Ephraim: The Nisibene Hymns
Nisibene Hymn 7: Wrath Against the Greedy
Wrath came to rebuke the greedy,
who in the middle of peace
bargained, cheated and plundered.
In disaster the greedy have grown rich.
See, what was theirs they have scattered;
what was not theirs they have gathered.
Refrain: Give peace, Son, to our land!
For twenty years my troubles
have been like branches, my Savior,
which are held back all through the winter;
but when it is time to shoot out,
my troubles shoot out:
with our fruit our heart ripens.
Nisan is the time of buds:
in it the bad news budded.
When our delights crowded on us,
then our ills crowded on us.
At the time of the winnowing of wheat
came the winnowing of cities.
For the three brothers in Babylon
did not flee from the fire that men lit,
because they were steadfast;
from lust they fled,
because they were perfect.
The fire of those who have triumphed
can turn the black young goats into white;
the fire of vain men
can make the lambs into spotted leopards.
How great my cries will be,
to be cried out at any alarm!
How great my indignation,
to ripen at every piece of bad news!
How great my harvests,
to perish every mouth!
For the crimes of my sons he has chastened me,
in their struggling for my deliverance.
The people who deliver me
bring chastening on me.
Hold back your sins,
and see, my chastenings are held back!
In bad news they are afflicted;
in a time of wrath they are tortured;
in a time of peace they are distressed;
for when everyone breathes freely,
and all are ungrateful for grace,
they give thanks on behalf of everyone.
Their sackcloth is humble for my sake;
their ashes are sprinkled in my affliction;
their prayer is for my victory;
their fasting for my deliverance.
See, the debt is on my ascetics,
and the guilt with my nobles.
In every age
the folly of the wise is great:
the scribes and elders envied and killed the teacher
who taught all people the Law of Moses.
In this age wisdom
is a possession that brings loss:
one who has a little folly,
very small is his guilt;
but one who has a little prudence,
his iniquity passes all measure.
They build with their words,
and tear down with their deeds;
for the teachers were many and foolish;
but the mouth of the judge is both of these things,
the judge and the accuser.