Jacob of Sarug's Homily on Paul's Word to Seek What is Above and on Outer Darkness 9781463244651

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Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on Paul’s Word to Seek What is Above and on Outer Darkness

Texts from Christian Late Antiquity

76 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 Paul’s Word to Seek What is Above and on Outer Darkness

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. ‫ܚ‬

1

2022

ISBN 978-1-4632-4464-4

ISSN 1935-6846

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A Cataloging-in-Publication Record is available from 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 105 On that Word that Paul the Apostle said: ‘Seek what is Above… and Think about What is Above’, and on Outer Darkness .................................... 8 Bibliography ............................................................................... 45 Index of Biblical References ....................................................... 47

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The present homily was translated with indispensable revisions by Sebastian Brock and Dayroyo Antonios Gharib, 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 that Word that Paul the Apostle said: ‘Seek what is Above… and Think about What is Above’, and on Outer Darkness Source of Text: Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, edited by Paul Bedjan (Paris-Leipzig: Harrassowitz, 1907, 2nd ed. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2006), vol. 3, pp. 876–892. [Homily 105] Lines: 344

Jacob of Sarug was born in Kurtam around 451 A.D. and trained at the School of Edessa. A gifted poet, Jacob followed in the tradition of Ephrem’s (d. 373) symbolic theology, composing both liturgical texts and prose works. However, he is most recognized for his dodecasyllabic verse memre, more than 380 of which survive. The present homily “On that Word that Paul the Apostle said: ‘Seek what is Above…and Think about What is Above’, and on Outer Darkness,” was written as a caution to listeners who prioritize worldly matters and forget their true home “above.” Through frightful descriptions of Sheol’s desolation, Jacob warns that concern with the temporal world leads to an afterlife remote from God and the possibility of repentance. Faith, love, God’s mercy, and following the commandments are all means by which Jacob encourages Christians to escape a dismal fate. He relies on natural symbolism and the scriptures to teach the congregation about humankind’s ultimate God-given purpose: to reside eternally in His glory. After a short appeal to divine assistance to grant him suitable words for his memre—a common opening plea in Jacob’s writings—the homily turns to the salvific instruction that the 1

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natural world provides to humans. Animals bow before man, the earth provides sustenance, the winds offer cold and heat. All the earth, Jacob intones, is subjugated to humans and honors them. 1 It does so because man is in the image of the Godhead. 2 This fact is made evident in humans’ corporality, their straight build and their faces turned up towards the heavens. Yet, Jacob laments, humans do not take notice of their own glory and bend themselves as beasts towards the earth. 3 To redress their error, Jacob prods his audience to take counsel from nature and how plants reach towards the sky: You are implanted in the ground, [so] raise yourself from it and do not remain there, Just as a tree that is planted in the ground and ascends above. Let your body stand in the earth upon its dust, And your very mind be in the heights with God. 4

The homily’s natural symbolism is a popular feature of late antique Syriac literature, 5 where the visible world gives a glimpse into the invisible one by means of symbols, and where each symbol guides its observer toward the divine. 6 Jacob thus draws from natural symbolism to remind his congregation that they are strangers on earth and intended for heaven. They are thus encouraged to extend their minds up to their divinely-prepared home. However, the capacity of the mind to “think about what is above,” has limits in the homily. It is faith, rather, that spans the farthest reaches: Lines 5–58. Lines 52–53. 3 Line 74. 4 Lines 3–6. 5 See, for instance, Sebastian Brock, The Harp of the Spirit: Poems of Saint Ephrem the Syrian (Cambridge: Aquila Books, 2013), 22. 6 George Saber, “La Typologie Sacramentaire et Baptismale de Saint Ephrem,” Parole de l’Orient 5, no. 1–2 (1973): 75, 80. 1 2

INTRODUCTION

3

Hither, the preacher of faith has sent you To the place where angels never ascended, nor even beheld. The mind fell short [of reaching] there as did speech and tongue, And faith was raised to the hidden place. 7

Though the homily is based in the Pauline exhortation to “think about what is above,” faith ascends past the reach of thought to arrive at the place of the Lord. Faith rises higher than all the spiritual assemblies to come to the dwelling of the Trinity in the Holy of Holies. 8 Surpassing the capacity of thought, faith, powered by love, is able to reach the Father: “The eye has not seen and the heart of man did not reckon … What the Father prepared for those who love what is above.” 9 The role of faith and love in bringing humans close to God in this homily resembles that which Jacob ascribes to prayer elsewhere. In his writings on prayer preserved in the Maronite manuscript British Library Add. 14535, Jacob writes how prayer grants access to the divine mysteries: Prayer reveals the profundities of the Divine, By it one enters to behold the mystery of hidden things. It is the key able to open all doors; From it one can clearly espy what is hidden, By it the soul can approach to speak with God, It raises up the mind so that it reaches the Majesty. 10

Similar to the role of faith and love in the homily, prayer rises to the hidden place of the Lord to converse with Him. Although the descriptions of faith, love, and prayer align in the homily and the excerpt on prayer, the texts’ portrayals of the mind diverge. In the homily, the mind’s reaches have limits Lines 151–154. Lines 165–168. 9 Line 193–194. 10 Sebastian Brock, “An Early Maronite Text on Prayer,” Parole de l’Orient 13 (1986): 89. 7 8

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whereas in the present excerpt, the mind is raised to God’s majesty through prayer. Jacob was not a systematic thinker, and discrepancies between his writings can be detected. Nevertheless, the ascent to the Trinity’s mysterious abode is a theme that emerges consistently in his writing. Alongside heartening encouragement to seek the place of God, Jacob also employs stern admonishment to instruct his listeners. About one third of the homily is devoted to vivid descriptions of Sheol’s darkness and isolation from the Lord: “The Lord of light is not there, so which light / Is able to descend and shine there without being corrupted?” 11 To avoid eternal damnation, Jacob implores his audience to repent before the moment of their death: Here the door of mercy is open before sinners, And it is easy for you to enter each day if you wish Seek mercy for yourself before the door is closed in front of you, And you increase your cries when there is no one to answer or hear you. 12

During one’s earthly life, repentance is readily accessible. But following death, the door of mercy closes on the souls in Sheol and their cries are no longer heard. It is therefore urgent for people to repent before the moment of death. Jacob reassures listeners that, so long as they willfully choose it, divine mercy will accept their repentance: A drop of mercy from that infinite sea, Is able to wash the iniquities of the world if you so will it. You do not desire to hinder [your] mercy from sinners, It is [their choice] to hinder mercy, for they did not seek mercy. 13

Lines 117–118. Lines 287–288, 291–292. 13 Lines 331–334. 11 12

INTRODUCTION

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No one, Jacob emphasizes, is responsible for impeding divine mercy, save those who do not seek it and choose the darkness of Sheol instead. But God’s infinite mercy washes over those who wish for it through penitence. His homily thus exhorts listeners to contrition with the promise that it will meet with God’s mercy. The homily references biblical figures to provide listeners with a models for repentance. King David moistened his bed with tears and called to the Lord from his “whirlpool filled with sin.” 14 He pled that he would not be counted among the sons of perdition 15 and he recognized that he was made in the image of God in order to glorify Him. Though he had descended deeply into sin, and “dissipated his goods on harlots and lechery,” 16 his repentance was readily met with God’s mercy and love. Jacob’s “On that Word that Paul the Apostle said: ‘Seek what is Above…and Think about What is Above’, and on Outer Darkness,” warns listeners about the consequences of rejecting God’s plan for humankind. Throughout the text, Jacob expresses frustration with the worldly concerns of his congregation 17 and attempts to correct them by recalling the pains of Sheol and their divinely-prepared, heavenly abode. As a monk and preacher, he dutifully closes with a prayer on their behalf, “Oh, Good One, whose door of mercy is opened and [who] invites the wicked / Glory to you and mercy on us at all times.” 18

Line 302. Lines 313. 16 Line 340. 17 Susan Ashbrook Harvey, “To Whom Did Jacob Preach?” in Jacob of Serugh and His Times: Studies in Sixth-Century Syriac Christianity, ed. George Kiraz (Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2010), 118–119. 18 Lines 343–344. 14 15

TEXT AND TRANSLATION

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MEMRA 105

ON THAT WORD THAT PAUL THE APOSTLE SAID:

‘SEEK WHAT IS ABOVE… AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IS ABOVE’, AND ON OUTER DARKNESS

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Lord of the heights who lowered his loftiness towards our evil, Lower your exalted Word towards us so that I may speak about you. All speeches, expressions and words are yours Because were it not through you, no one would be moved to speak to you. Behold, all silent creatures speak to you, [With] distinct praises, not stopping glorifying you. Behold, the sky recounts your glory, 1 without ceasing, [This sky that is] the garment full of luminous windows of light. Behold, the empty [lower heavenly sphere] beneath, it praises you With thunder, lighting, clouds, and winds circulating around it. Behold [the lower heavenly sphere] glorifies you with the flocks of fowl and birds, With their twittering and songs, it gives praise. The earth spread out and scattered soil at [the border] of the sea, Behold [the earth] sings hallelujah to you through its mountains, valleys and plains. 2

1 2

Cf. Psalm 19:1. Cf. Isaiah 42:5.

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܝܫܐ ܳܡܪ ̱ܝ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܰܕܩ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܩܘܒ‬ ‫ܺܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܐ ‪.‬ܩܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܘܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܰܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܳܗܝ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚܐ܆‬ ‫ܥܠ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕ�ܥܠ ܒܥܘ‪...‬‬ ‫ܰܘܕ�ܥܶܠ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܶܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܰܥܘ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܰܒ ܳܪ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫‪1‬‬

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‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܺ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܘܬܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܪܐ ܕ�ܘܡܐ ܕܐܪܟܢ ܪܘܡܗ ܨܝܕ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̇ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܟ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡ ܶܠܠ�ܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܐܪܟܢ � ܐܕܝܢ ܪܘܡܗ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܺ ܶ ܳ ̈ ܶ ̈ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܡܐܡ�ܐ ܘܩ� ܘܡ� ܕܝܠܟ ܐܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܕ ܳܐ� ܶܐܢ ܳܒܟ ܳ� ܳܪ ܰܐܥ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܡ ܶܠܠ ܳ�ܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫��ܬܐ ܰܫܬ�̈ ܳܩܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܡܠܢ ܳܠܟ ܽܟܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܗܐ‬ ‫ܽ ̈ܶ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܘܒܚܐ ܦ�ܝܫܐ ܟܕ � ܫ�ܝܢ ܡܢ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܟ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬܥܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܟ ܰܟܕ � ܳܫ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܚܬܐ ܕܡ� ܟܘܐ ܕܢܘܗܪܐ ܢܗܝ�ܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܚܬ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩܠܣ ܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܣܦܝܩܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܩܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ� ܶ‬ ‫ܥܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܐ ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܢ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܰܕܪ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒ�ܦܐ ܕܥܘܦܐ ܘܕܦ�ܚ‬ ‫ܥܙ�̈ ܶܗܝܢ ܰܘ ܳܙܡ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܒܝܕ ܶܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܝܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܳ� ܶܗܒ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܫܛܝܚܬܐ ܘܡܕܪܐ ܕܒܕܝܪ ܥܠ ܡܡܘ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܦ ̈ܩ ܳܥܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܡܗ�� ܳܠܟ ܒܛܘ�ܐ ܘܢܚ� ܘ‬ ‫ܗܐ‬

‫‪B876‬‬

10 15

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SEEK WHAT IS ABOVE AND ON OUTER DARKNESS

The forest thicket and animals that dwell therein [on earth], Behold, [the lower heavenly sphere] sends you great marvel and amazement. The water’s abyss and all those swimming reptiles, Behold, [the water’s abyss] extols you without ceasing from being amazed [by you]. Behold, all creatures glorify you in their own manner, Because they do not cease from the praise that is owed to you. It is fitting for us to glorify [you] on behalf of all the creatures, Which stand before us and serve us like maidservants. Behold, the whole world is subjugated to us by our Creator, The sky, the earth, the sea, the air, and all that is in them. Your Lord granted you servants that stand and serve you, And as for a King, they make haste each day and honor you. Like maidservants, the sky and the earth stand before you, And though you do not command [them], each day they rush to your service. See the expanse and the luminaries as wax candles, That the whole day carries to shine forth before you. The sky is holding up the light and standing before you like a handmaiden, So that you do not travel on your path in darkness, amid stumbling blocks. The air is poured out as though for your breath and it rears you, For without it, you would not even have an hour of life.

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳܒܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ̇‬ ‫ܡܕ ܳܝ�ܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰܕܪ ܳܠܟ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰܥܡ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܣ ܳܚ ܳܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳܶ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܐ ܡܪܡܪܡ ܠܟ ܟܕ � ܫ� ܡܢ ܬܕܡܘܪܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܚܢ ܳܠܟ ܶܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳ ̈‬ ‫��ܢ ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫��ܢ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰܡܝ̈ ܶܗܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܬܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܳܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܕ� ܰܒܛܝܠ �ܗܝܢ ܡܢ ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠܢ ܳܘ ܶ� ܗ ܳܘܐ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫�� ܳܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܦܪܘܥ ܫܘܒܚܐ ܚܠܦ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ ܳ ̱ܽ ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܑ‬ ‫ܕܩܝܡܢ ܩܘܕܡܝܢ ܘܡܫܡܫܢ ܠܢ ܐܝܟ ܐܡܗܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܰܠܢ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܶܡܢ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܳܘ ܰܐܐܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܳܡܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܕܶܐ ܳܕܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ� ̱ܗܒ ܳܠܟ ܳܡ ܳܪܟ ܰܥ ̈‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܝܢ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܝ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܛܝܢ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܢ ܳܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܝܟ ܕ�ܡ�ܟܐ ܪ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܝܐ ܘܐܪܥܐ ܩܝܡܢ ܩܘܕܡܝܟ ܐܝܟ ܐܡܗܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ � ܦܩܕܬ �ܗ�ܢ ܟ�ܝܘܡ ܥܠ�ܬܫܡܫܬܟ܀‬ ‫ܽܚܘܪ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܺܗ ܶܝ�ܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܩ ܽ‬ ‫��ܘܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܥܝܢ ܳܩܐܶܡ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܪ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܕܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܡܝܟ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬ ܐܡܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܛܥܝܢܐ ܫܡܝܐ ܢܘܗܪܐ ܘܩܝܡܐ ܒ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܬܶܪܕܐ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕ� ܒܚܫ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܟ܀‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܘܒܬܘܩܠ ̣‬ ‫ܳܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܐܪ ܐܫܝܕ ܐܝܟ ܕ�ܣܘܩܟ ܘܡܪܒܐ ܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܢ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܐܦ� ܳܫܥܬܐ ܐܝܬ ܳܠܟ ܚܝܐ܀‬ ‫�� ܰܕ ̱‬

‫‪877‬‬

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Behold, the cold and the heat are mixed in it, That, by its breath you can live a corporeal life. At times it cools and at times it warms and it rears you, Your life is sustained through its cold and heat. The earth is set firmly beneath your path and is watchful over you, So that it does not swallow you up as it did Dathan and Abiram. 3 The earth is made like a maidservant and is bearing you: It disgorges and pushes out all plants for your sake. Behold, the trees bearing and standing for their foods. And each one of them in its time presents gifts before you. Behold, the animals bent before you in their own forms: Offering you prostrate adoration as for a king. Behold, the bull who lowers his head and worships you, He does not hinder you from placing a yoke upon its shoulders. The donkey and the horse bend before you, as though for your seat, In order to escort you in various places so that you might ascend and sit. The different races of all sorts of animals bow before you, For the great image of the Godhead is fashioned in you. The image of your Lord is depicted in your soul and your body is upright, In order that it not become bent like the animals who bow before you.

3

Cf. Numbers 3.

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܐ ܡܙܝܓܐ ܒܗ ܩܪܝܪܘܬ ܐ ܘܚܡ‬ ‫ܘܩܗ ܺܬ ܶܚܐ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܰܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝܕ ܰܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܓ��ܝܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܡܫ ܶܚܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܰܙܒܢ ܰܡ ܰܩܪ ܰܒ ܰܙܒܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܶܒܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܬܗ ܳܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܩ ܺܪ ܽܝܪܘܬܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝܝܟ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܬܟ ܰܘ ܺܙܗ ܳܝܪܐ ܳܒܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܚܝܬ ܗ‬ ‫�ܕ ܳܬܢ ܰܘ ܰ� ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܕ� ܶܕܝܢ ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ�ܥܟ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܡ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܥ ܳܝܢܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܥܒܝܕܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܒܕܡܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܶ̈ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܦܩܐ ܽܟܠ �ܨܒܬܐ ܡܛܠܬܟ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�ܢ̈ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܥ ܺܝܢܝܢ ܳܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܰܚܕ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܙܒܢܶܗ ܳ� ܶܗܒ ܳܕ ̈ܫܢܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܟ܀‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰܚ ̈� ܳܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܕܡܝܟ ܶܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܦܝ̈ ܳܦܢ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰܡܝ̈ ܶܗܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܢܬܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܩ�ܒܢ ܠܟ ܣ ̣ܓܕܬ ܐ ̣ܪܟ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܓܕ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳܘܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܡܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽܚܘܪ ܶܒܗ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܟ� ܠܟ ܕܐܣܝܡ ܢܝܪܐ ܥܠ ܟ‬ ‫ܬܦܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܝܐ ܳܗܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ܳܪܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܦܝܢ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܡܝܟ ܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܰ ܶܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܳܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܬܣܩ ܬܬܒ ܕܢܙܚܝܘܢܟ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܢܣܐ ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܦ� ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܟ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܰܚܝܘܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܓܕܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܓ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܨܝܪ ܒܟ ܨ�ܡ ̇ܗ ܪܒܐ ܕܐ�ܗܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬܶܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܟ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܪܟ ܺܨ ܳܝܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܝܛ ܦܓܪܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܦܝܦ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܚ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܳܕ� ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܓܕܢ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܘܕܡܝܟ܀‬

‫‪878‬‬

14 55

60

65

70

SEEK WHAT IS ABOVE AND ON OUTER DARKNESS

He straightened you, set you upright, and directed your face towards heaven, That you may see your place and consider how beautiful it is. He directed your face towards your place, the original one, For this land that you stand on is not yours. The form of your body cries out, that you are not earthly, You are from above, seek the things which are above and contemplate them. You are a stranger and a foreigner in this place, Do not think about what is in it because it is not yours. Death comes, making what is yours no longer yours, and, like a plunderer, [it] separates and removes you from your possessions. If [one’s] need passes over the day’s measure, It is a burden, in this case, and does not permit you to climb above. Do not gather for yourself the burden of the world and do not drown Your soul because the great image of the Godhead is depicted in it. You are that image of God, seek [therefore] what is above, Do not lower yourself, seeking the earth like animals. This is a disgrace for the image of the king seeking the affairs of slaves, And brings oneself down from glory to contemptible disgrace. Why do you not take notice of your glory, oh man, For your head is not bent towards the ground like the animals. 4

4

Cf. Psalm 49:12 and 20.

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‫‪60‬‬

‫‪65‬‬

‫‪70‬‬

‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܛܟ ܰܬ ܳܪܨܟ ܰܘ ܺܐܚܝܪ ܰܐ ܰܦܝ̈ܟ ܽܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܦ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܐܬܪܟ ܘܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܒܩܐ ܒܗ ܰܕܟܡܐ ܰܫܦܝܪ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܟ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܨ ܰܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦܟ ܽܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܕܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܳܕܩܐܶܡ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܶܒܗ ܰܠܘ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠ ܽܟ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ� ܳܢܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܐܣܟܡܗ ܕܦܓܪܟ ܩܥܐ ܕܠܘ ܐ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ �ܥܶܠ ܐܝܬܝܟ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܺܒܝ ܶܘܐܬܪ ܳܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܳܒܐ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܟܣ�ܝܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܐܦ ܬ‬ ‫ܳ� ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬܪܥܶܐ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܒܗ ܕܠܘ ܕܝܠ ܽܟ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܳܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܟ ܰܠܘ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܕܡ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠ ܽܟ ̱ܗܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܰܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܕܐܝܟ ܫܒܝܐ ܦܪܫܟ ܐܦܩܟ ܡܢ ܩܢ�ܢܟ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܽܗܘ ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ܰܕ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܩ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܢ ܠܡܫ‬ ‫ܶܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ� ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܪܐ ̱ܗܘ ܗܪܟܐ ܘ�ܥܠ ܕܬܣܩ � �ܗܒ ܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰܶ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܘ� ܬܛ ܰܒܥܶ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܬܟܢܫ ܠܟ �ܘܩܪܗ ܕܥ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢܦܫܟ ܕܨܝܪ ܒ ̇ܗ ܨ�ܡܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܐ�ܗܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܝܟ ܰܗܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܝ ܳܠܟ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܨ�ܡܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫� ܬܬ�ܚ ̣ܬ ܬܒܥܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܐܝܟ ܚܝܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰܨ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܐ ̱ܗܘ ܗܢܐ �ܨ�ܡܗ ܕܡ�ܟܐ ܕܢܒܥܐ ܕܥܒܕܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܶܠܗ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܳܝܩ ܳܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܐ ܺܫܝܛܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܢܶܬܬ‬ ‫ܽ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܐܘ ܰܒ ܳܪܢ ܳܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܡܘܢ ܒܐܝܩܪܟ � ܡܬܒܝܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܕ� ܟܦܝܦ ܪܝܫܟ ܠܘܩܒܠ ܐܪܥܐ ܐܝܟ ܚܝܘܬ ܐ܀‬

‫‪879‬‬

16 75

80

85

90

SEEK WHAT IS ABOVE AND ON OUTER DARKNESS

Why do you resemble a beast in your deeds, They are only pleased with what concerns the belly. Do not be like that one that is bent and bows before you, that you may not also submit yourself to the beast and resemble it. 5 Be a tree that, upright, ascends towards the heights, Do not abide below, so that those who pass by do not cut you off. 6 The teaching is revealed to you through an earth’s plant About how it ascends from within the soil to the heights above. It has no soul, nor even sense, yet ascends above Just as the Creator commanded from the beginning. Behold, the upright plants ascending towards the heights, And your gaze turns to examine the things below! The plant rises from the deep to the heights of the air: And you seek to remain on the earth like a mole! Behold, the trees that leave the ground and ascend from it, For it is beloved to them to be in the air’s neighborhood. Look upon the tree that rends the earth and rises from it, So that it goes into the air to produce [its] leaves and fruits. There are one or two trees, if only it were possible That would stretch their branches as they rise to the stars.

5 6

Ibid. Cf. Psalm 80:12–13.

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‫‪80‬‬

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܽ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܬܟ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܡܘܢ ܠܒܥܝܪܐ ܡܬܕܡܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܒܥܒ‬ ‫ܪܣܐ ܳ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܳܐ� ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠ ̇ܗ ܰܕܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ� ܳ‬ ‫ܥܝܢ܀‬ ‫�ܗܝ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܶܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܓܕܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܳܠܟ ܳܐܦ ܰܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܕ� ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ̇ܗ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܶܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܛܐ ܳܣ ܶܠܩ ܽܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܝ ܐܝ�ܢܐ ܕܦܫ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܟ ܳܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܚܬ ܳܕ� ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܫܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܒ�ܝ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܩ ܶܘܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܦ ܽܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܢܨܒܬ ̇ܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܡܬܚܘ�ܐ ܠܟ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܩܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢ ܳܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܐ �ܪܘܡܐ ܕ�ܥܠ܀‬ ‫ܳ ̇ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܰܘ�ܥܶܠ ܳܣ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܠܝܬ ܠܗ ܢܦܫܐ ܘܐܦ� ܪܓ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܗܘ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ̈ܳ ܳ ܺ̈ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢ ܳܣ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩܢ ܽܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܐ �ܨܒܬܐ ܦܫܝ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܳܶ ܳܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܝܠܟ ܦܢܐ ܚ�ܪܟ ܢܒܥܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܠܬܚܬ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܒܬܐ ܳܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ �ܪܘܡܗ ܕܐܐܪ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܶܘܐ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܢ̱ܬ ܳܒܥܶܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܕܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܽܚܘܪ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܩܝܢ � ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩܝܢ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܒ ܽܒܘܬܶܗ ܳܕ ܰܐܐܪ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ � ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܢܐ ܳܕ� ܶܪܐ � ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܠܩ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܐܐܪ ܳܢ ܶܦܩ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ� ܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܛ�ܦܐ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱ܗܘ ܰܚܕ ܰܚܕ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�ܢ̈ܐ ܶܕ ܽܐܠܘ ܰܡ ܳܨ�ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܰ̈ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕܡܐ �ܟܘܟܒܐ ܦܫܛ ܣܘܟܘ ̱ܗܝ ܟܕ ܡ ̣ܬܥ�܀‬

‫‪880‬‬

18 95

100

105

110

SEEK WHAT IS ABOVE AND ON OUTER DARKNESS

And because of this, whenever it is cut down and falls to the ground There is no way for the water to submerge its lightness. It becomes a vessel and flies in the air over the floods Carrying a heavy weight and the great sea does not submerge it. Because it left the weight of the earth and rose from it: Whenever it falls upon streams, it is not drowned [by flowing waters]. Now, be also a tree whose roots within the depths Are planted and whose head passes over above to the sky. You are implanted in the ground, [so] raise yourself from it and do not remain there, Just as a tree that is planted in the ground and ascends above. Let your body stand in the earth upon its dust, And your very mind be in the heights with God. Extend your thoughts like branches towards virtues, Make fruit whose perfume pleases the heavenly beings. Be a bearer of righteousness and holiness, Mercy and pure love that is free of deceit. So that you may be a praiseworthy olive tree in the house of the Lord, 7 And a just person who springs up like a palm tree. 8 And [so that] whenever they cut you off from your roots 9 for a short time: You may acquire wings above the world like an angel.

Cf. Psalm 52:8. Cf. Psalm 92:12. 9 Cf. Psalm 52:5; Matthew 7:19; and Luke 3:9. 7 8

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‫‪100‬‬

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܦܣܩ ܶܠܗ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܳܡܐ ܶܕ ̣ܐܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ� ܐܝܬ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܐ �ܡܝܐ ܢܛܒܥܘܢ ܩܠܝ�ܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܘܐ ܽܪܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܰܪܚ ܳܒܐܐܪ ܰܥܠ ܳܡ ܽܡ ̈ܘ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܪܐ ܘ� ܡܛ ܰܒܥ ܶܠܗ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܛܥܢ �‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰܕܫܒܩ ̱ܗܘܐ �ܘܩܪ ̇ܗ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܘܣܠܩ ܡܢ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ܳܕܢ ܶܦܠ ܶ�ܠܗ ܰܥܠ ܳ� ܰܕ ܳ�ܐ � ܶܡܬܛ ܰܒܥ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܝ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܢܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺܢܨܝܒ ܥܶ ܳܩ ܶܪܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ ܰܥ ܺܒܝܪ �ܥܶܠ ܰ�ܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰܣܩ ܳܠܟ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ܳܘ� ܰ‬ ‫ܺܢܨܝܒ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܶܘܐ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܢܐ ܰܕ ܺܢܨܝܒ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰܘ�ܥܶܠ ܳܣ ܶܠܩ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܩܐܶܡ ܰܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܓܪܟ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܕ ܺܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܚܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢܟ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܥܡ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܦܫܘܛ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܳܫ ܰܒܝܟ ܐܝܟ ܰܣ ̈ܘ ܳܟܬܐ ܰܥܠ ܛ ̈ܒܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܺܰ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳ�ܢ̈ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕ ܦܐ� ܐ ܕܒܣܝܡ ܪܚܝܗܘܢ ܠ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܐ ܛܥܝܢ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܙ ܕܝܩܘܬ ܐ ܘܩܕܝܫܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܠܝܬ ܒܗ ܢܟ�܀‬ ‫ܡܪܚܡܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܒܝܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܐܝܬܝܟ ܰܙܝܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶܦܩ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܥ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܰܙ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬ ܶܕܩ�܀‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣܩܝܢ ܳܠܟ ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢܐ ܶܡܢ ܥܶ ܳܩ ܳܪܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܐܝܟ ܰܡ� ܳܟܐ܀‬ ‫ܶܓ ̈ܦܐ ܳܩܢܶܝܬ �ܥܠ ܡܢ ܥ‬

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SEEK WHAT IS ABOVE AND ON OUTER DARKNESS

And when the evil powers endeavor to submerge you, They [themselves] drown but your lightness will not be forced to sink down. Your plant is fire and spirit from within the water Of baptism, [therefore] send the plant to the heights where it belongs. Leave the earth and do not look at it for it is full of harm, Turn your gaze to the pleasant place that is above you. Behold, the sky coaxes you with its beauty to ascend towards it And see its light and all its fair forms. Do not fix your gaze on the place full of stumbling blocks, Make your mind fly to the limpid place that is above. This place in which you stand is dark and gloomy, Hasten your course to the land of light that is above you. Behold, it is enticing you with the original door, To see the ineffable beauty behind it. The sky is adorned before you and showing you [the way], The hosts are running and [thus] motivating you. Behold, the luminaries are suspended above you like fruits, [So that you may] ascend and pluck the great light and delight in it. The earth only shows her adornment in the month of April, And after a brief time it is spoiled as though it never was.

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‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܰ ̈ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܛ ܳܒ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܡܬܟܬܫܝܢ ܚܝܠܝ ܒܝܫܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܶܽ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬܟ ܳ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢܬܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܢܘܢ ܛܒܥܝܢ ܘܩܠܝ�‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܶ ̇ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܒܬܟ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ܳܝܐ‪̈:‬‬ ‫ܢܘܪܐ ܘܪܘܚܐ ܐܝܬܝܗ ܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܝܬܐ ܰܫ ܰܕܪ ܢܶܨܒܬܐ �ܪܘܡܐ ܕܐܬܪ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܕܡܥܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶܽ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܩ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ �ܪܥܐ � ܬܚܘܪ ܒ ̇ܗ ܕܬܘܟܐ ܡ�ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚ� ܳܪܟ � ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܓܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܳܢܟ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܪ ̇ܗ ܕܬ ܰܣܩ ܶ� ܐܕܶ ̇ܝܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܓܫܐ ܳܠܟ ܫܡܝܐ ܒܫ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܬܚܙ ܐ ܢܘܗܪ ̇ܗ ܘܟܠ�ܨܘ�ܬ ̇ܗ ܫܦ‬ ‫ܳ ܰܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫� ܬ�ܕ ܒܗ ܒܐܬܪ ܐ ܕܡ� ܟܠ�ܬܘܩܠܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܐ ܺܛܝܪ ܰܗ ܳܘܢܟ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܝܐ ܰܗܘ ܥܶ ܳ� ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܚ ܽܫܘܟ ܰܥ ܽܡܘܛ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܳܕܩܐܡ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܽܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܛܟ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܳܢܟ܀‬ ‫ܐܩܠ ܪ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܐܦܝ ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܶܪܓ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܐ ܳܕ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓܘ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܡ ܰܠܠ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܟ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܛܥܝܢܐ ܫܡܝܐ ܨ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܟܝܢ ܪܗܛܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܓܝܢ ܳܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܳܢܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠܝܢ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܶܝ�ܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬ ܺܦܐ� ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܰ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܛܘܦ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܘܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܰܣܡ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܬܣ ܩ ܬ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ̇ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܢܝܣܢ �ܪܚܐ ܡܚܘ�ܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܨܒܬܗ ܒ�ܚܘܕ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܒ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܒܠ�ܠܗ ܰܘܐܝܟ � ܐܝܬ ̱‬

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For a short time, she arranges and shows all her beauty, And when you seek to be consoled by it, it burns up. She adorns herself with [many] colors of buds and blossoms, And whenever the sun warms, they tilt and are singed as by fire. As with April, time granted you brief adornment, Then death arrives, casted you into the earth, and destroyed your beauty. Look upon the firmament, the habitation that extends over the uttermost regions, Because time passes but its adornment does not wane. 10 And this demonstrates to whomever sees lucidly, That the desirable adornment that is above [the earth] is without alteration. “Seek that which is above and contemplate,” Paul cries out 11 Because the place of light is your place, not the darkness. The things which are above are life for whoever receives [of them], And the things that are below are death for whoever seeks them. Seek the things which are above and contemplate the place of your Lord, [Where] Christ sits at the right [hand] in great glory. 12 Hither, the preacher of faith has sent you To the place where angels never ascended, nor even beheld. The mind fell short [of reaching] there as did speech and tongue, And faith was raised to the hidden place.

Cf. Isaiah 40:22. Cf. Colossians 3:2. 12 Cf. Colossians 3:1. 10 11

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‫ܒܢܐ ܽܙܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܳܣ ܳܕܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܪ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܒܥܶܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܕܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܰܝܐ ܶܒܗ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܪܟ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳܕܪܐ ܐ ̈ܦ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܓܘܢܐ ܕܦܩܚܐ ܘܕܗܒܒܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܕܚܩ ܫܡܫܐ ܫܒܘ ܘܐܬܚܪܟ ̱ܘ ܐܝܟ ܕܒܢܘܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܬܐ ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬ ܺܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܢܐ ܰ� ̱ܗܒ ܠܟ ܨ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܒܠ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܦܟ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܟ܀‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܘܪ ܒܪܩܝܥܐ ܡܫܟܢܐ ܕܡܬܝܚ �ܥܠ ܡܢ ܣܘܦܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ̈ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܬܐ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܳ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܒܠ܀‬ ‫ܕܥܒܪܝܢ ܙܒܢܐ ܘܨ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܕܐ ܡܚܘ�ܐ �ܝܢܐ ܕܚܐܪ ܢܗܝܪܐܝܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܬܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܓܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ܕ� ܫܘܚ�ܦܐ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܕܨ‬ ‫ܒܥܝ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܳܥܐ ܳܩܥܶܐ ܰܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܘܣ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܘܗܝ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܟ ܰܠܘ ܶܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܐܬܪ ܐ ܕܢܘܗܪܐ ܐ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ ܐܢܶܝܢ � ܳܝܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܶܩܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܒܥܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶܐܢܶܝܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕܠܬܚܬ ܡ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܳܥܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܥܝ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܪܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܪܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܡܫܝܚܐ �‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܪܟܐ ܫܕܪܟ ܗܘ ܟܪܘܙ ܐ ܕܗܝܡܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰܽ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�ܐ ܳ� ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܣ�ܩ ̱ܘ ܡܡܬ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܐܦ� ܚܙܐ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܠܬܐ ܐܦ ܶ� ܳܫ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܦܫ ܠܗ ܗܪܟܐ ܗܘܢܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝܡܢܘܬ ܐ ܐܬܥ�ܝ ̣ܬ ܠ ̇ܗ �ܬܪ ܐ ܓܢܝܙ ܐ܀‬

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Faith did not desire to stand—not even near the angels, For she rushed to be lifted above them. She left the fiery assembles of the house of Gabriel behind her, And did not delay—not even by the legions of the house of Michael. She passed the hosts, the chiefs of hosts, and dominions, She went beyond the spiritual principalities, authorities, and all the powers. 13 She made haste and leapt [over] the choirs and the fiery ranks, She reached the cherubim and her swiftness overtook the seraphim. Her course is directed to the Holy of Holies, 14 the interior one, 15 To the place of her Lord, Christ who is sitting at the right [hand of God]. 16 She entered the sanctuary 17 to see the Sublime in his place, His place is hidden, higher, and more exalted than creation. To [the place] where the Trinity is dwelling in its great glory, Faith hastened and entered and is not obstructed. Neither the minds nor the thoughts gaze upon her, And not [even] the thoughts of the heavenly ones reach her. All the ranks of lofty beings fall short of her, And neither the legions nor the angels reach her. Created beings cannot approach her, For if fire were to climb there it would burn up immediately.

Cf. Ephesians 6:12 and Colossians 1:16. Cf. Exodus 30:10. 15 Cf. Hebrews 9:3. 16 Cf. Colossians 3:1. 17 Lit. “House of Holies.” 13 14

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‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳܘ� ܶܨܝܕ ܺܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܨܒ ̣ܬ ܩܝܡܐ ܗܝܡܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܶܫܩܠ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܺܚܐܦܐ �ܡܬܥ� ܽܝܘ܀‬ ‫ܳܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܝܬ ܰܓ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ̇ܗ ܶܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܩ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܶܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܪ�ܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܓܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܗ� ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟܐܝܠ܀‬ ‫ܕܒܝܬ ܡ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰܰ ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ܰܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ̣ܬ ܚܝ� ܘ�ܒܝ ܚܝ� ܘܡ�ܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ̈ ܶܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫ ܳܢܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܫܘܠܛܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܬ ܐ� ܳܟܐܣ‬ ‫ܦܣܥ ̣‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܰ ̈ܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ̣ܬ ܫܘܪ ̣ܬ ܓܘܕ ܐ ܘܣܕ�ܐ ܕܫ�ܗܒܝܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ݀ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ̇ܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܣ� ܶܦܐ ܥܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪ ̣ܬ݀܀‬ ‫ܡܛ ̣ܬ ܠܟ�ܘܒܐ ܘܩܠܝ�‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕܘܫ ܽܩ ̈‬ ‫ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܺܫܝܢ ܰܗܘ ܰܓ ܳܘ ܳ�ܐ ܬܪ ܳܝ� ܐ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ̇ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܚܐ ܳ�ܬܒ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ܀‬ ‫�ܬܪ ܕܡܪܗ ܡܫ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓܘ ܶܒܝܬ ܽܩ ̈‬ ‫ܬ ܕܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܶܫܐ ܥܶ ܰܠ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳܡܐ ܰܒܐܬܪܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫��ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܓܢ ܽܝܙ ̱ܗܘ ܐܬܪܗ ܘܪܡ ܘܡܥܠܝ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽ�ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚ ̇ܗ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܝܟܐ ܕܫܪ�ܐ ܬܠ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶܰ ݀ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳܘ� ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝ ̣ܬ܀݀‬ ‫ܬܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܒܨ ̣ܬ ܥܠ ̣ܬ ܗܝܡܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܐ‪ܶ:‬‬ ‫ܦ� ܰܗ ̈ܘ ܢܶܐ ܳܘ� ܶ� ܳ‬ ‫� ܕܝܩܝܢ ܠ ̇ܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܳܫ ܶܒܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܡܛܝܢ ܳܠ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܟܣܐ ܰܕ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܢ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܛ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܕܪܟܝܢ ܒ ̇ܗ � ܐ ܠܓ�ܘ ܢܐ ܘ� ܡ�ܟܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ̇ܗ ܳ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒ��ܐ ܥܒܝܕܐ ܠܫܒܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܩܐ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܢܗܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܠܬ ܳܡܢ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܐ܀‬

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If the fiery assemblies of flames were brought near, They would be nothing but chaff before a flame. A fire blazes from the heavenly beings themselves, But they cannot turn towards the Son. The beings of flame drop burning coals, But if they approach that place, they will burn up immediately. The fearful cherubim whose lightning blazes from their wings, Pour out holiness towards that place so that they do not burn up. 18 The seraphim of fire conceals his face with his blazing wing, So that he may not be singed by that place of the Godhead. 19 Faith entered this place to see her Lord, Where he is seated at the right hand of the hidden Father. 20 The Son’s place is the Father with the Holy Spirit, The Trinity that is incomprehensible and ineffable. “I shall sit here and take rest for I have longed for it,” Faith says as it delights. Hither be raised, come and see the place of faith, For whoever was elevated to see her place has entered into repose. The eye has not seen and the heart of man did not reckon, What the Father prepared for those who love what is above. 21

Cf. Ezekiel 15:3. Cf. Isaiah 6:1–5. 20 Cf. Colossians 3:1. 21 Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:9. 18 19

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‫ܶ ̈ܶ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶܐܢ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟܢܫܐ ܫܓܝ�ܐ ܕܫ�ܗܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ܽ ܶܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫� ܐܝܬܝܗܘܢ ܐ � ܥܘܪܐ ܩܕܡ ܓܘܙܠܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܳܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܢ ܰ‬ ‫�ܩܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܳ� ܺܐܝܬ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܦܢܘܢ ܰܐ ̈ܶܦܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ̈ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܢܝ ܓܘܙܠܬܐ ܪܣܡܝܢ ܓܘܡ�ܐ ܕ�ܩ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܢ ܶܨܝܕ ܰܗܘ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܩܐ ܳܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܟ� ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈ܝ ܶ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܩܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܶܓ ܰܦܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܥܕܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܽ‬ ‫�ܚܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܫܐ ܳܙ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܐ ܳܕ� ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܦܐ ܐ ܰܦܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܣܪܦܐ ܕܢܘܪܐ ܒܓܦܐ ܕܢܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܕ� ܢܬܚܪܟ ܡܢ ܗܘ ܐܬܪ ̇ܗ ܕܐ�ܗܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶܰ ݀ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܕܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܪ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܗܪܟܐ ܥܠ ̣ܬ ܗܝܡܢ‬ ‫ܰܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܕ ܳܐܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܓܢ ܳܝܙ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܕ�‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܐ ܳܒܐ ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܰܥܡ ܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܪܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ ܳܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܡ��܀‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬ�ܘܬ ܐ ܕ� ܡܬܕܪܟܐ ܘ� ܡ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫̇ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܪܟܐ ܶܐܬܶܒ ܳܗ ܳܪܟܐ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܡܛܠ ܕܪ ܓܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܳܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܟܕ ܡܬܒܣܡܐ ܗܝܡܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܐܬܥ� ܘܬ ܐ ܚܙܝ ܐܬܪ ܐ ܕܗܝܡܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰܺ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ̇ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡܢ ܕܐܬܥܠܝ ܕܢܚܙ ܐ ܐܬܪܗ ܥܠ�ܠܢܝܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܚܙܬ ݀ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܥ ܳܝܢܐ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܒܐ ܕܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܳ� ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܫܒ‪:‬‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܕܛܝܶܒ ܰܐ ܳܒܐ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚܡ ̱ܘ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ܀‬

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Seek and consider the things above and do not seek for yourself The things that are below, which are nought but darkness. Whoever loves what is earthly and leaves what is above, His path is directed to the outer darkness. 22 The things of the earth drag you below the earth, To a place of gloom and full of darkness for the one who descends to it. Beneath the earth is the outer darkness, And, behold, there is the lower Sheol of which David spoke. 23 This is the chasm that is full of darkness in which there is no brightness, And whoever falls into it, has no way to rise out from there. Whoever falls until they land is unable to ascend, But if the one who fell lands, perhaps he can be raised. Because there is no bottom for that fall, [which is] everlasting and whoever has fallen did not reach the bottom. This is a chasm from which God Himself is remote, And whoever falls within it, has nowhere to land. The power that holds the whole creation, is the very power carrying [the chasm], And [He] is not there, [so] where will the one who falls arrive? It is deprived light which neither descends to it, or shines into it, For if light descended there it would immediately be extinguished.

22 23

Cf. Matthew 8:12. Cf. Psalm 86:13.

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‫ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܳܥܐ ܘ� ܬܒܥܶܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܒܥܝ ܘ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕܠܬܚܬ ܕܐ� ܚܫܟܐ � ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܶܒܩ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܝܢܐ ܕܪܚܡ ܐ�ܥܢܝ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܳܝ� ܐ ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ ܽܠܘܩܒܠ ܚܫܟܐ ܗܘ ܒܪ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܚܬ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܶܡܬܬ�ܝ̈ܢ ܳܒܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰܽ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܐ ܰܠ ܳܕܢ ܶܚ ̣ܬ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫�ܬܪ ܐ ܕܥܡܘܛ ܘ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܚܫܟܐ ܗܘ ܒܪ�ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܠܬܚܬ ܡܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܰ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܬ ܳܡ ܺܢ ̱ܗܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܰܕ ܺܘܝܕ܀‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ�ܬܚܬ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܠܝܬ ܶܒܗ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܕܡ� ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܦ‬ ‫ܶ ܶܰ ܶܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܕܢܦܠ ܒܗ ܕܢܣܩ ܡܢܗ ܦܘܪܣܐ � ܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܕܫ ܶܟܢ ܳ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳܝܢܐ ܳܕܢ ܶܦܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܡ� ܐ ܕܢܶ ܰܣܩ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܥ ܶ� ܰܗܘ ܰܡܢ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܶܓܝܪ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܒܪ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܠܝܬ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܶܓ ܳܫܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܝ ܰܡ ܰܚܬܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ � ܡܛܐ ܶܓ ܳܫܐ܀‬ ‫�ܥܠܡ ܥ�ܡܝܢ ܘܐܝܢܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܦܚܬܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܽܕܗܘ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܪ ܺܚܝܩ ܡܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܝܬ ܶܒܗ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܢ ܐ ܳܝܢܐ ܳܕܢ ܶܦܠ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܢ‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܥܝܢ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܝ� ܕܐܚܝܕ ܟܠܗ ܒܪ‬ ‫ܰ ̣ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܬܡܢ �ܝܟܐ ܢܡܛܐ ܐܝܢܐ ܕܢܦܠ܀‬ ‫ܘܠܝܬ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܘ� ܳܢ ܶܚܬ ܶܠܗ ܘ� ܳܕ ܰܢܚ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܓܠܝܙ ܡܢ ܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܢܗܘ ܳܕܢ ܶܚ ̣ܬ ܢܘܗܪܐ ܠܬܡܢ ܡܚܕܐ ܕܥܟ܀‬

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If myriads of suns were to descend to this place They would be nought but as the wick of a lamp. The Lord of light is not there, so which light Is able to descend and shine there without being corrupted? What is the place that is hidden away from God If not the darkness? But woe to the person who is sent there! What can I say or what should I speak about that darkness? Its appearance is death and I don’t know how to speak of it. God is far away from it and there is nothing for me to speak, Except woe unto whoever saw within it and beheld it. All the heavenly orders tremble at it And shudder, quiver to turn their faces and gaze into it. Their Lord is remote from the place and they are shaken by it, For if their gaze inclines towards it, they will taste death. And since the moment the accuser 24 was cast down and fell there 25 The whole assembly of the children of light are standing in fear. This is place of the Evil One and of his ministers For whoever practices iniquity and wickedness is sent to it. It is the place of the evil ones, and all the evil ones are sent to it, For they cast whoever has practiced iniquity and villainy into it.

24 25

I.e., Satan. Cf. Luke 10:18.

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‫ܶܽ ܶ ̈ ܺ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܒܘ ܫܡܫܝܢ ܐܢܗܘ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ ܐ̱ ܳ� ܰܐܝܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚܛܐ ܗܘ ܰܕܫܪ ܳܓܐ܀‬ ‫�ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܢܘ ܽܢܘܗܪܐ‪ܳ:‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܗ ܕܢܘܗܪܐ ܠܝܬ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶܽ ܶ ܰ ̱ܰܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܟܚ ܢܚܘܬ ܕܢܕܢܚ ܬܡܢ ܘ� ܢܬܚܒܠ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܓܢܝܙ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܶܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܫܬ ܰܕܪ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܐ � ܚܫܟܐ ܘܝ ܠܗ �ܝܢܐ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܶܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܘܢ ܐ ܰܡ ܶܠܠ�ܥܠ ܗܘ ܚܫܟܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܢܐ ܐܡܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙܬܶܗ ܰܡܘܬ ܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ � ܳܝ ܰܕܥ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢ ܐܡܪ ̱‬ ‫ܒܥܕ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܝܬ ܺܠܝ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚܙܝ ̱ܗܝ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܪ ܶܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܳܕܘܝ ܶܠܗ ܰ� ܳܝܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܶ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܳܙ ܺ‬ ‫ܓܡܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܥܝܢ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܬ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬܝܢ ܳܪܥܠܝܢ ܰܕܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܦܢܘܢ ܐܦܐ ܰܘ ܽܢܚܘܪܘܢ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܡܪܗܘܢ ܪ ܺܚܝܩ ܡܢܗ ܰܕܐܬܪ ܐ ܘܪܥܠܝܢ ܡܢܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳܛ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܝ ܽ‬ ‫�ܛ� ܳ‬ ‫ܪܗܘܢ ܶ� ܰ‬ ‫ܥܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܡ‬ ‫ܐܝܕ‬ ‫ܕܐܢܗܘ ܕܡ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܟܕ ܐܣܬܚܦ ܐܟ�ܩܪ� ܐ ܘܢܦܠ�ܬܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܫܐ ܰܕ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ܳܩܐܶܡ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܶܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܐܝܬ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦܠܚ ܽܥܘ� ܽܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܕܟܠ ܰܡܢ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܥܐ ܶܠܗ ܶܡܫܬ ܰܕܪ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܽܗܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܶܠܗ ܶܡܫܬ ܺܕܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶܒܗ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܦܝܢ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܽܕܟܠ ܡܢ ܕܦܠܚ ܥܘ� ܘܥ‬

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Burning mingles in that darkness in which there is no light, And the mouth has no means by which to speak of how it is. Behold, the adulterers and, behold, fornicators are cast there, For they have dishonored and corrupted the clean path of marriage. Behold, the plunderers and, behold, the avaricious ones cast there, For they have oppressed, defrauded, and caused the needy and the poor to wail. He who gathered his wealth and filled his house with the belongings of others, The evil riches gathered nothing for him except darkness. He who loved deceit and possessed envy and evil passions, The sons of darkness do not envy him for he is with them. He who took wealth, had an evil eye, and had no compassion To go and give daily bread to whoever was in need. The fiery abyss opens her mouth and receives him So that he descends and inherits that unending darkness. Whoever lived in luxury and was merry here like the rich man There, asks for a drop of water and they do not grant it to him. 26 He whose pomp was puffed up, [who] deluded his companions, and treated his kin with contempt Is abased and miserable under the rule of the chief of evil. 27 Regarding he who stepped forward and transgressed the priest’s word, and did not fear it, The earth and sky tremble at his torment.

26 27

Cf. Luke 16:19–31. Cf. Isaiah 58:7.

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‫ܕܠܝܬ ܶܒܗ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܒܗܘ ܶܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠܝܛ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ� ܺܐܝܬ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܐ܀‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ ܕ‬ ‫ܘܦܘܡܐ‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢ ܐܝܬ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܢܡܠ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܗܐ ܓ��ܐ ܘܗܐ ܙ�ܝܐ ܣܚܝܦܝܢ ܬܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܕܫܘܬܦܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܨܥܪ ̱ܘ ܚܒ� ̱ܘ ܐܘܪܚܐ ܕܟ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ ܽ ̈ܶ ܺ ̣ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܐ ܒܙܘܙ ܐ ܘܗܐ ܥ�ܘܒܐ ܥܓܝܢܝܢ ܬܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܠܡ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܒ ̱ܘ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܣ�ܝ̈ ܶܩܐ ܐܦ ܶܡ ̈ܣ ܺܟܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܥܘܝܘ‬ ‫ܰܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܶܡܢ ܰܕܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܟܢܫ ܥܘܬܪ ܐ ܘܡ� ܒ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ܰܟܢܶܫ ܶܠܗ ܶܐ ܳ� ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܐ ܽܥܘܬܪ ܐ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܪܚܡ ܢ ̣ܟ� ܘܩܢܐ ܚܣܡܐ ܘܚܫܐ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܰ̈ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫� ܚܣܡܝܢ ܒܗ ܒܢܝ ܚܫܘܟܐ ܕܥܡܗܘܢ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܰܐܚܕ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܪ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܥܝܢܶܗ ܘ� ܰܪ ܶܚܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܕ� ܳ‬ ‫ܣܢܝܩ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܰ� ܳܝܢܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܢܦܩ ܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܬ ܐ ܕܢܘܪܐ ܦ ̣ܬܚܐ ܦܘܡ ̇ܗ ܘܡܩܒ� ܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܽܚܘܬ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܳܕ� ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪ ̣ܬ ܰܗܘ ܶܚ ܽܫ ̣ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܡܐ܀‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝܪܐ‪ܳ:‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܕ ̣ܐܬܓܐܝ ܘܒܣܡ ܗܪܟܐ ܐ ̣ܝܟ ܥ‬ ‫ܰܳ ܳܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܳܘ� ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒܝܢ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܬܡܢ ܫܐܠ ܛ ̣‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܪ ܐ ܘܛܥܐ ܟܢܬܗ ܘܫܛ ܩܪܝܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܢܦܚܗ ܚ ̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܫܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ ܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܦܠ ܰܘܕܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܚ ̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫ ̇ܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ܳܕܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܣܥ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚܠ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܡ ̣‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܳܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ܶܩܗ ܳܕܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ܀‬

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The one who defiled himself and corrupted his body with evil passions: His hands and feet are bound and fettered and he is cast there. 28 The one who got angry and pushed away love from himself to hate his brother, That same chasm will be in a great reconciliation with him. The mouth which pronounced all kinds of abuse and hateful speech Will be quiet and silenced at that crying with great suffering. The ear that loved to hear songs and jesting here, The Evil One’s tunes will be sung into it so that it becomes deaf. The olfaction that loved the putrid scent of lasciviousness Will be saddled by the foulness of impure demons there. The eye that secretly gazed here There, will be shut and full of darkness so that it will no longer see. Whoever gave false testimony about their kin Will be the companion of evil demons who taught him. Woman whom the Evil One grabbed hold of 29 so that she looked at herself in the mirror, Is shown frightful visions of all kinds of terrors. Legs that wrongfully ran after theft Will become limp and cast in the darkness for eternity. The workers of iniquity are overthrown and cast down in the whirlpool, And all unspeakable adversity surrounds them.

28 29

Cf. Matthew 22:13. Bedjan’s footnote, encouraged.

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‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ� ܰܐܐ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ̈ܫܐ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܒܠ ܦܓܪܗ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܟܪܝܢ ܳܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܓ�ܘܗܝ ܳܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ܰ‬ ‫ܺܐ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܣܪܝܢ ܳܫ ܶܕܝܢ ܬ ܳܡܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܝܕ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܚܩ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܓܙ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ � ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܕܢܶܣܢܶ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽܗ‪ܰ ،‬ܗܘ ܰܦܚܬܐ ܳܥ ܶܒܕ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ܰܫ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܡ�� ܰܣ ܳܢܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܡܠܠ ܟܠ�ܨܘܚܝ ̣‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܰܗܘ ܶܒ ̣ܟ ܳܝܐ ܳܚ ܶܪܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܬܟܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳܫܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܶܳ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܥܝ̈ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܕܢܐ ܕܪܚܡ ̣ܬ ܕܬܫܡܥ ܗܪܟܐ ܙܡ�ܐ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܶܡ ܰܙܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܕܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܩ ܰܠ ̈ܝ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܕ ܳܓܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܣܘܩܐ ܕܪܚܡ ܪܝܚܐ ܣܪ�ܐ ܕܫܪܝܚ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ̣ ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ ܕܕܝܘܐ ܛܡܐܐ܀‬ ‫ܬ ܳܡܢ ܡܣܪܓ ܡܢ ܣܪ� ̣‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܳܰ ݀ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳܳܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܥܝܢܐ ܕܛܫܝ ̣ܬ ܚܪ ̣ܬ ܗܪܟܐ ܓܢܒܐ‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܐ ܳܕ� ܬܘܒ ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܕ ̣ܘܬ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣܗܕ ܰܥܠ ܰܩ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܒܗ ܳܣ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܶ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܚܒܪܐ �ܕܝܘܐ ܒ‬ ‫ܕܗ ܽܢ ܶܘܢ ܐ ܰܠܦ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܛܦ ̇ܗ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܬܚܙ ܐ ܐܦܝ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܡܚܙ ̣‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈ܝ ܶ� ܽܕܟܠ ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܚ ̈ܶܙܘܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ܺܕܝܢ ܶܡ ̣ܬ ܰܚ ܶܘܝܢ ܳܠ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܳܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܽܓ ̈ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܒܐ ܰ� ܳܘ� ̣‬ ‫�ܓ� ܕܪܗܛ ܒ ̣‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܥܕܡܐ �ܥܠܡ܀‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܚܫ ̣‬ ‫ܚܓܝ�ܢ ܰܫ ̈ܕ ܳ�ܢ ̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܦܝܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܫܕܝܢ ܳܦ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܝ ܽܥ ܳܘ� ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܳܨ ܰܡܪܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܟ� ̣ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܽܟܠ ܳ�ܥ ̈ܩ ̣ܬܐ ܕ� ܶܡ ̣ܬ ܰܡܠܢ܀‬

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A shout rises from the darkness but there is no one to answer, And there is weeping but no deliverer and no help. The thundering of the cries of suffering which rend rocks rise, And the door of despair is closed [on them] by the judge. Mercy is withheld and wrath is issued onto the unruly, And the mouth of the fiery chasm is closed upon the impious. Because they held the Son of God’s commandments in contempt, And did not heed [them], whenever they call to him, they will not be heard. They increase their cries but there is no one to answer nor even listen, And justice closes the door and does not open it. Wrath closed the door of mercy in the face of the wicked, And however much they cry out, [their] affliction increases and they are not heard. Here the door of mercy is open before sinners, And it is easy for you to enter each day if you wish. Behold, grace opens the door and calls to the wicked To come, enter and take shelter from justice with her. Seek mercy for yourself before the door is closed in front of you, And you increase your cries when there is no one to answer or hear you. See how the prophet David prostrated himself, And beseeching mercy from God with great passion.

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‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܳܘ� ܺܐܝܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶܡܢ ܶܚ ܽܫ ̣ܳ‬ ‫ܳܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܕ�ܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܩܐ ܓܥ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̣ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺܳܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ ܒܟܝܐ ܘ� ܦܪܘܩܐ ܘ� ܐ��܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ̣ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܣܠܩ ܪܥܡܐ ܕܩܠܝ ܚܫܐ ܕ�ܪܐ ܟܐܦܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܦ ܶܣܩ ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܚܝܕ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܕ ܳ� ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܚܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܘܢ ܺܦܝܩ ܽܪܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ ܰܥܠ ܳܡ ܽ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ‪:‬‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ ܽܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܚܝܕ ܦܘܡܐ ܕܗ‬ ‫ܰ ̣ ܰ ܽ ܳܰ ̈ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܣܪ ̱ܘ ̱ܗܘܘ ܥܠ ܦܘܩܕ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܕܒܪ ܐ�ܗܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܥܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܨ ̣ܬ ̱ܘ ܐܢܘܢ ܡܐ ܕܩܪܝܢ ܠܗ � ܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܕ�ܢܐ ܐܦ� ܕ� ܐ ̣ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܣܓܝܢ ܳܩ ܶܪܝܢ ܘ� ܐ‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܚܝܕ ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ ܘ� ܳܦ ̣ܬ ܳܚܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܶܡܢ ܟ ܽܐܢ ̣‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܒ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܠܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܕ� ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦܝ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ‬ ‫ܚܕܗ ܽܪ‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܓܐ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥܝܢ ̣ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܟܡܐ ܕܩܪܝܢ ܘ� ܡ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܪܟܐ‬ ‫ܦܬܝܚ ̱ܗܘ ܬܪܥܐ ܕ�ܚܡܐ ܩܕܡ ܚܛܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫̣‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ ܶܐ ܽܢܗܘ ܳܕܨ ܶܒ ݀‬ ‫ܦܫܝܩ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳܠ ̣ܟ ܕܬܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ ܳܦ ̣ܬ ܳܚܐ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܐ ܛܝܒ ̣‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܢ ̣ܐܬܘܢ ܢܥ�ܘܢ ܢܣܬ ܳܬܪܘܢ ܒ ̇ܗ ܡ ܰܢ ܟܐܢ ̣‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬܬܚܕ ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܝ ܳܠܟ ܰܪ ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܥܕ� ܶܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܒܐܦܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܓ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܕ�ܢܶܐ ܐܘ ܳܫ ܰܡܥ ܳܠ ̣ܟ܀‬ ‫ܝܬ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܩܪܝܬ ܘ� ܐ ̣‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܓܚ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝܐ ܰܕ ܺܘܝܕ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܒܥܶܐ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳܫܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬

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In the nights, his bed was moistened with tears, And his bedding was dampened by his eyes. 30 His eyes were grieved by frequent, daily crying, And because of the eye’s trickle, its color waned. Lord, my God, by the abundance of your mercy, answer your servant, Also, by the bounty of your salvation Lord, save me. 31 So that I may not go down to [the chasm], from that foul mire of demons, And from the whirlpool filled with sin, you, my Lord, save me. May the fearful chasm filled with darkness not swallow me, And may the bottomless pit of its mouth not seize me. Answer me, God, in accordance with your mercy and your grace, And by the abundance of your compassion Lord, save me. Lord, turn towards the miserable, infirm soul, And do not deliver it to the adversaries who despise humankind. May the endless mercies come towards me, May they bring me towards the salvation that shines from you. Save me from the evil deeds of my enemies, O Lord, Behold, they entice me to descend with them into the darkness. My Lord, I am your image, may the sons of perdition not deride me, And may they not say about me: Aha, aha, our eye has seen him. 32

Cf. Psalm 6:6–7. Cf. Psalm 69:13, 16. 32 Cf. Psalm 35:21. 30 31

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‫ܶ ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒ�ܝ̈ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ̣ ܳܬܐ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ̣ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܣܗ ܒܕܡܥܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܶܡܢ ܳܒ ̈ܒܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܣܝܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ̣ܬ ܐܦ ܬܫܘ ̣‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�ܘ̈ܗܝ ܶܡܢ ܰܗܘ ܶܒܟ ܳܝܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ̣ܽܕܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ‪:‬‬ ‫̣ܰ‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܟܒ ̈ܝ ̱ܗ ̈ܘܝ ܰܥ ܳ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܰܓܘܢܶܗ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܰܗܘ ܶܫܚ� ܕܡܢ ܒܒ‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܳܡ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܝܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ܰܕ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕ ̣ܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܥܢ ̱‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܐܠܗ ̱ܝ ܒܣ ܳ ̣‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ܽܬܘܒ ܰܗܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܩ ܳܢ ̣ܟ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܦ ܳܨ ̱ܢܝ܀‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܶܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܰܗܘ ܣ�ܢܐ ܣܪ�ܐ ܕܫ‬ ‫ܐܕ ܐ ܕ� ܰܐ ܽܚ ̣‬ ‫ܶ ܳܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܳܡܪ ̱ܝ ܰܦ ܳܨ ̱ܢܝ܀‬ ‫ܳܘܡ ܶܢ ܨܡܪܬ ܐ ܕܡ ܳ�ܝܐ ܚܛ ̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܝ ܳܗ ̣ܘܬܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܟܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܚ‬ ‫ܒ�ܥ ̱‬ ‫ܘܡ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܬܶ ܽܐܚܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝ ܺܒ ܳܪܐ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܠܝܬ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܶܓ ܳܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܰܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ̣ܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܢܝ ܐ�ܗܐ ܡܛ‬ ‫ܥܢ ̱‬ ‫ܠ �ܚܡܝܟ ܐܦ ܛܝܒ ̣‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܠ ̣ܟ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܦ ܳܨ ̱ܢܝ܀‬ ‫ܒܣ ܺܓ ܽܝ ̣‬ ‫ܚ� ܳܢܐ ܕܐ ̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܚܝܠܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ ̣ ܳܬܦ ܰܢ ܡܪ�ܐ ܥܠ ܕܘ ̣‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܘ� ܬ ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ ܰܠܒܥܶܠܕܒܒܐ ܣ� ܰܝܝ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܠܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܣ ܳܟܐ ܺܢ ̣ܐܬܘܢ ܶ� ܰܐܕܝ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܘ ̣ܬ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܢܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܢ ̣ܟ ܳܕ ܰܢܚ܀‬ ‫ܘܢ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܺ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽܦ ܽܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܕܒܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܕܒ ܰܒ ̈ܝ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܢܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ̱‬ ‫ܡܢ ܒܝܫ ̣‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܕܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓܘ ܚܫܘܟܐ܀‬ ‫ܡܓܪܓܝܢ ܠ ܳܝ ܕܐܚ ̣‬ ‫ܘܬ ܥܡܗܘܢ ܰ ̣‬ ‫�ܡܟ ܐ ܳܢܐ ܳܡܪ ̱ܝ � ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܠܘܢ ܺܒܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܢ ̈ܝ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܨ ܳ ̣ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܕܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝ ܐ ܶܗܐ ܐ ܶܗܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ̣ܬ ݀ ܶܒܗ ܰܥ ܰܢܝܢ܀‬

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Were I to descend to the darkness, there would be no gain, For dust in Sheol neither gives you thanks nor glorifies you. 33 You are not praised by the dead who descend to Sheol, 34 None of those who are in darkness give you thanks. 35 You are blessed by the lofty beings and the earthly beings, And by the penitent who come towards you to repent. Take tears from the sinners for yourself and grant [them] forgiveness, And receive my groaning as that of Job and absolve my sins. 36 Behold, I am mixing the tears of my eyes with [my] drink of water, 37 I will drink them and wash the sins of [my] soul in them. Because there is none among the living who is blameless or justified before you, 38 Let your mercy petition on behalf of sinners in the court. 39 May your compassion enter and be an advocate in place of my guilt, And may [it] defend me, beseeching these [words]. This wretch is nothing and nor are his sins; Lord, do not bring him to judgement before you. A drop of mercy from that infinite sea, Is able to wash the iniquities of the world if you so will it. You do not desire to hinder [your] mercy from sinners, It is [their choice] to hinder mercy, for they did not seek mercy.

Cf. Psalm 115:17 and 6:6. Ibid. 35 Cf. Psalm 6:6 and Isaiah 38:18. 36 Cf. Job 23:2. 37 Cf. Psalm 102:9. 38 Cf. Psalm 143:2 and 51:4. 39 Lit. “house of judgement.” 33 34

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‫ܠܓܘ ܶܚ ܽܫ ̣ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ܶܐܢ ܳܢ ܶܚ ̣ܬ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳܠܝܬ ܽ� ̣‬ ‫̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ ܳܠܟ ܰܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ܘ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰܒܚ ܳܠ ̣ܟ܀‬ ‫ܕ� ܰܡ ܶ ̣‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܬܝܢ ܰܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ܶܡܫܬ ܰܒܚ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܘ ܡܢ ܡܝܬܐ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܽܫܘܟܐ � ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܝܢ ܠܟ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܬܚܬ�̈ܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܢ̱ܬ ܡܬܒܪܟܬ ܡܢ ܥ�ܝܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܬ�ܒܐ ܕܐܬܝܢ � ܐܕܝܟ ܠܬ�ܒܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܣܒ ܳܠܟ ܶܕܡܥ̈ܶܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܒ ܽܫܘܒܩ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܒܠ�ܬܶ ܰܢܚܬܝ ܰܐܝܟ ܳܗܝ ܺܕ ܽܐ�ܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܣܐ ܰܚ ̈ܘ ܰܒܝ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܕ ̈ܡܥܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܳܗܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡܝ̈ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܙ�̈ ܳܓܢ ܺܠܝ ܒܫܩܝܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܫܝܓ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܶܐܢܶܝܢ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܛ ̈ܶܗܐ ܰܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܗܝܢ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕ� ܐܝܬ ܳܕܙ ܶܟܐ ܘ� ܶܡ ܰܙܕ ܰܕܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܟ ܽܟܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܡܝܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܣܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܶܒܝܬ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܓܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ܳܢܟ �ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܠܦ ܰܚ ܳܝ ܽܒܘܬ ̱ܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܰܫܦ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܽܦܘܩ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ܀‬ ‫ܳܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ � ܽܗܘ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܳܘܐܦ� ܚܛ ̈ܗ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ ܺ‬ ‫�ܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝܟ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ � ܳܡܪ ̱ܝ ܬܥܠ ̱ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܬܐ ܰܕ� ܶ‬ ‫ܛ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܗܘ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܕ� ܶܡܣܬ ܰ�̈ܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܳܨ�ܐ ̱ܗܝ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܫܝܓ ܥܘܠܗ ܕܥ�ܡܐ ܐܢ ܨܒܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܟ� ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܚܛܝ̈ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܶܓܝܪ ܳܨ ܶܒܝܬ ܕܬ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܝܗ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܳܕ� ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܘ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܟ�ܘܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܝ�ܗܘܢ ܐ‬

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340

SEEK WHAT IS ABOVE AND ON OUTER DARKNESS

Your mercy is overflowing, your love spread, and your door opened, And your hands are extended, embracing whoever repents. That younger son 40 who went far from you and returned towards you, You fell upon his neck and he was embraced by your kisses. 41 When he went to a place remote from your will And dissipated his goods on harlots and lechery. 42 But as soon as he repented, came to his sense, and confessed that he sinned and poured out tears, he was received with mercy and love. Oh, Good One, whose door of mercy is opened and [who] invites the wicked, Glory to you and mercy on us at all times.

Cf. Luke 15:11–30. Luke 15:20. 42 Luke 15:30. 40 41

‫‪43‬‬ ‫‪335‬‬

‫‪340‬‬

‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬

‫ܺ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܬܝܚ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܦܝܥܝܢ �ܚܡܝܟ ܘܦܫܝܛ ܚܘܒܟ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ̈ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢ ܳܠܟ ܺܐ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܝܕܝܟ ܬܥܦܩ �ܝܢܐ ܕܬܐܒ܀‬ ‫ܘܦܫܝ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܗܘ ܒܪܐ ܙܥܘܪܐ ܕܐܪܚܩ ܡܢܟ ܘܦܢܐ � ܐܕܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܽ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܒܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܢܦܠܬ ܥܠ�ܨܘܪܗ ܘܡܢ �ܘܫܩ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܶܐ ܰܙܠ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܐ ܰܕܪ ܺܚܝܩ ܶܡܢ ܶܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳܢܟ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ̈ ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܚ ܢܟܣܘ ̱ܗܝ ܥܠ ܙܢܝܬܐ ܘܥܠ ܦܚܙܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܶܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬܬܘܝ ܺܘ ܰܝܕܥ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܕܝ ܰܕܚܛܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܫܕ ܶܕ ̈ܡܥܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰܒܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܬܝܚ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܪܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܕ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܛܒܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܠܟ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܘܥܠܝܢ �ܚܡܐ ܒܟ��ܕ ܢܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܡܪ ̱ܝ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܶܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܩܘܒ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܰܒ ܳܪ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪892‬‬

BIBLIOGRAPHY Brock, Sebastian. “An Early Maronite text on Prayer.” Parole de l’Orient 13 (1986): 79–94. Brock, Sebastian. The Harp of the Spirit: Poems of Saint Ephrem the Syrian. Cambridge: Aquila Books, 2013. Harvey, Susan Ashbrook. “To Whom Did Jacob Preach?” In Jacob of Serugh and His Times: Studies in Sixth-Century Syriac Christianity, edited by George Kiraz, 115–132. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2010. Saber, George. “La Typologie Sacramentaire et Baptismale de Saint Ephrem.” Parole de l’Orient 5, no. 1–2 (1973): 73–91.

45

INDEX OF BIBLICAL REFERENCES References are to line number Isaiah 6:1–5 38:18 42:5a 40:22 58:7

184 318 14 142 252

322

Ezekiel 15:3

182

296, 316, 318 6 74, 78 314 74, 78 111 113 325 300 314 80 202 112 323 316 325

Matthew 7:19 8:12 22:13

113 198 256

Luke 3:9 10:18 15:11–30 15:20 15:30 16:19–31

113 229 337 338 340 250

Exodus 30:10

161

Numbers 3

40

Job 23:2 Psalms 6:6–7 19:1 20 35:21 49:12 52:8 52:5 51:4 69:13 69:16 80:12–13 86:13 92:12 102:9 115:17 143:2

1 Corinthians 2:9 194 47

48

SEEK WHAT IS ABOVE AND ON OUTER DARKNESS

Ephesians 6:12

160

Colossians 1:16 3:1

160 145, 164, 186

3:2 Hebrews 9:3

150 161