she saw how grace, put restraint on freedom, that she might overcome transgressions.

5.&#160; Glow Thou, O my Lord, and send down Thy love, break out and pour forth Thy wrath!&#8212;Thy wrath to destroy, Thy love to rescue&#8212;the captives from the captor!

6.&#160; The days wherein the Evil One, decreed to cast me forth,&#8212;as with a sling into perdition, in them the good God has bound up and kept&#8212;my soul in the bundle of life.

7.&#160; The men of speech who keep not silence, from praising continually,&#8212;who have kept me in the midst of waves, and supported me that I fell not, let them give praise in my stead, O my Lord!

8.&#160; For who has at any time sufficed, in presence of the grace,&#8212;of the mercies which surrounded him, that I should suffice to praise&#8212;the mercies that encompass me?