Nisibene Hymn 40: Satan Boasts to His Servants

The Evil One saw how greatly he had been humbled, and he boasted before his servants. He spoke great words to persuade them, and said: “Little of the knowledge I have comes by nature; much of it, indeed all of it, comes by learning. I have been my own master and have trained my understanding. I have learned everything without a teacher. I have armed myself with every weapon, and by it I have won the crown I wanted among mankind.” [a]

Among the Pharisees I clothed myself in hatred, so that I might fight against him, the Son of Mary. Wrath rained arrows like a bow; boldness railed at him; fury rebelled against him; ingratitude slandered him; envy and jealousy fought him in their rage; and blasphemy took up stones. The Healer came in and stood among the sick, and I stirred up the diseased to quarrel with him.

Because he did not fall under reproach, I took refuge in questions. Many times I stirred up pretexts, but I saw that my lies were exposed, my impudence was made known, and my empty chatter was despised. I turned to the windings of argument. Everywhere I disputed with him, all my labor was like chaff, and the word of truth scattered it on every side.

I saw that there is a warrior, a mighty lord in cunning, inside a man, and the snake outside makes him afraid. His lusts are coiled within him continually; his jealousy hisses like a serpent. He breeds deadly desires, yet he is in dread of a fever. A command, like a drug, can quell derision, which strikes to destroy. It is love that can break the secret and bitter sting of the tongue. [b]

Who is more foolish than man, who cares for his house more than for himself! He looks over the clothes in his chest every day, while a worm is lurking in his own limbs. He mends the tears in his clothes, but a tear is made in his soul. His house is lit up, but his heart is dark. He shuts his senses but opens his windows. He closes his door and guards his money, but his mouth is open, and the treasure of his thought is stolen.

The fool makes more of his animals than of himself, for he cares for his possessions rather than for his soul. He sows good seed in his ground, but in his heart he sows weeds. His understanding lies thrown open and broken down, but he labors over the fences of his vineyard. He chooses vines and plants them, while his mind is a vine from the vines of Sodom. He keeps the wild donkey away from his crops, but the wild boar of the forest devours his thoughts. [c]

I am a furnace for mankind, and in me their counsels are tested. That is why I am allowed to weave deceit. I teach the Chaldean art: because of the true things that happen, the false things are believed. In the middle of Egypt I closed men’s eyes. I showed them insects, and men thought they were there, though they were not. By closing men’s eyes I teach the signs of the Zodiac, though they are not in the heavens. [d]

Because of my swiftness I fly and see, and I show it beforehand to the soothsayer, and those who are deceived about me count me a prophet. But sometimes I make bold and ask that secret things be revealed to me for an hour, so that true men may be tested by me, like Job, and deceivers likewise, like Saul. For the one, I exposed his sorcery; for the other, I purified his truth, and he was praised. [e]