Hymn 56.

Chapter 13

1With Freedom is your struggle, O Evil One: it can cast on you a muzzle, if it so please.— 2. R ., To You be glory in whose victory we have gained strength: and in whose resurrection we defy even Death itself!— 3. Lo! Again these two exposed each other, how weak both are: Death reminded the Evil One of your mightiness ( O Freedom ). — 4. Your fire is in your nest, O Death, and you perceive not: the fate of the departed, to you is overthrow.— 5. Lo! Death and the Evil One proclaim your mightiness ( O Freedom ): yea, the Evil One calls to mind your faith .— 6. If then these that were against you are on your side: this is a great thing that your persecutors have become your heralds —7. D ., I confess, O Evil One, that as usury : I lay up the King's treasures, till His Coming. — 8. S ., I, O Death, rather deny that this belongs to God: this treasure of subtlety, which I have stored.— 9. D ., Your coinage is fraudulent, then, O Satan : that into the treasuries of God , is not received.— 10. S ., A new coinage do I coin, in kingly wise: lo! My merchantmen bring loss, into the world.— 11. God created everything out of nothing: and I created great sin out of nothing — 12. D ., Closed and bound be your mouth, Evil One, who art thus bold: to set yourself, lo! In comparison with the Creator. — 13. S ., To me, O Death, it is lawful to dare and speak: your tongue, even yours, is a slave, and under fear .— 14. D ., A gulf is henceforth between us, O Satan : for madly against your Lord, lo! You assail.— 15. S ., Wherefore do you doubt, O Death, of our concord? Be to us comrade and member: and lo! We reign.— 16. Come, draw we our pair of swords, against mankind : I secretly, you openly, and lo! We end them.— 17. Sin and Sheol they too gave counsel to those two: saying If you be divided, you are undone. — 18. See the waters how if dispersed, they run low: but if gathered they gain strength, and thus you likewise.— 19. If divided you perish, as the feeble: but yoked together you reign, as the mighty.— 20. Love melts down many, as in a furnace: and makes one powerful mass, that overcomes all.— 21. In it are wisdom and cunning, and force and power: it is greater far than an image of sixty cubits.— 22. Be reconciled, let us assemble and go, against that party: which if it be at one can never be defeated.— 23. These things the troublers discoursed, and gathered and came: Your day, Lord, will gather them, into Gehenna. — 24. Through Your mercy, Lord, will I worship You, when I have risen: at Your trumpet I will praise Your Son, when I am purged.