Jacob of Sarug's Homily on the Love of God towards Humanity and of the Just towards God 9781463244323, 1463244320

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Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Love of God towards Humanity and of the Just towards God

Texts from Christian Late Antiquity

74 Series Editor George Anton Kiraz

TeCLA (Texts from Christian Late Antiquity) is a series presenting ancient Christian texts both in their original languages and with accompanying contemporary English translations.

Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Love of God towards Humanity and of the Just towards God

Edited and Translated by

Dominique Sirgy

gp 2022

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2022 by Gorgias Press LLC

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC. ‫ܓ‬

1

2022

ISBN 978-1-4632-4432-3

ISSN 1935-6846

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A Cataloging-in-Publication Record is available at the Library of Congress. Printed in the United States of America

TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ......................................................................... v Acknowledgments ...................................................................... vii Introduction ................................................................................. 1 Text and Translation .................................................................... 7 Memra 63 On the Love of God towards Humanity and of the Just towards God .................................................... 8 Bibliography ............................................................................... 59 Index of Biblical References ....................................................... 61

v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The present homily was translated with indispensable reviews by Sebastian Brock and Fr. Saliba Er, to both of whom I am very grateful. The translation began during the first lockdown of Covid 2020, when George Kiraz sent out an announcement about the opportunity to translate Jacob of Serugh’s homilies. I have deeply appreciated the chance to escape the challenge of these times amid the verses of Jacob’s metrical homilies.

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INTRODUCTION INFORMATION ON THIS HOMILY

Homily Title: On the Love of God towards Humanity and of the Just towards God Source of Text: Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, edited by Paul Bedjan (Paris-Leipzig: Harrassowitz, 1907, 2nd ed. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2006), vol. 2, pp. 769–792. [Homily 63] Lines: 470

Jacob of Sarug’s (d. 521) homily 63 “On the Love of God towards Humanity and of the Just towards God,” chronicles the unravelling of God’s love in sacred history – a common topic in the Late Ancient Syriac tradition. The homily, written in dodecasyllabic verse, builds itself around the metaphor of debt: the inability of humankind to return God’s love and grace resounds throughout the pages of Jacob’s work. 1 Jacob’s narrative progresses from accounts in the Old Testament about sacrifice and worship and culminates in God’s revelation of His love in the incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The homily rests on the principle that God’s love, revealed through His sacrifice, is unmatchable. The homily opens: “The heavens and the earth along with the angels and humanity, are insufficient to glorify you because of your love.” For an analysis of the interventions of God’s love in human life, see Mary Hansbury, “Love as an Exegetical Principle in Jacob of Serug,” The Harp 27 (2011): 1–16. 1

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The first part of the homily intones the theme that creation’s glorification of the Lord ultimately comes from God himself. The praise of the sun’s radiance, the sea’s colossal waves, or the night’s tranquility are all granted by the Lord. Humankind also remains beholden to God and the righteousness of Abel, Enosh, Melchizedek and others pale beside the ineffable superabundance of God’s love. Jacob’s verse thus echoes the wisdom of 1 John 4:10: “And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” The historical birth of Jesus Christ initiates the second part of the homily. Before the Lord’s incarnation, the righteous figures of the Old Testament were celebrated on earth. When Christ came into the world, however, he inaugurated a cataclysmic shift that would change humanity’s orientation towards God: “Before the Father manifested his love, they were virtuous, but from the time that he delivered his Son to the cross, he astounded them.” 2 Love is at the center and summit of God’s sacrifice, and the consequences for the faithful are transformative. Prior to God’s revelation of His love, the faithful proved their faith through righteous acts. Following His revelation, however, the faithful enter into a new relationship with the Lord where, in astonishment and awe for His sacrifice, they are bound to glorifying Him with praises that eternally fall short of the magnanimity of God’s love: “For this favor, what kind of act of righteousness, can repay the Father, for everything falls short of his repayment… From that time, the whole world was bound over to praise the Father’s love with unceasing thanksgiving.” 3 Jacob’s homily also relates how God’s revelation of His love fulfills the Scriptures and leads to the liberation of all the faithful. Isaiah 40 prophesied the coming of the Lord and the establishment of everlasting justice: “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it… But those 2 3

Lines 303–4. Lines 423–4 and 445–6.

INTRODUCTION

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who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles.” 4 The homily confirms the realization of this prophecy with its description of a return to the Lord following Christ’s coming that heals the wounded, frees the imprisoned, and magnifies the humble. As with the rest of his homily, the exegesis is rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, where prophecy is fulfilled through references to such passages as Matthew 15:24, Luke 4:18, Luke 4:18 etc. The theological implications for Christian life are vast. Of utmost consequence, is the possibility for Christians to win eternal life through Jesus Christ. Jacob writes: “[Jesus] died order that his beloved ones might live, for he loved them, and the evildoers saw his love by means of his death for their sake. They realized that anyone who approaches God, will live for ever with Him in the blissful light.” 5 The revelation and bestowal of eternal life changes the very significance of life and death, as 2 Corinthians 5:15 explains: “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” The focus on Christ’s crucifixion in the homily, therefore, is a lesson on the paramount expression of God’s love in history and a statement about the monumental redefinition of the nature Christian life. As was earlier stated, the response of the believers who live this new, eternal life in Christ is to give thanks: “From that time, the whole world was bound over to praise the Father’s love with unceasing thanksgiving.” Here, it seems Jacob was encouraged by Psalm 148, which urges all creatures to praise the Lord and, perhaps, too, by Colossians 2:6–7: “Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him … overflowing with thankfulness.” The exegesis of Jacob’s 63rd homily can be read in relation to Ephrem’s (d. 373) concept of divine love and human cogni-

4 5

Isaiah 40:5, 31. Line 320.

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tion. 6 The capacity of the human intellect plays a central role in Ephrem’s understanding of the human’s connection with and responsibility towards the divine: Though the intellect is incapable of defining God, it is capable of understanding love and mercy. God therefore reveals himself in the human language of love and mercy through types, symbols, names and in Christ’s incarnation. 7 The latter is given priority in Jacob’s homily, where God reveals Himself through love. Ephrem, like Jacob, also concluded that this love evokes humankind’s praise for God. The understanding gained through God revelation of His love also offers Christians the opportunity to participate in this love and thereby to draw closer to Him. This teaching is not so much exposited in homily 63 as it is in Jacob of Sarug’s other works. In Jacob’s homily “On Love” he writes that God’s love led Him to grant the dead the Kingdom of Heaven through the death of His Son. He goes on further to state that God reveals His love through His Son’s sufferings in order for humankind to search out God’s will. 8 For Jacob, therefore, the will of God is inexorably bound to His love: By showing His love, creatures will seek out His will, and discover that His will was to grant His creatures eternal life because of his boundless love. The text, however, is not so explicit as to claim that God’s will is equal to His love, and this matter can only be determined by probing further into Jacob’s greater corpus. Nevertheless, the point remains that the knowledge afforded by the discovery of God’s will and, through it, His love, alights a love in human beings. It may therefore be said that the heart of Jacob’s interpretation is that God’s will is for all to be granted eternal life through the realization of His love and the reciprocation that it invokes. Thomas Koonammakkal, “Divine Love and Revelation in Ephrem,” In The Harp (Volume 17), pp. 33–44 (Gorgias Press, 2011). 7 E. Khalife-Hachem, “Homélie Métrique de Jacques de Saroug sur l’amour.” Parole de l’Orient 1 (1970): 281–299. 8 Ibid., p. 286. 6

INTRODUCTION

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Jacob implies that this reciprocation is natural or involuntary by characterizing it by the language of astonishment and awe, as in the verses: “He had but one Son, whom he gave to death for all people, all wills were astonished and rose with his good will” 9 and “The Father astonished and awed them with his love, and they saw they owed him payments that cannot not be entirely repaid.” 10 In both excerpts, God’s love evokes astonishment in the faithful and the impulse to respond to this love. God’s love therefore draws the faithful toward Him with their love, however inadequate it may be, and brings them to everlasting life. For Jacob, love is the most appropriate response to God’s love. Love surpasses the value of faith, simplicity, discernment, prayer, wonder, faith, and love – seven principal conditions in Jacob’s writings for understanding God. 11 When love for God is kindled among the faithful it grants them the most profound knowledge of God. Although “knowledge,” is not categorically singled out in homily 63, in particular, it may be assumed that the description of creation’s increasing love for God equally implies their growing in knowledge of God. In fact, the principle that love for God translates to the knowledge of Him is central to Jacob of Sarug’s exegetical method. In his “On Elisha and on the King of Moab,” Jacob writes: “And (Scripture) says to you: If you read in me carelessly, I shall be reluctant to reveal any of my wisdom to you. Either love me, open, read and see my splendors, or do not read at all; for if you do not love me, you shall not benefit.” 12 Scripture only reveals its wisdom to those who read it with love. Yet it is not simply human love that guides proper exegesis but human love illuminated by divine love. 13 In this way, Jacob’s understanding Lines 287–8. Ibid., 309–310. 11 Mansour identified these conditions in his work: Tanios Bou Mansour, La théologie de Jacques de Saroug, vol. 2 (Kaslik, Liban: Université Saint-Esprit, 2000). 12 Hansbury, “Love as an exegetical principle in Jacob of Sarug,” p. 354. 13 Ibid., p. 360. 9

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

of fruitful exegesis complements homily 63’s teaching that the loving disposition of the Christian faithful is inflamed and overwhelmed by the magnitude of God’s love: “All repayment offered to you, is from you, how and when can creation repay you, Lord of all?” 14

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Lines 31–2.

TEXT AND TRANSLATION

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

MEMRA 63

ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY AND OF THE 1

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JUST TOWARDS GOD

My Lord, the world is inadequate to profess your grace, and your infinite compassion is greater than creation. The heavens and the earth along with the angels and humanity, are insufficient to glorify you because of your love. When the hidden and manifest worlds profess you with much agitation, their requital is inadequate. Your good favors cannot be repaid by your creations, because your good will itself exceeds all repayment. While all creatures ceaselessly praise you,

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܝܫܐ ܳܡܪ ̱ܝ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܰܕܩ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܩܘܒ‬ ‫ܺܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܐ ‪.‬ܣܓ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ܆ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫�ܘܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܺܕܟܐܢ̈ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫‪1‬‬

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‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܙܥܘܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܒܘܬܟ܆‬ ‫ܘܕܐ ܳܠܟ ܳܡܪ ̱ܝ ܥܠ ܛ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫��ܬܐ ܘ� ܶܡܣܬ ܰ�ܟ܀‬ ‫ܕܪܒ ̱ܗܘ ܚ�ܢܟ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܝܐ ܘܐܪܥܐ ܐܦ ܡ�ܟܐ ܘܒ��ܢܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܒܟ ܳ� ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܟ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰܢܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦܝܢ ܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܓ� ̈� ܶܙ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܓܠܝܢ ܰܟܕ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܢ ܳܠܟ܆‬ ‫ܥ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܙܘܥܐ ܪܒܐ ܣ ܺܓܝ ܙܥܘܪܝܢ ܦܘ��ܢܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܽ ̈ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܘܒܠܝܟ ܛܒܐ � ܡܬܦܪܥܝܢ ܡܢ ܒ��ܬܟ܆‬ ‫ܒ� ܳܢܟ ܳܛ ܳܒܐ ܳܥ ܶܠܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܕܗܘ ܶܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�� ܺܢܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ̈ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܚܬܟ܆‬ ‫ܟ�ܢܐ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܟܕ � ܢܫ�ܘܢ ܡܢ ܬ‬

‫‪B769‬‬

‫‪770‬‬

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

they are also indebted to you, because humankind is inadequate to repay you. Whenever the angels in the heights and humanity in the depths praise you, the common debt still remains unpaid. Whenever the earth, the world, the sea, and all creation glorify you, they too are inadequate. Gabriel’s angels and the legions of Michael’s angels, thousands of ranks and assemblies excelling in their praises. The assemblies of fire and the spiritual orders excelling in their shouts of joy, the yoked cherubim and the stirrings of the rational wheels. Thousands of fires and wings ablaze, extended heights and all the heavenly assemblies. The firmament in its beauty with the luminaries arrayed in it, the sun in its splendor and the rays of its potency. The moon in its course and the stars in the array of their count, all the air, the blasts of the winds stirring within it. The great sea and the thick fog encircling it, the gathered abysses and all the creeping things that dwell therein. The earth and its fords, and the many who populate it, the nations, uttermost ends, all the races and their dominions. 1 If all these had but one mouth,

1

Cf. Psalm 148.

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܝܢ ܳܠܟ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܬܘܒ ܳܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ� ܳܢܟ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ � ܳܣ ܶܦܩ܀‬ ‫ܺܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܘܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ܳܡܐ ܰܕܗ ܶܠ ̱ܘ ܳܠܟ܆‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܳܕ� ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܓ ܳܘܐ ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܳܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ� ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܚ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܘܥ�ܡܐ ܘ�ܡܐ ܘܐܐܪ ܥܡ ܟ�ܒ��ܢ܆‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܰܒܚ ̱ܘ ܳܠܟ ܽܬܘܒ ܰܚ ܳܝ ܺܒܝܢ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳܒܚܘ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܝܬ ܰܓ ܺ‬ ‫ܓܝܘܢ̈ܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪ�ܶܠ ܰ�ܥܡ ܶܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟܐܝܠ܆‬ ‫ܕܒܝܬ ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܺ ܶ ܶ ̈ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܐܠܦܐ ܣܕܝ�ܐ ܘܟܢܫܐ ܦ�ܝܫܐ ܒܗ‬ ‫ܽܓ ̈ܘ ܰܕܝ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܰܕ�ܝ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰܒܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܺ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܓܝ̈ܓ� ̈ܡ ܳ�ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܟ�ܘܒܐ ܟܕܝܢܐ ܘܙܘܥܐ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ ̈ܶ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠܦܐ ܕܢܘܪܐ ܘܓܦܐ ܫܓܝ�ܐ ܕܫ�ܗܒܝܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܺ ̈ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܶ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܢܫܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܡܬ�ܚܐ ܘܟ�ܗܘܢ ܟ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳ ̈�ܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܗ ܰܥܡ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܶܝ�ܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܶܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܰܺ ̈ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܕ� ܺܙ ܽܝܙܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܫܡܫܐ ܒܙܝܘܗ ܘܐܦ ܙ�ܝܩܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܒܐ ܒܣܕܪܐ ܕܡܢܝ�ܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܣܗܪܐ ܒܪܗܛܗ ܘܟ‬ ‫ܳܰ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܐܪ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܘܡܫܒܐ ܕ�ܘܚܐ ܕܡܬܬܙܝܥܝܢ ܒܗ܀‬ ‫�ܦ ܶ� ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܳܐܦ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܟ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܢ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܒܝܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܰ�ܪ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈ܳܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܺܓܝܐܝܢ ܳܒ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܘܥܒ� ̇ܝܗ ܘܒ��ܢܫܐ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ̈ܘ ܶܦܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܛ ̈‬ ‫ܐܘܚܕ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܡܐ ܽܘ ̈‬ ‫ܡܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܥ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗܠܝܢ ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܰܚܕ ܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐܠܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܪ ܳܒܐ܆‬

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

whose words cried glory unto you, it would not repay you. All repayment offered to you, is from you, how and when can creation repay you, Lord of all? 2 If the chariot, shuddering, thunders to bless you, its yoke is yours and it offers you glory from yourself. If the seraph offers you a holy proclamation from its lips, its holy proclamation, its voice, and its shuddering and wings are yours. If the arrays of fire tremble at your glory, they were laid out by you and their praises are not their own. If the angel continually sings your praise, Its mouth was so fashioned by your knowledge to glorify you. If Gabriel, alert, hastens to serve you, his swift nature and the elegance of his speed are yours. If Michael flies to accomplish your will, you granted him his flight, haste, and spiritual existence. If the sun glorifies you in its path’s course, its light, radiance and rays are yours, my Lord. If the moon magnifies and professes you, Illuminator of all, you made it bountiful in both its phases and its course. If the stars glorify you in their lights’ course,

2

Cf. 1 John 4:7.

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܘ ܳܬܟ ܳܠܟ ܳ� ܰܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܟ܀‬ ‫ܘܩܥܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽܟܠ ܽܦܘܪ�ܢܐ ܕܡܬܩܪܒ ܠܟ ܡܢ ܕܝܠܟ ̱ܗܘ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܐ ܳܠܟ ܳܡ ܶܪܐ ܽܟܠ܀‬ ‫ܐܡܬ ̱ܝ ܦܪܥܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܡ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܳܪ ܽܟܘ܆‬ ‫ܐܢ ܡܪܟ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܠܟ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܟܕܝܢܐ ܘܠܟ ܡܢ ܕܝܠܟ �ܗܒܐ ܫܘܒܚܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܘܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܐܢ ܢܶܬܠ ܳ�ܠܟ ܣܪܦܐ ܩܘܕܫܐ ܡܢ ܣ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ̈ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܫܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܠܗ ܰܘܙ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܟ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܘܓܦܘ ̱ܗܝ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܺ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܚܬܟ܆‬ ‫ܐܢ ܡܬܬܙܝܥܝܢ ܣܕ�ܝ ܢܘܪܐ ܥܠ�ܬ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܘ ܶܡܢ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ ܽܗܘ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳܒܟ ܽܗܘ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ̱ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܢ ܡ�ܟܐ ܢܙܡܪ ܫܘܒܚܟ ܟܕ � ܫ�܆‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ �ܫܘܒܚܟ ܠܟ ܒܝܕܥܬܟ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰܓ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܡܫܬܟ܆‬ ‫ܒܪ�ܶܠ ܳܪ ܶܗܛ ܰܟܕ ܺܥܝܪ ܰܥܠ�ܬ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܟ�ܢܶܗ ܰܕܩ ܺܠܝܠ ܘܫܘܦܪܐ ܕܪܗܛܗ ܕ‬ ‫ܝܠܟ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܟܐܝܠ ܛܐܤ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܺܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܥܘܪ ܽܟܠ ܶ�ܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܰ�ܝ̈ܟ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܳܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܢܝܬܝ ̱ܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܛܘܣܐ ܘܚܐܦܐ ܘܪܘܚܢܘܬ ܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܳ� ܶܗܒ ܳܠܟ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܗܛܐ ܽܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܗ܆‬ ‫ܝܠܟ ܽܗܘ ܳܡܪܝ ܽܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܨ ܶ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܡܚܗ ܐܦ ܰܙ�ܝ̈ ܰܩ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܶܕ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܣܓܐ ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ ܳܠܟ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܰܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܐ ܽܢܗܘ ܰܕܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܗܪ ܽܟܠ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫ ̈‬ ‫ܪܬܝ ̱ܗܝ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ� ܶܦܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܢ̱ܬ ܐܥܬ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰܢܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܟ ܰܟܘܟܒܐ ܒܪܗܛܐ ܰܕܢ ܺܗܝ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܆‬

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55

60

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

Their forms’ ordered brightness is not theirs. If the sea is strengthened by its waves that sing to you, its immense profusion is enclosed in the hollow of your hand, and is not sufficient for you. If the abyss offers glory with the monsters, whatever it may possess to offer you, is from you. The evenings and mornings that praise you in turn, the swift running of their courses is yoked to you. If the day lauds you with its light, Illuminator of all, you clothed it in a garment of light that is not its own. If the tranquil night professes your grace, it does not offer you anything from itself. Whoever raises glory to you belongs to you and whatever he offers you is not his. All creatures are insufficient to repay you, so that they would not be able to approach your greatness without you. And if all these were not able to repay you, then humankind is much impoverished to repay you. All those compensations are weak unto God, because humankind remains beholden to God, however much it may magnify and offer to him. For however long, wherever, and by whatever means he requites good favors,

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‫‪55‬‬

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܣܕ ܳܝܪܐ ܶܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܠܘ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶܕ ܳܢܚܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ� ܶܙ ܐ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܠ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܕ ܰܢܙ ܰܡܪ ܳܠܟ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܠܟ ܰܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܚܒܝܫ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܘ� ܳܣ ܶܦܩ ܳܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܢ ܶܣܩ ܰܥܡ ܬ ܺ� ̈�ܢܶܐ܆‬ ‫ܐܢ ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܟ ̱ܗܘ ܟܠ ܡܐ ܕܐܝܬ ܠܗ ܕܢܫܕܪ ܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܘܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰܢܗܠܽܘܢ ܳܠܟ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ� ܰܦܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܺ ܺ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܺ�ܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܽܕܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܠܟ ̱ܗܘ ܟܕܝܢܝܢ �‬ ‫ܒܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܳܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܶܠܤ ܳܠܟ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܗܪ ܽܟܠ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܽܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܘ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܽ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫�ܒܫܬܝ ̱ܗܝ ܢ‬ ‫ܐܢ̱ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܬܘܒ ܠ�ܝܐ ܒܫ�ܝܐ ܢܘܕܐ ܥܠ ܛܝܒܘܬܟ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ � ܐܝܬ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܕ ܰܢܩ ܶܪܒ ܳܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܠܗ ܡܢ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܶܰ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܢܟܠ ܐܝܢܐ ܕܢܣܩ ܫܘܒܚܐ ܕܝܠܟ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐܝܬ ܡ ܶܕܡ ܕܐܝܬ ܠܗ ܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܕܢܩܪܒ ܠܟ܀‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩܝܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܟ�ܢܶܐ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ̈‬ ‫ܘ�� ܰܢܝܟ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܳܐ� ܺ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠܟ ܳ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܚܝܢ ܶܨܝܕ ܰܪ ܽܒܘܬܟ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܐ ܽܠܘ ܰܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥܘܟ ܰܟܕ � ܰܡ ܳܨ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܨܝܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣܐ ܕܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�� ܰܢܝܟ܀‬ ‫ܡܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܽܟܠ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܨܝܕ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ�� ܺܢܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܕܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓܐ ܘܢܶܬܠ ܶ�ܠܗ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܬܘܒ ܰܚ ܳܝܒ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ̈ ܶ ̈ܶܳ‬ ‫� ܰܡܬ ̱ܝ ܘܐܝܟܐ ܘܒܡܘܢ ܦܪܥ ܚܘܒ� ܛܒܐ܆‬

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75

80

85

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

Adam is diligent in his repayment to God. The Righteous crowded, from one generation to another so that they might repay the good rewards of the Lord with their offerings. Abel chose the firstborn and fatty animal from his flock, 3 He purified himself, separated, and sacrificed it, in order to make an offering. He honored the Lord with his whole sacrifice, which he brought to him, and his offering entered before the Greatness through his own blood. Enosh was diligent in his time as a discerning person; he began calling the Lord’s name in order to glorify him. 4 He was set apart and taught the people of his age how to give praise with words so that they would call the Lord’s name at all times. His love brimmed discerningly with his Lord’s love, and he justly offered praises at distinct times. He appointed the morning and evening for calling upon God’s name in order to fasten his life to spiritual possessions. He opened the earth’s mouth and taught it to call the Lord’s name every day and night. Enoch also persisted in elevated and divine virtues, refining himself with holiness and purity. 5 He excelled in his resplendent and pure conduct,

Cf. Genesis 4:4, and Hebrews 11:4. Cf. Genesis 4:26. 5 Cf. Hebrews 11:5; and Genesis 5:18–24. 3 4

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܬܟ ܰܫܪ ܰܥܠ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܶܪܗ ܳܐ ܳܕܡ ܰܟܕ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ� ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܕ ܺ�ܝܢ ܳܕ ܺ�ܝܢ ܶܐ ܽܠܘ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܒ� ̱ܘ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܟܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ̱ܘ܆‬ ‫ܘܒ�ܘ̈ܗܝ ܳܛ ̈ܶܒܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܫ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܦܪܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽܚ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܓܒܐ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܗ ܶܒܝܠ ܽܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ�ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܡ ̈� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܕ�ܢ̈ܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܦܪܫ ܰܘܕ ܰܒܚ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܙܕ ܺܗܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܳܪ ܽܒܘ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕܐܝܬܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܩܪܗ �ܡܪ�ܐ ܒܕܒܚܐ ܫ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܩܘܪܒܢܗ ܒܕܡܐ ܕܢܦܫܗ ܩܕܡ ܪܒܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܶܪܗ ܳܐ ܽܢܘܫ ܰܐܝܟ ܳܦ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܰܫܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܥ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܩ� ܰܠܒܢ̈ܝ ܳܕ ܶܪܗ܆‬ ‫ܦܪܫ ̱ܗܘܐ ܘܐܠܦ ܫܘܒܚܐ‬ ‫ܒܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܳܩ ܶܪܝܢ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫�� ܳ ̈ܕ ܺܢܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳܽ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܬܚ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܒܪܚܡܬ ܡܪܗ ܦܪ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳ ̈ܕ ܢܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܦ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܚܐ ܰ� ̱ܗܒ ܺܟ ܳܐܢܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܪܫ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܦ�ܐ ܰܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܶܫܡ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܣܪܘܓ ܰܚ ܰ�ܘ̈ܗܝ ܰܥܠ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ� ܢܶܐ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ�ܝܶܐ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠܦ ̇ܗ ܕܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̇ܗ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܦܬܚ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ܆‬ ‫ܽܗܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡ ̈ܶܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܝ̈ ܰ� ܳܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ ܳ� ܶܡܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܢܘܟ ܬܘܒ ܰ� ܺܙܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܗ�̈ܶܐ܆‬ ‫ܰܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܨܠܠ ܢܦܫܗ ܒܩܕܝܫܘܬ ܐ ܘܒܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ̈ ܰ ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬ�ܬܪ ̱ܗܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܒܕܘܒ�ܐ ܙܗ�ܐ ܘܢܩܕܐ ܐ‬

‫‪773‬‬

18 90

95

100

105

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

and he pleased God with his ideas that were full of love. He grew strong through refined and cleansed thoughts, and he lived purely without concerns or anger. He lived without worldly impulses in creation, And he pleased God for three-hundred years, heeding him. Not in sleep or in wakefulness was any blemish ever seen in him, nor any remiss thoughts that inclined towards the world. Heeding the Lord every day for three hundred years, he abided in his virtue and was not sullied by faults. Noah also rose and beheld the iniquity of an evil generation, and he wove a garment for righteousness in a bodily manner. 6 He was armored in uprightness and innocence, so that, if he encountered sin, it would not assail his body. He saw how much his generation’s fornication had increased, so he set aside chastity to defeat it. He saw how every man had corrupted his path with impure adultery, and being shaken, the distinguished one would not even approach marriage. He saw the [human] nature that stumbled and fell from rectitude, and stood above it, persisting in his virginity. For five hundred years, he turned his face from marriage

6

Cf. Genesis 6, 7:1.

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‫‪95‬‬

‫‪100‬‬

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ ܳܶ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ � ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒ�ܥ�ܢܐ ܕܡܠܝܢ ܚܘܒܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܐ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�� ܰܘܢ ̈‬ ‫ܘܒܚܘܫܒܐ ܡܨ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܺܒܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܘܕ� ܨܦܬܐ ܘܕ� ܪܘܓܙ ܐ ܚܝܐ ܕܟܝܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܕ� ܙܘܥܐ ܥ�ܡ�ܝܐ ܥܡܪ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܡܐܐ ܫܢ̈ܝܢ ܫܦܪ ��ܗܐ ܟܕ ܚܐܪ ܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܬܗ ܳܘ� ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܶܒܗ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܘܬܶܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܕܐܦ� ܒܫ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ� ܚܘܫܒܐ ܪܦܝܐ ܕܨ� �ܥ�ܡܐ ܡܡܬܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢ̈ܝܢ ܰܟܕ ܳܚܐܰܪ ܶܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽܟ�ܝܘܡ܆‬ ‫ܬܡܐܐ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܘ� � ܐ܀‬ ‫ܩܘܝ ܒܫܘܦܪܗ ܘ� ܐܫܬܚܡ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܽܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܩܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܬܘܒ ܽܢܘܚ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ܕܕ ܪܐ ܒܝܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܰܺ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܙܩܪ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܡ ܳܢܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܒܫ ̇ܗ �ܙ ܕܝܩܘܬ ܐ ܓ‬ ‫ܶܰܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܐܙܕ�ܢ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܬܪܝܨܘܬ ܐ ܘܬܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܛ ܳܗܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܗ ܐܢ ܳܦ ܰܓܥ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܕ� ܢܛܪܐ ̱ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܕܒܢ̈ܝ ܳܕ ܪܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܓܝ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܶܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ܆‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܙܢܝ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܬܘܠܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܕܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓ ܳܒܐ ܕܠ ̇ܗ ܢܶܙܟܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܶܒܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܟܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ ܒܓܘܪܐ ܛܡܐܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܳܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦ� ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪܘܒ ܶܨܝܕ ܽܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܘ ܳܓܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܙܥ ܦܪܘܫܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܟ� ܳܢܐ ܰܕܫܪܥ ܘܢܦܠ ܡܢ ܘܠܝܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ�ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܳܩܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܢܟܬܪ ܒܒܬܘܠܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܦܢܝ ܰܐ ܰܦܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܶܡܢ ܽܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܢ̈ܝܢ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܘ ܳܓܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܡܐܐ‬

‫‪774‬‬

20 110

115

120

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

because he saw how adultery was mingled with conjugal intercourse. He kept to his virginity for five hundred years, and then a revelation led him to marry in order to reproduce for an opportunity. On his own, he pleased and consoled the earth with his righteousness, and after the desolation of the whole world, it was again resettled by him. He separated out sacrifices and supplied the altar with burnt offerings, and he was a substitute, in his time, for the world that had been consumed. Melchizedek then rose and was filled with spiritual virtue, a great priest and king of all righteousness. 7 Instead of animals, he sacrificed his ideas before the great One, and instead of burnt offerings he immolated his thoughts to God. Before God, he offered his soul spiritually, every prayer is an undefiled sacrifice. With a pure soul he honored the Lord with discernment, as he was not tainted by the blood of the bodily sacrifices. He offered God his vows inwardly and with love, he secretly [offered] to the Hidden one hidden gifts that please him. His mind was made into a great censer for the Godhead, and the smell of the love for the Lord was rising from him instead of sweet spices. His ephod and miter were truth and beauty,

7

Cf. Genesis 14:18–19; Psalm 110:4; and Hebrews 7:1–17.

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‫‪115‬‬

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܫܘܬ ܽܦܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܚܠܝܛ ܓܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰܕ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܡܐܐ ܫܢ̈ܝܢ ܳܩܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܕܪܓܐ ܕܒܬ‬ ‫ܘܓܗ ܰܕܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܦܪܐ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܢ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫�� ܳܢܐ ܰܙ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܳ ܰ ܳ ܰܺ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܘܒܝ ̇ܐܗ �ܪܥܐ ܒܙ ܕܝܩܘܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܘܕ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ�ܬܒ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܬܪ ܕܚܪܒ ܥ�ܡܐ ܟܠܗ ܒܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ̈ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܣܝ ܥܠܬܐ ܒܝܩܕܐ ܫ�ܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܦܪܫ ̱ܗܘܐ ܕܒܚܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܦܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ܒܕ ܪܗ ܚ�‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܩܡ ܰܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܝܙܕܩ ܘܡ� ܫܘܦ�ܐ � ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ�ܝܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܪܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܽܕܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܕ ܺܙ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰܚ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܚ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܪ ܽܒܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰ� ̈‬ ‫ܢܟܤ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰܒܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ � ܳ� ܽܗܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܐܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܐ�ܗܐ ܢܦܫܗ ܟܗܢ ܪ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܟܠ ܒܨܠܘܬ ܐ ܕܐܝܬ ̇ܝܗ ܕܒܚܐ ܕ� ܪܗܡܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳܽ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܩܕܗ �ܡܪ�ܐ ܦܪ‬ ‫ܒܢܦܫܐ ܕܟ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܦ�ܦܠ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡܐ ܶܕܕ ̈‬ ‫ܒܚܐ ܦܓ� ܳ�ܝܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓܘ ܰ� ̱ܗܒ ܰ� ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܢܶܕ� ̱‬ ‫ܣܝܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܟܣ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܝܐ ܰܕ ̈ܫܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚܝܢ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܝܕ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܕܥܗ ��ܗܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܶܗ ܽ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܬ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܒܗ ܰܡܥܛܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܽܢܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܩܘܫܬܐ ܘܗ‬ ‫ܦܕܬܗ ܘܟ‬ ‫�ܘܗ ܐܝܬ ̱‬

‫‪775‬‬

22 130

135

140

145

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

thus his garment was his mouth’s unceasing praises. To hidden Lord, for whom sacrifices are never tasted, he was sacrificing every thanksgiving beloved to him. He knew that the Lord cannot be honored except by love, and with it, he was prepared in holiness to act as a priest to him. The king who subjected all raging passions and did not struggle in any other battle. Abraham then rose, the friend of truth, and the good servant, who also established a community of faithful in his time. 8 He left his homeland and followed the Lord according to his call, he left his people in order to draw near to God. He went forth as an exile and did not tire, for the next world was depicted before him, that he would depart to it. He was kindled with the love for God as though in a fire, and through the love of God he burned every worldly love. He bound his only son to the altar as a sacrifice, and sharpened the blade to sacrifice the innermost affections to the Lord. 9 He was tried, showing with a fire and a blade, with whom his love lies between men and God. The bonds of his only son were a trial of his love,

8 9

Cf. Genesis 25:7, 24:1, 28:4. Cf. Genesis 22:9–10.

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰܽ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܕ� ܳܫ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܦܘܕܗ ܕܝܢ ܫܘܒܚܐ ܕܦ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܣܝܐ ܶܕܕ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܒܚܐ ܶܡܡܬܘܡ � ܺ‬ ‫ܛܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܰܒܚ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܟܠ�ܬܘܕ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ�ܕܥܶܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶܕܐ� ܽ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ � ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ� ܰܩܪ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܐܬܛܝܒ ܕܢܟܗܢ ܠܗ ܩܕ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܚ ̈ܫܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܝ��ܶܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬܘܒ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܟܬܫ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܩܪ ܳܒܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ ܢܐ � ܥܠ ܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕܐ ܛ ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܩܡ ܐܒܪܗܡ ܪܚܡܐ ܕܩܘܫܬܐ ܘܥ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܙܒܢܶܗ ܐܦ ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܓܒܐ ܕܗܝܡܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܝ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܐܪܦܝ ܐܬܪܗ ܘܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣܗ ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰܪܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܗ ܶܠܟ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܳܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ܳ�ܐ ܳܘ� ܶܡܐܢܰ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ ܺܨܝܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܕ ܰܢܫܢܶܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܒܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܬ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܓ ܰܘܙܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܢ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܶܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܶ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܺܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚܐ܆‬ ‫ܝܕ�ܶܗ ܦܟܪ ܒܥܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܐ ܰܕ� ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܣܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܕܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܛܫ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܘܚ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ�ܣܝ ̱ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܣܟܝܢܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܚܘܝ ܒܢܘܪܐܰ ܘ ܰ ܰ ̣‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ܳܪ ܶܚܡ ܐܘ ܰ� ̈ܒ ܰ� ܳܝܐ ܐܘ � ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܦܟ ܳܪܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܝܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܺ� ܺܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕ ܳ�ܐ܆‬

‫‪776‬‬

24 150

155

160

165

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

his soul’s perception was an altar that he built and the fire that he lit. His wife was taken, his land was far and his child was bound and he did not suffer for these because he loved his Lord. Isaac rose, who also grew in virtue and was instructed by divine thoughts. 10 His soul was filled with faith and meekness, and he was girded with justice and rectitude. He hated quarrels, and even at the cost of his life, he would not be provoked to anger, 11 he loved peace and tranquility and was virtuous in deed. Jacob also began with a righteous course, and in his time, was a good laborer for faith. He hated wealth because of the hope of what is to come, and he left his land to gain a blessing while fleeing. 12 Because his pure soul was worthy for a great vision, a revelation full of wonder stirred and he was illuminated by it. 13 Because he was holy enough to be a shrine for God, the divine presence of the high One descended upon him in sanctity. His soul was limpid, and his prayer pure and full of symbols, 14 his love was innocent, awed and fastened to God. In his time, Job was also distinguished by faith

Cf. Genesis 25:11, 26:2–5; and Galatians 4:28. Cf. Genesis 26:12–25. 12 Cf. Genesis 28:1–5. 13 Cf. Genesis 28:10–17. 14 Cf. Genesis 32:9–12. 10 11

‫‪25‬‬ ‫‪150‬‬

‫‪155‬‬

‫‪160‬‬

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢܐ ܽܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܕܠܩ܀‬ ‫ܛܥܡܬܐ ܕܢܦܫܗ ܥܠ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܰܐܢܬܬܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܺܚܝܩ ܐܬܪܗ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܦܟܝܪ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܕܗ܆‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ � ܳܚܐܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܕܪܚܡ ̱ܗܘܐ �ܡܪ�ܐ ܒܟ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܚܩ ܳܕܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܩܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫܘܦܪܐ ܐܬܪ ܺܒܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢܐ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗ�̈ܶܐ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܰܪܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ݀ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟܘܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܠܬ ܢܦܫܗ ܗܝܡܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܰܰ ̣ ܳ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܚܙܩ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܙ ܕܝܩܘܬ ܐ ܘܒܬܪܝܨܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܕ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܳܘ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚܡܬ܆‬ ‫ܘܣܢܐ �ܗ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܡ ܫܝܢܐ ܘܢܝܚ ܘܡܝܬܪ ܒܥܒܝܕܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ܺܪܝ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪܗܛܐ ܰܕܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܥܩܘܒ ܐܦ ܗܘ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܽܢܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܙܒܢܶܗ ܳܦܥ� ܛ ܳܒܐ �ܗ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܕܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܬܪ ܐ ܶܡܛܠ ܣܒܪܐ ܕܥܬ‬ ‫ܘܣܢܐ ܥ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܩ ܐܬܪܗ ܽܕܒܘܪܟܬܐ ܰܢܩ ܶܕܐ ܰܟܕ ܳ� ܶܪܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ܳܙܘܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܕܫܘ�ܐ ̱ܗܘܬ ܢܦܫܗ ܕܟ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܰܬܗܪܐ ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܰܗܪ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܕܠ�ܓ��ܢܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܕܩ ܺܕܝܫ ̱ܗܘܐ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܢܘܣܐ ��ܗܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܳܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܬ ̣ܬ ݀ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܩܕ‬ ‫ܫܟܝܢܬܗ ܕܪܡܐ ܢ‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܟܝܐ ܨܠܘܬܗ ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܰܘܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܝܐ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܐ̱� ܙܶ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܬ ܺܡܝܡ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣܝܪ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܟܦ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܽܢܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܙܒܢܶܗ ܐ ܽ�ܘܒ ܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܰܢܨܚ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܗ‬

‫‪777‬‬

26 170

175

180

185

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

and rose heroically in the contest of righteousness. 15 A great calamity struck him and he was valiant in his bravery, so that time would show his virtue through a trial of fire. 16 He abounded in integrity and rectitude, And caused the virtue of his righteousness to shine forth in the whole world. He entered into battle and became renowned by it, for he was valorous, the depths of the ocean encompassed him, and without collapsing he triumphed. The forces of the adversary encircled him, and when he was struck he did not fall, for he was courageous. 17 Despite all evil’s flaming arrows that pierced him, he did not succumb to the many blows because he was valorous. 18 The virtues concealed in his soul for God were strengthened through visible illnesses that his body endured. 19 The world was unaware of his interior wealth, after he had been tested by poverty, everyone learnt of it. Joseph also pursued a great path of righteousness, and he became a mirror full of virtues in the world. He strove against lust through his love for the Lord, and because his love for the Lord increased in him, desire was defeated. He sprinkled his love of the High One upon the fire of the youth,

Cf. Job 1:20–22, 2:10, 12, 23, 26, 28, 40. Cf. Job 17. 17 Cf. Job 1:13–19. 18 Cf. Job 27:1–6. 19 Cf. Job 2:1–8. 15 16

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ ܳܩܡ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܐ ܰܕܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܺܙܝ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܟ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܓܥ ܶܒܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܺܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܣܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܘܝ ܽܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܢܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܪܗ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܦ� ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ�ܬܪ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܬܡܝܡܘܬ ܐ ܘܒܬܪܝܨܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܐ ܰܕܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬܶܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܨܡܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܡܗ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܠ ܳܝ� ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܥܠ�ܠܩܪܒܐ ܘܒܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܕܪܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܘ ܳܕ� ܢܦܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ� ܺܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܕܒܥܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܕ ܳܪܐ܆‬ ‫ܪܟ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܒ ܰܠܥ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ� ܳܢ ܶܦܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫�ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܐܫܬ ܰܦܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܗܝ �ܩܕܐ ܕܒ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܓܐ� ̱‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ� ܳܚܐܶܒ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕܟ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܽܒܘ ܰܡ ̈ܚ ܳܘܢ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܣ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܓܪܗ ܐܫܬ ܰܪܪ ̱ܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܐܒܐ ܓ�ܝܐ ܕܣܝܒܪ ܦ‬ ‫ܒܟ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܓܝܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܒܗ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓܘ ܕ� ܺ‬ ‫ܽܥܘܬܪܗ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܽܢܘܬ ܐ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܺܣܝ ܶ‬ ‫�ܦܗ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢܫ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܳܐܦ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣܦ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ܰܪܒܬܐ ܰܕܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ܒܥ�ܡܐ ܐܝܟ ܡܚܙ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܘܩܒܠ ܪ ܓܬܐ ܒܪܚܡܬ ܡܪ�ܐ ܡܬܟܬܫ ̱ܗܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܓܬܐ ܳܚ ܰܒ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܕܣܓܝܬ ܒܗ ܪܚܡܬ ܡܪ�ܐ ܪ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ̣ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܘܒܗ ܕܪܡܐ ܪܤ ܥܠ ܢܘܪ ̇ܗ ܕܥܠܝܡܘܬ ܐ܆‬

‫‪778‬‬

28 190

195

200

205

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

and it was extinguished from him, for he was inflamed with love. He considered holiness a treasure full of riches, and remained watchful that it might not be snatched from his members. He feared adultery as one does a serpent’s nest, and fled from it so that all who become chaste might imitate him. 20 He observed chastity throughout his youth with its disorderly impulses, so that the youth might observe him and cease from their injurious ways. He heeded God and his soul was filled with a great light, he saw a trap and jumped, passing over it without falling in. Moses also rose, did virtuous works with God, and established a faithful group, as much as he could. 21 He exceeded in the great virtue of meekness and approached God through faith. 22 He shone and was purified and shone brilliantly until he became a chosen vessel for prophecy, so that it might be abundantly effected through him. 23 He possessed deep knowledge of his soul’s love for God, until He made him like the steward for all his treasure. He loved the Lord’s people through torment and persecution, And he lifted their disgrace and left behind all of Egypt’s riches. 24 Pinhas rose, accomplished a feat with the adulterers,

Cf. Genesis 39:1–12. Cf. Exodus 17:2. 22 Cf. Exodus 3:4. 23 Cf. Exodus 34:35 24 Cf. Exodus 12–14. 20 21

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܟ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܥܠ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܓ ܰܘܙܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܩ ܺܕ ܽܝܫܘܬ ܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܪ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܒ ̇ܗ ܺܣ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܺܥܝܪ ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ̇ܗ ܳܕ� ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܠܨ ܶܡܢ ܰܗ ̈ܕ ܰܡ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܕܚܠ ܶܡܢ ܰܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܡܢ ܶܩ ܳܢܐ ܰܕ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܚܘ ܳܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫�ܡܢ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܽܕܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܟܦ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܶܡܐ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܬ ܰܙ ̈ܘܥܶܐ܆‬ ‫ܢܛܪ ܙܗ�ܘܬ ܐ ܒܥܠܝܡ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܽܢܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܘܪܘܢ ܶܒܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥ�ܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܘܢܶܫ�ܘܢ ܡܢ ܽܣܘܓܦܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܚܪ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܠ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܕ� ܢܶ ܶܦܠ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܚܙ ܐ ܠܦܚܐ ܘܫܘܪ ܥ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܡ ܐܦ ܡܘܫܐ ܘܦܠܚ ܫܦܝܪ ܥܡ ܐ�ܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܰܓ ܳܒܐ �ܗܝܡܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ�ܬܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܡܟܝܟܘܬ ܐ ܫܘܦܪܐ ܪܡܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܰܳ ܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰܪܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܨܝܕ ܐ�ܗܐ ܒܗܝܡܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܡ ܳܐܢܐ ܰܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܙܕ ܺܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܐ܆‬ ‫ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܺܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܒܗ ܬܫܬ ܰܡܫ ܰܥܬ ܳܝܪܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܠܢܒܝܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܰܕܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܓ ܺܘܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܰܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܓ ܶܙܗ܀‬ ‫ܥܕܡܐ ܕܥܒܕܗ ܐܝܟ ܪܒܒ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܶܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܚܡ ܽܒܐܘ�ܨ ܢܐ ܘܒܪܕܝܦܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܐܪܦܝ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܕܗ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܶܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬܪ ܐ ܽܕܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܙ ܳ�ܝ̈ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܢܚܤ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܩܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܳܢܐ܆‬

‫‪779‬‬

30 210

215

220

225

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

and his zeal showed how close it was to God. His deed testified to how vigilant his thoughts were, For, with his righteousness, he drove out adultery from the camp. 25 Observe his deed and learn from him who, out his love, took great pains to remove the evil within his nation. His soul was holy, resplendent and hated adultery, and he cast down the adulterers with his sword so that evil might cease. He rose through prayer and hindered death from reaching many, and after he killed two, he delivered thousands from destruction. The just Joshua Bar Nun was also a virtuous man, who was a perfect disciple to the great and resplendent One. 26 He also desired the love of [eternal] life to be become resplendent in him, and in perfection, thus, to approach God. He preserved his purity by serving the tabernacle, and for the nation, he was a second Moses with God. 27 He struggled to establish the word of God in the nations, 28 and the wonders he performed made known how lofty were his virtues. 29 Jephthah then appeared who was also filled with faith, Not weakening with respect to justice in the time that he served. He sacrificed his daughter in order not to break his oath to God, 30

Cf. Number 25:6–12. Cf. Joshua 1:9, 5:15. 27 Cf. Joshua 11:15. 28 Cf. Joshua 1:10–18, Joshua 24. 29 Cf. Joshua 3. 30 Cf. Judges 11. 25 26

‫‪31‬‬ ‫‪210‬‬

‫‪215‬‬

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‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܘܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ�ܢܶܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܩ ܺܪܝܒ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܶܕܗ ܳܣ ܶܗܕ ܰܥܠ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܺܥܝܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܕܛܪܕ ܓܘܪܐ ܡܢ ܡܫܪ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܪ ܢܶܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܶܗ ܺ� ܰܠܦ ܶܡܛܠ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܳ�ܨܶܦ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܕܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܺܒܝܫܬܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܢܝܐ ܰܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܗ�ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܩ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܰܘܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܙ ܳ�ܝ̈ܶܐ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܒܝܫܬܐ ܬܒܛܠ܀‬ ‫ܪܡܝ ܒܚܪܒܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܩܡ ܒܨܠܘܬ ܐ ܘܟ� ܡܘܬ ܐ ܡܢ ܣܓܝܐܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦܐ ܰܦ ܺܨܝ ܳܕ� ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚܪܒܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܬܪܝܢ ܕܩܛܠ ܐ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܶ ܽܫܘܥ ܰܒ ܽܪܢܘܢ ܺܟ ܳܐܢܐ ܕܐܦ ܗܘ ܫܦܝܪܐ ̱ܗܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܓܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܗܘ ܰܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳܒܐ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܗ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܒܐ ܳܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܶܕܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܬ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ� ܰܨܚ ܶܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰܪܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܓܡܝܪ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܬܫܡܫܬܗ ܕܡܫܟܢܙܒܢܐ ܢܛܪ ܕܟܝܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܢܩܝܶܡ܆‬ ‫ܐܬܟܬܫ ̱ܗܘܐ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ̈ܝ� ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܥܪ ܐ ܰܘܕܥ ̱ܘ ܽܫܘܦ�ܘܗܝ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܪ ܺܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ ̱ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܺܘܝ ܰܢܦܬܚ ܳܕܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܡ� ̱ܗܘܐ ܗܝܡܢܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܶܡܫ ܳ� ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܺܦܝ ܶܡܢ ܺܟ ܽܐܢܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܶܪܗ ܳ� ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܒܪܬܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦܘܟ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܕܒܚ ̱ܗܘܐ ܕܡ‬

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and behold, he is becoming and set amongst with the illustrious in righteousness. Gideon was watchful and Barak was filled with faith, 31 Samson was continent and Samuel pure in his prophecy. 32 David rose and proceeded on a path of the just, he showed himself to be without blame the moment he appeared. 33 Elijah was vigilant, prepared and full of virtue, and he persevered much in order to mingle his soul with God. 34 He intertwined his whole life with God, and lived in the world without worldly impulses. He acquired a single will with God, so that he and God would not become two wills. In all the occasions that required him to fight against the nation, he strove only to accomplish the Lord’s will. He did not desire to undertake anything from himself, but was diligent in accomplishing all the deeds of the Lord. He was alive not for himself, and not for himself was he stirred into actions, for all the movement in his soul was in God. Elisha also rose valiantly, casting his path towards God in a noble course. 35 He retained the ministry of prophecy purely,

Cf. Judges 4–5, 6–8; and Hebrews 11:32. Cf. Judges 13–16; and 1 Samuel 3:1, 3:21. 33 Cf. Psalm 78:72; and 1 Samuel 16:12–13. 34 Cf. 2 Kings 1:12; 1 Kings 19:14, 17:1; and James 5:17. 35 Cf. 1 Kings 19:19–21; 2 Kings 5:8, 2:1–21, 4:1–7 etc. 31 32

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‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣܕܝܪ ܰܘܦܐܶܐ ܰܥܡ ܰ� ܺܨ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܥܝܪ ̱ܗܘܐ ܓܕܥܘܢ ܘܡ� ܒܪܩ ܗܝܡܢܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܘܢ ܰܘ ܶܙܗܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܺܢܙܝܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܽܝܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܫܡ ܶܘܐܝܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ܺܕܟܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܩܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܕ ܺܘܝܕ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳ� ܽܟܘ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳܕ� ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܚ ܺܘܝ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܕܡܛܝ ̱ܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܶܺ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܐ�ܝܐ ܕܝܢ ܥܝܪܐ ܡܛܝܒܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܣ ܺܓܝ ܰ� ܺܙܝ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚ�ܘܛ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܰܥܡ ܐ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܙܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ� ܽܗܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܒ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܚ ̈ܝ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ� ܙܘܥܐ ܥ�ܡ�ܝܐ ܥܡܪ ܒܒܪܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳܢܐ ܛ ܳܒܐ ܩܢܶܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥܡ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܚܕ ܨ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܕܗܘ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܶܨ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܒ� ܺܢܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ � ܢܶ ܰ ܶ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ�ܝ̈ܗܝ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܕܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܒ ܽܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܰ�ܥ ܳܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܟܠ�ܥ�‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܳܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘ ܨܒ�ܢܗ ܕܡܪ�ܐ ܒ�ܚܘܕ ܩܡ ܕܢܫܡ�܀‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ� ܳܪ ܶܐܓ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܗܘ ܶܡܢ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܥܘܪ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܆‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܽܕܟܠ ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ܢܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܦܝܛ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ� ܽܝܘ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ̈� ܳܕܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܰܠܘ ܶܠܗ ܰܚܝ ̱ܗܘܐ ܘ� ܠܗ ܡܬܬܙܝܥ ܒ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܕܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܙ ̈ܘܥܶܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܶܐ ܺܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܥ ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܳܩܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܰܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܗܛܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܪܡܝ ܐܘܪܚܗ ܨܝܕ ܐ�ܗܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܕܟܝܘܬ ܐ �ܒܟ ܬܫܡܫܬܐ ܕܢܒܝܘܬ ܐ܆‬

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and practiced discipleship honorably. He offered his soul to become the Spirit’s great vessel, and to take hold of prophecy doubly with a lucid love. So also was Jonah who was refined by his internal love, So that, through his excellence, there was a sign for the Son of God. 36 There was also Isaiah, who prolonged his life in prophecy, He was glorified with exalted visions through the brilliance of his soul. 37 Jeremiah, too, purified his being from the time of his childhood, such that the beginning of his path took its course with God. 38 Hezekiah and Josiah with one will filled with love, loved God through their conduct. 39 Ezekiel too prophesied while being oppressed, and pursued a path of righteousness, all the while in distress. 40 So it was for Daniel, Ananias and Azariah along with Mishael, who carried out good deeds for the sake of justice. 41 With a great fast, and with love-filled prayer, with self-denial and the habits of the solitaries’. Through refinement, cleansing and purity, and with souls full of divine thoughts. With integrity, penitence, continence,

Cf. Matthew 12:39; Luke 11:30; and Jonah 1:17. Cf. Isaiah 1:1, 26:9, 61:10, 25. 38 Cf. Jeremiah 1:1–7. 39 Cf. 2 Chronicles 29, 32:26, 34, 22:2. 40 Cf. Ezekiel 1:2, 2:2, 24:2. 41 Cf. Daniel 1:19. 36 37

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‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܫܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܬ�ܡ‬ ‫ܘܒܙܗ�‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܕܬܗܘܐ �ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܡܐܢܐ ܪܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܦܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܬܪܝܢ ܬܐܚܘܕ ܠܢܒܝ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܢ ܶܐ ܰ�ܛ ܰܠܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓܘ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܗ ܐܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܒܪ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܽܝܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܐܦ ܐܫܥܝܐ ܕܢܓܪ ̱ܘ ܚ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܐܫܬ ܰܒܚ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܚܙܘܐ �ܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܫܘܦ�ܐ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܶܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܡܝܐ ܕܝܢ ܕܟܝ �ܬܗ ܡܢ ܛ�ܝܘܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳܫ ̇ܗ ܽܕ ܶ‬ ‫�ܒܟ ̱ܗܘܐ ܪܗܛܐ ܕܥܡ ܐ�ܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܩܝܐ ܳܐܦ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܶܚ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚܕ ܶܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳܢܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ� ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܚܡ ̱ܘ ܰ� ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܕ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦ ܚܙܩܝܐܝܠ ܟܕ ܡܬܩܦܚ ܡܬܢܒܐ ̱ܗܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܗܛ ̇ܗ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ܰܕܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܽܒܐܘ�ܨ ܢܐ ܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦ ܳܕ ܺܢܝܐܝܠ ܐܦ ܰܚ ܰܢ ܳܢܝܐ ܐܦ ܰ� ܰܙ ܳܪ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥܡ ܺܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܐܶܝܠ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܰܦ ܽ‬ ‫�ܚ ̇‬ ‫�ܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܨܘܡܐ ܪܒܐ ܐܦ ܒܨܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚ ̈‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܶ�ܐ ܺܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܕ�ܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܥܢܘ�‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܡܨܠܘܬ ܐ ܘܒܢܩܕܘܬ ܐ ܘܒܕܟܝܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܓܐ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗ�̈ܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܢܦܫܬܐ ܕܡ�ܝܢ ܗ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܬܡܝܡܘܬ ܐ ܘܒܐܒܝ�ܘܬ ܐ ܘܒܢܙܝܪܘܬ ܐ܆‬

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and all the spiritual virtues, did they conduct themselves. From generation unto generation, these righteous ones persevered diligently, And they manifested the love of their offerings to God. They served God with good will, and in their time, the world was astonished by their conduct. All of creation was amazed by their deeds, and the world marveled at their lofty virtues. Their love was believed to be something great for humanity, and the tidings of their righteousness were precious to their generations. The favorable name of their character was celebrated on earth, and a great marvel at their excellence filled its uttermost edges. Their virtues’ service spread into all nations, and their love was much brighter than the sun upon the whole world. Then the Father also manifested his love to the world, delivering his only Son to be slaughtered for its sake. 42 He bound his beloved Son to the cross for sinners, and his love obscured all excellence that had entered the world. 43 He had but one Son, whom he gave to death for all people, all wills were astonished and rose with his good will. He so magnified his love that whoever loved was ashamed

42 43

Cf. Romans 5:8; Hebrews 2:9, etc. Cf. Ephesians 2:4–5.

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‫ܒܟܠ ܽܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ�ܝܶܐ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܝܢ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܰܒܪ ̱ܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܒܕ ܺ�ܝܢ ܳܕ ܺ�ܝܢ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܺܟܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܰܫܪ ̱ܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ܆‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܫ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܘܝܘ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܨܒ�ܢܐ ܛܒܐ ܫܡܫ ̱ܘ ��ܗܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܒ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪ ̣ܬ ݀ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܙ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ�ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰܺ ܳ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܬܡܝܗܐ ܟܠܗ ܒܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܰܬ ܺܗܝܪ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܪܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒܝܪ ܽܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒܗܘܢ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰܥܠ ܐ̱ܢܫܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܘ� ܺܩܝܪ ܶܛ ܳܒܐ ܰܕܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬܗܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܳܕ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܶܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܰܨܚ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܡܠܝܢ ܰܣ ̈ܘ ܶܦܐ ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܫ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܡܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܚ ܳܢܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܒ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܗܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܽܟܠ ܰ�ܥ ̈ܡ ܺܡܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܢ ܺܗܝܪ ܽܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܗܘܢ ܳܛܒ ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܰܚ ܺܘܝ ܰܐ ܳܒܐ ܳܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܩܛ� ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕ�ܶܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܶܡܛ ܳܠܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܦܟܪ ܰܒ ܺܙܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܰܚ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰܚܛܝ̈ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܦܝ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܥ� ̱ܘ ܠ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܘܬ ܐ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܚܕ ܐܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢܫ܆‬ ‫ܒ�ܢܶܗ ܳܛ ܳܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗܪ ̱ܘ ܳܩܡ ̱ܘ ܽܟܠ ܶ�ܨ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܰܘܒܨܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ� ܺܢܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܺ� ܶܪܒ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܗܬ ܽܟܠ ܰܡܢ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܚܒ܆‬

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

if he considered his love comparable to God’s. 44 The whole course of righteousness lags behind him, and that excellence of all the just rose in amazement. He manifested his love and they manifested their love to the whole earth, and because God’s love was gleaming, all their brilliance receded and diminished. They were obscured as a lamp by the ardent sun, and the light of his love alone shone forth upon creation. The just did not attain, in their excellence, the goodness that the Father accomplished for the whole world. Against his will their virtues were as nothing, and in proportion to his love their righteousness was unequally matched. His immense and good love overwhelmed their offerings, and beside him they were as nothing because of the rewards he imparted. 45 Before the Father manifested his love, they were virtuous, but from the time that he delivered his Son to the cross, he astounded them. As they considered how much they loved and labored with him, they beheld his only Son suspended on the cross and shuddered from his love. 46 When they deemed themselves equal to his justice, they perceived, through his cross, how deficient they were next to his grace. The Father astonished and awed them with his love,

Cf. 1 John 4:10. Cf. Romans 8:34–39. 46 Cf. 1 John 4:19. 44 45

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܳܣ ܰܒܪ ܶܠܗ ܺܕܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܽܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ̱ܗܘ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܶܪܗܛܐ ܰܕܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܦܫ ܶܡܢ ܶ� ܰܐܕ ̱ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܺ ̈ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗܐ ܳܩ ܰܡ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ܀‬ ‫ܬܪܘܬ ܐ ܕܟ�ܗܘܢ ܟܐܢܐ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܺܘܝ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ ܺܕܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܰ�ܪ ̱ܘ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܫ ̱ܘ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܨܡܚ܀‬ ‫ܕܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܺܦܝ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪ ܳܓܐ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܕܢܚ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܽ‬ ‫��ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܥܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܘܕ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫� ܡܛܘ ܟܐܢܐ ܒܡܝܬܪ‬ ‫ܳܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣܥܪ ܐܒܐ �ܥ�ܡܐ ܟܠܗ܀‬ ‫�ܗܕܐ ܛܒܬܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܘܬ ܨܒ�ܢܗ ܗܘܘ ܫܘܦ�ܝܗܘܢ ܐܝܟ � ܡܕܡ܆‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦܘܬ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬܗܘܢ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ ܳܚ ܰܒ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܳܒܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܫ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܓܪܦ ̱ܗܘܐ ܚܘܒܗ ܪܒܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܽ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܒ� ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܡܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܐܝܟ � ܡܕܡ ܒܚܘ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܶ� ܶ ܰܐܕ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܥ ܳܕ� ܢܶܓ� ܐ ܳܒܐ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܐܫܠܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܪܗ ܠܙܩܝܦܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܺܓܝ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܪ ܢܶܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܠܚ ̱ܘ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ܆‬ ‫ܚܒ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܗ ܰܕܬ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ ܳܘܙܥ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܺܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶܽ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܣܒܪܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ ܕܫܘܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܥܡ ܟܐܢܘܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܒܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܒܙܩܝܦܐ ܕܟܡܐ ܒܨܝܪܝܢ ܡܢ ܛ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶܽ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܪܗܒ ܐܢܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܐܒܐ ܒܚܘܒܗ ܐܬܗܪ ܐܢܘܢ ܘ‬

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

and they saw they owed him payments that cannot not be entirely repaid. They estimated and weighed their righteousness against his love, and they understood how lacking they were against his magnificence. The just loved God because of God, His (God’s) [case] is greater as he delivered his Son on behalf of the wicked. 47 They loved [him] because of hope in the new life, and he loved [them] so that death might find his Son. 48 To die in order that his beloved ones might live, for he loved them, and the evil-doers saw his love by means of his death for their sake. They realized that anyone who approaches God, will live for ever with Him in the blissful light. 49 320 He also knew that if he mingled with humankind, for their sake, he would die with them to revive them. 50 The pretext of his death was not enough to block his path, 51 neither did humankind’s evil prevent him from his salvific purpose. 52 The trial of the Father’s love is the death of his Son, and henceforth, the world learned how much he loved it. 53 The Father so loved the whole world, that he delivered his Only-Begotten to death for its sake. 54 Against this great love that the Father showed, Cf. Romans 3:5, 4:25, 5:6. Cf. 1 John 4:9. 49 Cf. 1 John 5:11. 50 Cf. Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:17; 2 Corinthians 5:15; and Romans 6:23, 5:21. 51 Cf. Luke 22:42; and John 18:11. 52 Cf. Romans 8:34. 53 Cf. 1 John 4:10. 54 Cf. John 3:16. 47 48

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܓܡܪ ܳ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܒ� ܰ‬ ‫ܕܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܚܒ ̱ܘ ܠܗ ܚܘ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܦ ܶܚܡ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܩ� ̱ܘ ܰܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬܗܘܢ ܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܽܚܘܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܬ ܰܟ� ̱ܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܳܕ ܶܘܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܪ ܽܒܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܢܘܢ ܟܐܢܐ ܚܠܦ ܐ�ܗܐ ܪܚܡ ̱ܘ ��ܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܐ ܶܚܒ ̱ܘ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܰܚ ̈ܕܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܺܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕ�ܶܗ܀‬ ‫ܗܘ ܕܝܢ ܐܚܒ ܢܫܟܚ ܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܰܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺܕܢ ܽܚܘܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܢܡܘܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܗܘ ܐܚܒ ܐܢܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܚܡ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܒܡܘܬܶܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ܰܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܙܘ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫ܕܥܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܓܝܪ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܢܐ ܳܕܩ ܶܪܒ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ ܳܚ ܶܝܐ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰܕܡ� ܛ ̈ܘ ܶܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܠܛ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܝ ܰܕܥ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܬܘܒ ܶܕܐܢ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܢ ܳܡܐܶܬ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛ ܳܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ܰܕܢ ܶܚܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܟ� ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ܆‬ ‫� ܓܝܪ ܣܦܩ ̣ܬ ܥܠܬܐ ܕܡܘܬܗ ܕܬ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܕܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ ܶܡܢ ܦܘܪܩ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܒܝܫ‬ ‫ܬܒܛܠ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܕ ܳܐܒܐ ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܰܡܘܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܝܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ܆‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܕܡܢܶܗ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܺ� ܶܠܦ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܡ ܶܚܒ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܰܠܡ ܐ ܶܚܒ ܐ ܳܒܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܶܡܛ ܳܠܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܝܕ�ܶܗ �ܡ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܽ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܺܘܝ ܐ ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܗܢܐ ܚܘܒܐ ܪܒܐ‬

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what does the righteous have to present to him? Who [else] would have handed his Son over to the cross on behalf of sinners, and enemies in order to give them life? Who [else] would hand over his only Son for his servant, who grew angry, left, and became alienated from him in his rebellion? 55 Who [else] would bind the innocent One to the cross of crucifixion, for the sake of reconciling the evil doers, although they despise him? 56 Who [else] would forsake his Son to be insulted by the wicked on behalf of sinners, but the Father whose love is great? 57 Who is the precious one that was oppressed in place of the licentious without complaint for our sake, but our Lord? 58 In return for all his good favors, who could repay a love loftier than creation? How can the righteousness of all the just, whenever it gazes upon Him, consider itself comparable by any means? How can the just regard their virtue, as sufficient for this great deed that astonished them? How might they say that their righteousness is righteous, when God hung on the cross on behalf of sinners? What love can show itself after this one,

Cf. Colossians 1:21–22; and Romans 5:6. Cf. Romans 5:10. 57 Cf. Matthew 27:39; and Mark 15:29. 58 Cf. 1 Timothy 1:15; and Matthew 9:13. 55 56

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‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܶܘܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܐܝܬ ܳܠ ̇ܗ �ܙ ܕܝܩ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܰܠ ܺܙܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܳ� ܶܗܒ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰܚܛܝ̈ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ̈ ̱ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܠܦ ܣܢܐܐ ܘܒܥܠܕܒܒܐ ܕܢܚܐ ܐܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕ�ܶܗ ܶܡܛܠ�ܥܒܕܗ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪܓܙ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܺ‬ ‫ܟܪܝ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܽܪ ܽܘܕܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܡܢ ܦܟܪ ܗܘܐ �ܚܣܝܐ ܒܩܝܣܐ ܕܙܩ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܺ ̱̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܒܝܫܐ ܟܕ ܣܢܝܢ ܠܗ ܢܪܥܐ ܐܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܢܶ�ܛ ܰܥܪ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ̈ܘ�܆‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܳܫ ܶܒܩ ̱ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ ܶܐ ܳ� ܰܐ ܳܒܐ ܰܕܪܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰܦܚ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܰ� ܺܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰܙ ܺ�ܝ̈�܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ�ܢ ܐ � ܳܡ ܰܪܢ ܶܡܛ ܳܠܬܢ܀‬ ‫ܟܕ �‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܠܦ ܗܠܝܢ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܚܘܒ� ܛܒܐ ܕܐܪܡܝ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫��ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܳܦ ܰܪܥ ܶܠܗ �ܚܘܒܐ ܕܪܡ ̱ܗܘ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽܕܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺܟܐܢ ̈ܐ܆‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢ ܡܨ�ܐ ܙ ܕܝܩ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܡ ܶܕܡ ܳܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܪ ̣ܬ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܣܬܒܪ ܺܕܐܝܬ ̇ܝܗ ܶ� ܰܐܕ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢ ܢܪܢܘܢ ܒܡܝܬܪ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܦܩܐ �ܗܢܐ ܥܒܕܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܐܬܗܪ ܐܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܰܺ ܽ ܽ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܐܝܟܢ ܢܐܡܪܘܢ ܕܙ ܕܝܩܘܬܗܘܢ ܙ ܕܝܩܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ ܶܬ� ܰܒ ܺܙܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܦܘܬ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳܝܢܐ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘܐ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܳܒܬܪ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ܆‬

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where the good One died for the evil doers in order to save them? When all the virtues of their offerings are gathered, When all the ornaments of their deeds are collected. When their righteousness is weighed, and all the excellence of their thoughts manifests. When their virtue and deeds are estimated, how can they measure up to the love of the Father who crucified his Son. While they appear excellent on their own, their love is eclipsed against that of the Father, to whom it draws near. Let the just come to present to the magnificent One, their beautiful repayments, which they set before God. Each one will speak of his distinction, and the earth will listen to the great honor of their triumphs. One shows his own blood, which he poured onto his offering, Another recounts his righteousness and rectitude. One boasts how he bound his son as a sacrifice, and his friend will reply that he wears the priesthood brilliantly. This one states that he fled from his land for the sake of his Lord, showing the suffering he endured for him. There are some zealots for whom gazing upon the Lord suffices to please them,

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‫ܰ ܳ ܺ̈ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܩ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܚܠܦ ܒܝܫܐ ܢܡܘܬ ܛܒܐ ܘܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܬܟ ܰܢܫ ̱ܘ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܽܫܘܦ�ܐ ܕܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܫ ܰܢܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܶ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܛܘ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܨܒ‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܰܩ‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܡܐ ܕܐܬܬܩܠ ̣ܬ ܙ ܕܝܩ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܽܫܘܦܪܐ ܕ� ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ܶܕܐܬܦ ܰܚܡ ̱ܘ ܰܫܦܝ� ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ̈ܕ ܽܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܕ ܳܐܒܐ ܰܕ ܰܙܩܦ ܰܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܽܡܘܢ ܐܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܽܝܗܘܢ ܛܒ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫�ܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܚ ܺܘܝܘ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܨܝܕ ܰܗܘ ܰܕ ܳܐܒܐ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪܘܒ ܽܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗܘܢ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܶܦܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܳܘ ܽ�ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘܢ ܺܟܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܪ ܽܒܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܽ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܒ� ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܡܝܘ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܚܘ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺܢܐܡܪܘܢ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܚܕ ܚܕ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܦܘ�ܫܢܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ ܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܦܥ ܰܥܠ ܽܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܒܢܶܗ܆‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܡܚܘܐ ܕܡܗ ܕ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܺܳ ܰܺ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ�ܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ ܢܐ ܙ ܕܝܩܘܬܗ ܘܬܪܝܨܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܟܪ ܰܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܗܪ ܰܚܕ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚܐ܆‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܐܡܪ ܚܒܪܗ ܕܒܙܗ�ܘܬ ܐ �ܒܫ ܟܘܡܪܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܪܩ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܡ ܶܪܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪܗ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܚ ̈ܶܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܪ ܶܡܛ ܳܠܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܳܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡ� ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ ܶܠܗ ܰܟܕ ܳܚܐܪ ܶܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܕܛ�ܢܐ‬

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and still there is one who puts on righteousness that he might approach him. One shows how he was oppressed and imprisoned because of God’s love, and another how he became meek and chaste for God’s hope. One shows how he killed his daughter for the Lord, another, his fast, and another his love and continence. One shows the excellence of his virginity and purity, and another describes his persecution. One is proud that he fell to lions for God’s sake, and others too, who rejoiced as they entered into fire. One says, “I descended into the sea for your sake,” and another relates the suffering he bore out of love for him. Others show how much they were tormented for his hope, others, with gladness, died by the sword for him. Some were sawed in two, some wandered like animals, others stayed in caves, destitution and misery. There are some who sought him madly, and some who, by his love, fled from inhabited lands and humanity. 59 With all these virtues, the just will enter before God to show him their acts and deeds. They arrange all their labors of their ways before him,

59

Cf. Hebrews 11:37.

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‫ܽ ܰ ܶ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰܪܒ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܬܘܒ ܕ�ܒܫ ܙ ܕܝܩ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܒܝܫ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܠܝܡ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܽܗܘ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܟܦ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܰܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܺܟܝܟ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ܀‬ ‫̱ ̱‬ ‫ܰܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܚܘܐ ܠܗ ܚܕ ܕܩܛܠ ܒܪܬܗ ܡܛܠܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܘ ܺܢܙ ܽܝܪܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܐ̱ܚܪ ܳܢܐ ܰܨ ܶ ̱‬ ‫ܺܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܘܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܐ̱ܚܪ ܢܐ ܫܘܦܪܐ ܕܒܬܘܠܘܬܗ ܘܕܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܺܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ�ܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ ܢܐ ܕܗܘܐ ܪܕܝܦܐ ܡܛܠܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܚܬܝܪ ܰܚܕ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܶܡܛ ܳܠܬܗ � ܰ�ܝ ܳܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܠܓܘ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ܢܶܐ ܽܬܘܒ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܥ� ̱ܘ ܰܟܕ ܳܚ ܶܕܝܢ܀‬ ‫̱ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐܡܪ ܠܗ �ܝܡܐ ܢܚܬܬ ܡܛܠܬܟ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ ܳܬ ܶ�ܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒܠ ܰܚ ̈ܫܐ ܰܟܕ ܳܪ ܶܚܡ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰܺ ܺ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ̱ܚ� ܢܐ ܡܚܘܝܢ ܟܡܐ ܐܠܝܨܝܢ ܡܛܠ ܣܒܪܗ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ܺܡܝܬ ̱ܘ ܰܟܕ ܳܚ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܡܛ ܳܠܬܗ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐ̱ܚ� ܢܐ ܢܣܝܪܝܢ ܐ̱ܚ� ܢܐ ܦܗܝܢ ܐܝܟ ܚ�ܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܶܦܐ܀‬ ‫ܐ̱ܚ� ܢܐ ܒܦܥ�ܐ ܘܒܡܓܙ�ܘܬ ܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܐܝܟ ܳܫ ܰ�ܝ̈ܐ ܰܟܕ ܳܒܥܶܝܢ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܬܘܒ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܕܒܚܘܒܗ ܥܪܩ ̱ܘ ܡܢ ܫܝܢܐ ܘܡܢ ܐ̱ܢܫܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܗܠܝܢ ܫܘܦ�ܐ ܥܐܠܝܢ ܟܐܢܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ̈ܕ ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܥ ̈ܡ� ܽܕܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܪܝܢ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܕܡ ̱‬

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presenting him their various offerings. Against all these virtues, the Father presents his beloved Son, who hung on the cross for the world. He was led to confinement, silenced in the tribunal, beaten on the head, 60 his back was scourged, his cheeks battered and his face spat upon. 61 He was bound to a column, endured blows and crucified with evil doers, he was counted among the iniquitous, stretched upon the cross, and his hands were pierced. He was suspended on the cross, his body was exposed, his garments distributed, 62 and his side was riven by the lance of his crucifiers. 63 The Father shows the world his love by means of these sufferings, and astonished all creation with the magnitude of his mercy. All the works of the righteous are inadequate, because the world cannot compensate the Father for his Son’s slaughter. 64 He shows the nations his Son’s passions, which were endured for their sake, and the whole world is amazed because of his ineffable love. And he could say, “These passions of my beloved Son were borne because of and instead of you.” The Master of Eden accepted the spear because of Adam, in order to open the doors which Adam had closed when he went out. 65 For the servant, the freeman entered the land of the dead, Cf. Mark 14:53; Luke 22:54; John 18:12; and Matthew 26:57, 27:11– 26. 61 Cf. John 19:1; and Matthew 26:67, 27:26 62 Cf. John 19:18; and John 19:23. 63 Cf. John 19:34. 64 Cf. Romans 3:20–24. 65 Cf. Romans 5:21; and 1 Corinthians 15:22. 60

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܝܗܘܢ ܶܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܫ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܗܠܝܢ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܫܘܦ�ܐ ܡܚܘܐ ܐܒܐ܆‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܬ� ܰܒ ܺܙܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܰܚ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܫ� ܶܒܝܬ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܰܦܚ ܺܪ ܶܫܗ܆‬ ‫ܕܒܝܪ ܠܚܒܘܫܝܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܰܓܕ ܰܚܨܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܩܦܝܢ ܦܟܘ ̱ܗܝ ܪܩܝܩ ܒܐܦܘ ̱ܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܘܬ ܐ ܺܙܩܝܦ ܰܥܡ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܦܟܝܪ ܒܐܣܓܘܢܐ ܛܥܝܢ ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ̈ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܰܳܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܡܢܐ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈ܘ� ܡܬܝܚ ܒܙܩܝܦܐ ܡܒܙܥܢ ܐܝܕ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܓܪܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܣܝ ܰܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܬ� ܰܥܠ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܓܝܢ ܰܢܚܬܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܕܦܢܶܗ ܶܡܢ ܳܨ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܶܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒ�ܘܟ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܒܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܚܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚܘܐ ܐܒܐ �ܥ�ܡܐ ܽܚܘܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗܪ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܢ܀‬ ‫ܘ�ܒ��‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܝܫܝܢ ܡܢܗ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܥܡ� ܕܙ ܕܝܩܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܥ � ܳܒܐ ܶܩܛ� ܰܕܒܪܗ܀‬ ‫ܕ� ܡ� ܐ ܥ�ܡܐ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܚܘܐ �ܥܡܡܐ ܚܫܐ ܕܒܪܗ ܕܡܛܠܬܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܽ ܽ ܳ ̈ܶ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܕ� ܶܡܬܦܫܩ܀‬ ‫ܘܬܗܪܝܢ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܥ�ܡܐ ܕܚ‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܳܕܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܚ ̈ܶܫܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ ̱ܝ ܰܚ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܒܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܡܛܠܬܟܘܢ ܘܚ�ܦܝܟܘܢ ܣ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܐ ܳܕܡ ܰܩ ܶܒܠ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܚܐ ܡܪ ̇ܗ ܕܥܕܢ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܢܶܦܬܚ ܬ�ܥܶܐ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܕ ܰܐܚܕ ܰܟܕ ܳܢ ܶܦܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܝ̈ܬܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܒܪ ܺܚܐ� ܐ܆‬ ‫ܡܛܠ�ܥܒܕܐ �ܬܪ ܐ‬

‫‪789‬‬

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420

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

to loosen the fetters and bonds from him and release him. 66 Because Adam wished to sin, my Son was insulted, and because it pleased Adam to scorn the commandment, my Son was scourged. 67 All those passions, scourges and the crucifixion for the sake of all the evil doers, that they might live, though unwillingly. 68 These are the disgrace and jeering that he endured when he was dishonored, for Adam to regain the original honor. 69 Who can repay the good rewards of the Father, who, for the sake of the dead, delivered the living One to the cross. Who is worthy of this astonishing deed, for God himself mounted the cross in the place of humankind. What ages will recount this love, when all ages together are not enough to explain it. For this favor, what kind of act of righteousness, can repay the Father, for everything falls short of his repayment. The image of the cross reveals the Father’s love and goodwill toward humankind. He does not love mankind because he crucified his Son, but because he loved us, he crucified his only Son. His love was the reason for this great deed,

Cf. 1 Peter 3:19, 3:17–22, 2 Peter 4:6. Cf. Genesis 3:6; John 19:1; and Matthew 27:26. 68 Cf. Romans 4:25. 69 Cf. Mark 14:65, 10:34; Matthew 26:67; Luke 22:63 etc. 66 67

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‫‪415‬‬

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܶ ܶ ܶܶ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ̈ܒ� ܰܟܕ ܰܡ ܶܦܩ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܕܢܫܪܐ ܡܢܗ ܣܘܛܡܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܨܒܐ ܕܢܣܟܠ ܐܕܡ ܒܪ ̱ܝ ܐ�ܛܥܪ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ ܶܠܗ ܽܢܫܘܛ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ ܽܗܘ ܐܬ� ܰܓܕ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ܶ ܶ ̈ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܚܫܐ ܘܢܓܕܐ ܘܙܩ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܽ ܽ ܺ ̈ܶ ܶܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܒܝܫܐ ܕܢܚܘܢ ܟܕ � ܨܒܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܕܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܙ̈ ܶܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܚ ̈‬ ‫ܝܒܪ ܰܟܕ ܶܡ�ܛ ܰܥܪ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܺܐ ܳܝܩ ܳܪܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ � ܳܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܕܢܩܢܶ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܽܚ ̈ܘܒ� ܛ ̈ܒܐ ܰܕ ܳܐܒܐ ܰܡܢ ܳܦ ܰܪܥ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܚܠܦ ܡܝܬܐ ܐܫܠܡ ܚܝܐ ܠܙܩ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܳܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܰܡܢ ܳܣ ܶܦܩ ܠܗ܆‬ ‫�ܗܢܐ ܥܒܕܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܺܙܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܕܗܘ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟܒ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܡܫܬܥܶܝܢ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫�ܗܢܐ ܚܘܒܐ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܥ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܙܥܘܪܝܢ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܶܩܗ܀‬ ‫ܕܟ�ܗܘܢ ܥ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܢܐ ܚܘܒ� ܐܝܠܝܢ ܥܡ� ܕܙ ܕܝܩܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܦ‬ ‫ܪܥܝܢ � ܳܒܐ ܰܕ ܽܙܥܘܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܽܟܠ ܶܡܢ ܽܦܘܪ�ܢܶܗ܀‬ ‫ܺܙܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܕ ܳܐܒܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܰܕܩ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳܢܐ ܛ ܳܒܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܽܫܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܦ ܨ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠܘ ܥܠ ܰܕܙܩܦ ܠܒܪܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܠܒ� ̈�ܢ ܳܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܚܡܢ ܰܙ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܰܕܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܦܗ ܺܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕ�ܶܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܳܕܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ܳܕܗ ܳܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ̱ܗܘ ܥ‬

‫‪790‬‬

52 430

435

440

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HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

were it not for his love he would not have bound his Son to the cross. Love was with God first and through it he descended, for he handed over his Son for our sake without sparing him. He crucified him because he loved us, and delivered him because of the love within him, if it were not for the love that accomplished those deeds, he would not have willed them. The Father’s love is great and everlasting, 70 He fashioned the cross for his Son to be dishonored by it. His love was hidden and the age did not perceive how much he loved it, but through the cross he revealed his love luminously. The Son’s cross is an expositor of the Father’s love, and without it the world would remain unaware of its immensity. Although God loved the world, his love was hidden, until it was revealed through the death of his Only-Begotten Son. 71 In the world a love shone that is brighter than the sun, 72 creation marveled at the immensity of his grace. 73 From that time, the whole world was bound over to praise the Father’s love with unceasing thanksgiving. 74 Let the good and the evil ones profess you my Lord because of your love, which taught the world that it is boundless and greater than everything. My Lord, let the just profess you by the course of their conduct,

Cf. Jeremiah 31:3; and Psalm 25:6. Cf. Isaiah 45:15; and Psalm 44:24. 72 Cf. Acts 26:13; Matthew 17:2; and Isaiah 30:26 etc. 73 Cf. Romans 5:15; and Titus 2:11 etc. 74 Cf. Colossians 2:7. 70 71

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܳܐ� ܽ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ � ܳܦ ܰܟܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܒܪܗ ܒܙܩ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܰܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܐܬܬܚܬܝ܆‬ ‫ܚܘܒܐ ܩܕܝܡ ܨܝܕ ܐ�ܗܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܢܫܠܡ ܠܒܪܗ ܟܕ � ܚܐܤ ܡܛܠܬܢ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܙܩܦ ܰܥܠ ܰܕܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܫܠܡ ܶܡܛܠ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܒܗ ܚܘܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܳܐ� ܽ‬ ‫ܣܥܘܪ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ � ܳܨ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ � ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܚܘܒܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܡܬ‬ ‫ܘܡܐܝܬ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܰܪ ܶܟܒ ܶܠܗ ܙܩܝܦܐ ܠܒܪܗ ܕܢܶ�ܛܥܪ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܓܝܫ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܣܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܳܘ� ܺ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܳܪ ܶܚܡ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܓ� ܳ‬ ‫ܓܠܝ ̱ܗܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܳܝܪܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܒܙܩܝܦܐ ܕܝܢ ܡ‬ ‫ܺܙܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܦܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܡܦܫܩܢܗ ̱ܗܘ ܕܚܘܒܐ ܕܐܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܪܓܫ ܶܒܗ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܳܐ� ܶܐܢ ܶܒܗ ܳ� ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܰܡ ܶܚܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܐ ܳܒܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܓܢܝܙ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܚ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܺ� ܺܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕ ܳ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܬ ܐ ܠܓ�ܝܐ ܒܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕܢܚ ܶܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܰܕܢ ܺܗܝܪ ܛܒ ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܛܝܒܘܬܗ ܬܗܪ ܒ��‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܺܟܝܠ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܚ ܳܝܒ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳܒ ܽܚܘ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܕ ܳܐܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܟܕ � ܫ� ܡܢ ܬܘܕ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܛ ̈ܶܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܰܢܘܕܘܢ ܠܟ ܡܪ ̱ܝ ܡܛܠ ܽܚܘܒܟ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܦܗ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕܪܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܰܘܕ� ܳܣ ܰܟܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ ̈ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܽܕܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܢܘܕܘܢ ܠܟ ܡܪ ̱ܝ ܟܐܢܐ ܒܪ‬

‫‪791‬‬

54 450

455

460

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

So, also, do righteous by the excellence of their deeds. Let the murdered profess you by the blood that runs from their necks, and all the persecuted by the noble sufferings of their members. 75 Let the prophets glorify your name by the beauty of their revelations, Let the apostles and martyrs by the immolation of their persons. 76 Let the pontiffs profess you by the complete sacrifices of their ideas, and let all priests by their dress and appearance. 77 Let the nations and generations glorify you, my Lord, with their shouts of Hosanna, 78 and all the uttermost ends of the earth and its four corners with their inhabitants. 79 The sea with its waves, the abyss with its fish, and the height with its torrents, the depth with its classes, the dome with its light, the earth with its children. 80 The sky with the angels, the winds with their breeze, and the clouds with lightning, The thunder by clamors, the mouth by speech, the mind by marvel. Intellects by love, the cherubim by trembling, the seraphim by sanctity, 81 the fire by fervor, wind by its force, altogether 82 Cf. 1 Peter 4:14,16; Philippians 1:20 etc. Cf. Acts 5:41; Isaiah 40:5; Habakkuk 2:14 etc. 77 Cf. 1 Peter 2:5. 78 Cf. Psalm 86:9; Daniel 7:27; Zephaniah 3:9 etc. 79 Cf. Isaiah 11:10–12; Matthew 24:31 etc. 80 Cf. Psalm 148. 81 Cf. Isaiah 6:1–3; Ezekiel 10:18; Psalm 148:2 etc. 82 Cf. Psalm 148:8–9. 75 76

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‫‪460‬‬

‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܳ ܰ ܺ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܐܦ ܙ ܕܝܩܐ ܒܡܝܬܪ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܢ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܛܝ̈ ܶ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡܐ ܰܕ ܳܪܕܐ ܡܢ ܰܨܘ�ܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܒܚ ̈ܶܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ�ܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܕܗ ܳ ̈ܕ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܦ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫�� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܡܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܚܘܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒܝ̈ܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܓ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܰܢܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܺ ̈ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܫ�ܝܚܐ ܘܣܗܕܐ ܒܢܟܝܣ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܢ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܚܐ ܰܫ ̈‬ ‫ܥ� ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ�ܐ ̈‬ ‫ܒܕܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܕ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܫܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܶܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܢܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܟ ܳܡܪ ̱ܝ ܽܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܥܡܡܐ ܘܥ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܽܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܣ ̈ܘ ܶܦܐ ܰܥܡ ܶܦܢܝ̈ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܠ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܓܡܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܗ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܒ ̈ܒܢܶ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܒܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܒܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܩܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܡܝܐ ܒܥܝ�ܐ �ܘܚܐ ܒܡ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܡܐ ܒܩ� ܦܘܡܐ ܒܡܠܬܐ ܗܘܢܐ ܒܬܗܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܙܘܥܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܣ� ܶܦܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܟ� ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡ ̈ܕܥܶܐ ܒ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܘܪܐ ܒܥܘܙ ܐ ܪܘܚܐ ܒܚܐܦ ̇ܗ ܟܠ�ܥܡ ܟ�܀‬

‫‪792‬‬

56 465

470

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

The scattered whom you gathered, 83 the defeated whom you established, 84 the broken whom you healed, 85 the servants whom you freed, 86 the expelled whom you returned, 87 the little ones whom you magnified. 88 The sick whom you visited, the ill whom you cured, 89 the captives whom you saved, 90 the weary to whom you gave rest, 91 the angry whom you appeased, 92 the impure whom you purified. 93 The imprisoned whom you released, the confined whom you brought out, 94 the dead to whom you gave life, 95 May they profess your love, without repaying you. Praise to you.

Cf. Matthew 15:24; and Matthew 10:6. Cf. Matthew 26:6–11; Luke 14:12–14 etc. 85 Cf. Matthew 15:30; Psalm 34:18; Philippians 4:6 etc. 86 Cf. 1 Corinthians 7:22; Romans 6:18; John 8:36 etc. 87 Cf. Jeremiah 29:14; Deuteronomy 30:3; Zephaniah 3:20 etc. 88 Cf. Matthew 25:35; Isaiah 58:7 etc. 89 Cf. Mark 3:10, 5:29, 6:56 etc. 90 Cf. Luke 4:18; John 8:36; Romans 6:22 etc. 91 Cf. Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 28:12 etc. 92 Cf. Mark 4:35–41; James 1:19–20, 4:1–2 etc. 93 Cf. 1 John 1:7, 15:3; James 4:8 etc. 94 Cf. 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6; Isaiah 42:7 etc. 95 Cf. John 11:1–44; Luke 7:11–17; and Mark 5:41. 83 84

‫‪57‬‬ ‫‪465‬‬

‫‪470‬‬

‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܚ ̈ܝ ܶܦܐ ܰܕ ܺܐܩܝܡܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ�ܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܕ�ܐ ܰܕܟܢܶܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܨܒܬ܆‬ ‫ܡܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܥ ̈‬ ‫ܕܚܪܪܬ ܛ� ܶ‬ ‫ܒܕܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕܐ ܰܕܐܦܢܝܬ ܙܥܘ�ܐ ܰܕܐܘܪܒܬ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܟ� ܶ‬ ‫ܣܥܪܬ ܰܡ�ܥܶܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣܝܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܩܬ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܚܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ�̈ܐ ܰܕ ܺܐܢܝܚܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܦܩܬ ܺܡܝ̈ܬܐ ܰܕ ܺܐܚܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐ ܺܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�ܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܝܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܦܩܬ ܺܡܝ̈ܬܐ ܰܕ ܺܐܚܝܬ܆‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚܘܒܟ ܢܘܕܘܢ ܟܕ � ܦܪܥܝܢ ܠܟ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‬

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bou Mansour, Tanios. La Théologie de Jacques de Saroug. Vol. 2. Kaslik, Liban: Université Saint-Esprit, 2000. Hansbury, Mary. “Love as an Exegetical Principle in Jacob of Serug.” The Harp 27 (2011): 1–16. Khalife-Hachem, E. “Homélie Métrique de Jacques de Saroug sur l’Amour.” Parole de l’Orient (1970): 281–299. Koonammakkal, Thomas. “Divine Love and Revelation in Ephrem.” In The Harp (Volume 17). Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2011.

59

INDEX OF BIBLICAL REFERENCES References are to line number Genesis 3:6 4:4 4:26 5:18–24 6 7:1 14:18–19 22:9–10 24:1 25:7 25:11 26:2–5 26:12–25 28:1-5 28:4 28:10–17 32:9–12 39:1–12

412 73 78 88 100 100 118 146 138 138 154 154 157 162 138 164 167 194

Exodus 3:4 12–14 17:2 34:35

202 208 200 204

Numbers 25:6–12

212

Deuteronomy 30:3 466

61

Joshua 1:9 1:10–18 3 4–5 5:15 6–8 11 11:15 24

220 225 226 231 220 231 229 224 225

Judges 13–16

232

1 Samuel 3:1 3:21 16:12–13

232 232 234

62

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

1 Kings 17:1 19:14 19:19–21

236 236 248

2 Kings 1:12 2:1–21 4:1–7 5:8

236 248 248 248

2 Chronicles 22:2 29 32:26 34

260 260 260 260

Job 1:13–19 1:20–22 Job 2:1–8 2:10 2:12 2:23 2:26 2:28 2:40 17 27:1–6

178 170 182 170 170 170 170 170 170 172 180

Psalms 25:6 34:18 44:24 78:72 86:9 110:4 148

435 465 442 234 457 118 28, 460

148:2 148:8–9

463 464

Isaiah 1:1 6:1–3 11:10–12 25 26:9 28:12 40:5 42:7 45:15 58:7 61:10 30:26

256 463 458 256 256 468 454 469 442 466 256 443

Jeremiah 1:1–7 29:14 31:3

258 466 435

Ezekiel 1:2 2:2 24:2 10:18

262 262 262 463

Daniel 1:19 7:27

264 457

Jonah 1:17

254

Habakkuk 2:14

454

INDEX Zephanaiah 3:9 3:20

457 466

Matthew 9:13 10:6 11:28 12:39 15:24 15:30 17:2 24:31 25:35 26:6–11 27:39 27:26 26:67

340 465 468 254 465 465 443 458 466 465 338 394, 412 394, 416

Mark 3:10 4:35–41 5:29 5:41 6:56 10:34 14:53 14:65 15:29 26:57 27:11–26

467 468 467 470 467 416 393 416 338 393 393

Luke 4:18 7:11–17 11:30 22:42 22:54

467 470 254 323 393

63 22:63 14:12–14

416 465

John 3:16 8:36 11:1–44 18:11 18:12 19:1 19:18 19:23 19:34

328 466, 467 470 323 393 394, 412 397 397 398

Acts 5:41 26:13

454 443

Romans 3:5 3:20-24 4:25 5:6 5:8 5:10 5:15 5:21 6:18 6:22 6:23 8:34 8:34–39

314 402 314, 322, 414 314, 334 284 336 444 322, 408 466 467 322 323 302

1 Corinthians 7:22 466 15:17 322 15:22 408

64

HOMILY ON THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS HUMANITY

2 Corinthians 5:15 322 Galatians 4:28

154

Ephesians 2:4–5

286

Philippians 1:20 4:6

452 465

Colossians 1:21–22 2:7

334 446

1 Timothy 1:15

340

Titus 2:11

444

Hebrews 2:9 7:1–17 11:4 11:5

284 118 73 88

11:32 11:37

231 386

James 1:19–20 4:1–2 4:8 5:17

468 468 468 236

1 Peter 2:5 3:17–22 3:19 4:14,16

456 410 410, 469 452

2 Peter 4:6

410

1 John 1:7 15:3 4:7 4:9 4:10 4:19 5:11

468 468 32 316 290, 326 306 320