Ephraim: The Nisibene Hymns
Nisibene Hymn 57: Death Mocks the Evil One
Listen, my brothers and sisters, to Death mocking the Evil One,
who made the head of our race sin, and its mother too.
Refrain: Glory to you, for by your humiliation Satan is subdued,
and your lowliness has exalted Adam, who was brought low.
Your great nakedness will be seen by the children of Adam,
as you mocked his nakedness when you made him sin.
Eve will turn from that serpent and rail at you,
for you, Dragon, were the one who deceived her simplicity.
Abel will see even Cain, who has come to you;
the disciple of his wrath will blame his cursed master.
Noah, who conquered the flood as though it were death,
I laughed at by the mouth of Ham, when wine overcame him.
Noah was not harmed; but your garment, which you clothed him in,
that is, the curses, he put on, and became a slave.
Lot, who overcame anger, which is your likeness, Death:
to his daughters I gave such counsel as pleased me.
And Lot’s wife, who was your vessel, listened to your counsel.
May half of you be dried up, as your whole vessel was dried up!
May Gehenna be overturned on your head,
as your malice overturned Sodom and its people!
May floods of fire be stirred up against you at the resurrection,
you who stirred up the people against Moses and Elijah!
May the just mock you at the last, and Joseph rejoice,
whose brothers mocked him at your prompting!
May a cloud of smoke come in and choke your senses,
as the waters of the sea choked the senses of the wicked!
May chaste women mock you too, you by whose counsel
the daughters of Midian mocked the foolish people!
May flame be kindled on your head for Samson’s sake,
for by a woman you shaved the locks of that lion of strength!
Saul, whom I conquered by envy, conquered you by witchcraft,
for he asked for Samuel and brought him up out of his grave.
Do not slander the living dead, for he did not come up.
You were the one who came up in the apparition, for you were worthy of it.
May the commandment hang you over the flame, Evil One!
For through you they hanged Absalom on a tree.
In the fire may you see yourself humbled among vile women!
For through you Solomon was degraded among profane women.
May justice be measured out to you, as you set her on fire!
Jezebel, who devoured the prophets: it was you who kindled her.
In fire may you justly burn, you who made them drunk,
the two whom Elijah burned up when they went up and attacked him!
On you too may coals be heaped! May he see it and rejoice,
that Naboth on whom you heaped a pile of stones!
Be clothed in scorn on the day of judgment before all who look on,
you who clothed Gehazi in leprosy by means of your theft!
Be pierced with lightning for a dart, Satan,
you who fixed your darts in the heart of Josiah!
Sink into the dregs of Gehenna, Satan,
you who sank Jeremiah in the mire of the pit!
Daniel escaped from the pit you threw him into.
May he have comfort in seeing you in the furnace forever!
May your wickedness come back on your own head, hater of man,
as his wickedness came back on the head of Haman, your fellow!
May the King’s Bride mock you, as Esther did,
when you beg her on the day of judgment to plead for you!
Fire set free the righteous ones whom you had bound;
may the flame of fire be a mighty bond for you!
May you be torn apart, and may the seven brothers see your defeat,
the sons of Shemuni, who were torn apart by your wolves!
May fire triumph over your skull, as you mocked
the two heads of the Nazirites, the sons of barren women!
May fire make a mockery of your head, for mother and daughter
triumphed over John’s head when you drove them mad!
Flame triumphed over your head, Evil One,
for on the platter you triumphed over John’s head!