Hymn 55.

Chapter 12

1Lo! The Evil One reproached Death, and was in turn reproached: from each and to each and against each, were their taunts.— 2. R., To You be glory , Son of the Lord of All, Who died for all: for He was raised to give life to all, in the day of His Coming! — 3. S ., Jonah who conquered you, and returned back from Sheol, became my advocate in asking , why sinners were spared?— 4. D ., Slander not, O Evil One, the son of Amittai: he showed a face of anger , that they might praise you more.— 5. S ., Quite powerless is all your persuasion, O tyrant Death: for there pleases me nothing, of all you have said.— 6. D ., For when was the word of truth pleasing to you? A gulf is between you and truthfulness , O lying one.— 7. I am righteous all my days, with nought to repent: I am he that rescues from you the sons of men. — 8. S ., Proclaim your repentance, Death, you are well come: lo! Saul also among the prophets , great cause of scorn.— 9. If you, Death, be justified, then for myself: I cut not off hope, likewise, of repentance. — 10. D ., No idol with my Lord have I made, O hater of your Lord! lo! You by dead idols , slay the living. — 11. S ., That you, Death, art half of me, I know , and I half of you: if half of me repents, it repents, but I marvel.— 12. D ., Your partner am I in share, but not in sin : mine are the slain and yours the slayers, whom you made sin .— 13. S ., My craftiness weeps for itself, when I dispute with you: my wiles mourn over me, when I meet you.— 14. D ., Workers of witchcraft and soothsayers, with all their offenses: the fire that you kindled in the world, in Sheol I have quenched.— 15. S ., You penitent who strains out gnats and swallows the just: the chaste shall rend you, who cry, from within your belly.— 16. D ., It is the treasure-house where I keep all the righteous: their resurrection threatens ill to you, who persecuted them.— 17. S ., The greedy one who carries all creatures, in his bowels: lo! He casts up to me that I am robbed , of my possessions. — 18. D ., Before the stroke lament not, for it has not yet reached you : the day will come when you shall cry out, and I shall hear and rejoice .— 19. The fire will come that shall strip off you your very skin: as by the potsherd you stripped the skin of Job. — 20. D ., The savour of sloth begins, as if to hover on me; it is then a dream that I ceased, for a short space.— 21. It was not that words failed me, and therefore I was silent: it is for the time I grieve, that has passed idly.— 22. The hurt done by your speech is very great: would I had not heard it! For my whole mind is intent upon my work.— 23. This humankind that is lost, was undone by wandering thought: slothfulness, with negligence, brought it under yoke.— 24. The madness of desire bid for wealth , and bought it: contention with boastfulness, were the sureties.— 25. With persistence for strength, I wage my war : and if I neglect but a little, my sway is naught.— 26. By continual dropping, I clean the rocks: for continual dropping can dissolve even a mountain.— 27. Habit even over nature, becomes master: it trains and leads even lions, as beasts of burden.— 28. Habit, repose, and increase, with persistence; by these is freedom conquered, though stubborn above all.— 29. If its will be firmly set, it breaks the fetters; but if lax, a fragile net, can capture it.— 30. If so be that Freedom shouts, we are scattered: but if she be silent we gather together, to mock at her.— 31. Let us cease from much speaking, lest it lead to much sloth: with one mind let us assail the wall, and lo! It is broken down.— 32. S ., Go and see to diseases, and I to snares: for to me sins and to you pestilences, are great solace.— 33. And even though I have paused, I have not paused from my cares: for my will at no time rests, but is ready.