Hymn 60.

Chapter 17

1O what amazement befell the Evil One , of a sudden, my brethren: when the sinful woman was corrected, and gained Wisdom!— 2. R., Glory to the One Who alone, conquered the Evil One ; and to Him yea Him be also confession, Who vanquished Death! — 3. The Evil One marvelled Where is her laughter? Where her perfumes? Where her dancing and outward ornament, and inward wickedness ? — 4. Instead of that light laughter, she is given up to tears: She has cut off her hair to wipe the dust, off the feet of Jesus. — 5. Naught lasts in her of any doctrine, nor abides in her: from our instruction she has escaped and cast away, all that I taught her.— 6. She has denied us and our acquaintance, and even as though: she had never seen me she has blotted my image, out of her mind. — 7. The living leaven of Jesus flew to her, Jesus was silent: but she made bold to press and enter, though none called her.— 8. She forgot our love of many years, and in the twinkling of an eye: from between me and her she removed it, and set Death there .— 9. For instead of laughter weeping delights her, and instead of paint: a shower of tears, and instead of ornament, a sad countenance.— 10. Zaccheus I made chief of extortioners, and her I made: chief of wantons; my two wings, Jesus has broken.— 11. If so be Zaccheus becomes his disciple , and if so be she: becomes his hearer, henceforth they fetter, my craftiness.— 12. Carved images henceforth are a mockery and the carvers: a derision, and the worshippers a laughing-stock. — 13. I shut men's eyes that they might not perceive, that they are carved images: Jesus opens their eyes to see that they are the works of men's hands . — 14. If Jesus has chosen for Himself preachers, then our preaching: whereof the whole world is full, is put to silence.— 15. For lo! The Chaldeans with the soothsayers, and lo! The wizards: with the diviners they are smitten and the priests , with all evil ones!— 16. You priests are ended and have given up the Ghost from henceforth, depart you diviners ! Become husbandmen, the Chaldeans likewise, shall close their books.— 17. If the Hebrews have become His disciples , who by all miracles : were not subdued, who of the nations , shall not obey him?— 18. If he begins to set straight the reverse, He brings to naught our speech: henceforth He will not hesitate against us, He who rebukes all men .— 19. In that I was worshipped in all temples, our disgrace is greater: than our honour was , for all men spit, upon our altars.— 20. Flesh of sacrifice becomes abhorred, into fragments: idols are broken , and carven images burn, under their pots.— 21. All our work becomes a laughing-stock, and a ruin: all that we have built, and a mockery, all that we have taught.— 22. The secret mysteries that I taught them, laboriously: are about to be spread abroad, on the housetops.— 23. Of the Egyptians I was more proud , than of any nation: for they used to worship even, the onions and garlic. — 24. Lo! I fear lest even here, where delusion was so great: truth shall prevail that there exceedingly, Jesus may reign.— 25. And if when He was an infant, and fled and went down, Egypt marvelled: yea lulled him — this strangler of babes, loved their Babe. — 26. Was it a pledge He went down to give her, as a betrother: giving assurance that when of full age, He will also take her to wife ? — 27. Pharaoh cannot set his foot firm , for this is no stammerer: that he should deceive Him, and no bondman, that he should lie unto Him.— 28. Moses smote and the Egyptians rebelled, and he chastised the people: and the Hebrews rebelled — Jesus is smitten, and gives life to all.— 29. This is hard to understand that not by force; lays He His yoke: on the rebellious: He was rebuked, and He instructs others.— 30. The spittle of His mouth, wiped off and took away, the shame of Adam: by the smiting of His cheeks, He rooted out our wrathfulness, from His disciples .— 31. By the nails which he received, He made me to suffer. I rejoiced when I crucified Him: and I knew not that He was crucifying me, in His crucifixion.