Ephraim: The Nisibene Hymns
Nisibene Hymn 58: Death Curses Satan for the Cross
See, Death was quick to mock Satan beforehand,
him who was doomed to become a mockery at the last.
Refrain: Glory to you, who by your crucifixion conquered the Evil One,
and by your resurrection won the victory over Death as well!
And for our Lord’s sake Death spoke curses on the one
who was the cause of his shame and crucifixion.
May the fiery pit be your grave, Satan,
you who blasphemed the Voice from the grave that tore open the graves!
I know my Lord, and the Son of my Lord, Satan!
You have denied your Lord and crucified the Son of your Lord.
This is the name that fits you: “Slayer of your Lord.”
When he whom you slew appears, he will slay you.
Everyone will shake his head at you, for through you the leaders
shook their heads at him, the Lord of life.
You will be a bruised reed under the feet of the just,
for through you they put a reed in the hand of him who upholds all things.
He was crowned with a crown of thorns as a sign
that he took the diadem of the kingdom of the house of David.
With a crown of thorns he was crowned, the King of kings;
but he took the king’s diadem from those who put him to shame.
In the robes of mockery they gave him, in those he mocked them,
for he took the robe of glory from priests and kings.
Your memory is akin to vinegar, Satan,
you who offered vinegar for the thirst of the Fountain of Life.
Every man will lift his hand against you, who strengthened the hand
that struck him by whose hand all creatures stand.
He was struck by the hand, and he cut off the hand of Caiaphas;
the hand of the priesthood is cut off in the cutting off of the anointing.
Again, they stretched him on the pillar as for scourging,
him whose pillar went before them to guide their tribes.
The Pillar on the pillar, he was scourged;
he removed himself from Zion, and its fall came.
When they put two beams together to make the cross,
he broke them, the two staffs, their guardians.
Ezekiel put the sticks together, the two into one;
in the two beams of the cross their staffs have come to an end.
The two sticks, like wings, carried the people;
see, his two staffs were broken, just as his wings were.
The bosom and wings of the cross he opened in mercy;
its feathers bent down and carried the nations, so that they might go to Eden.
It is akin to the Tree of Life, and to the son of its stock;
it leads its beloved, so that on its branches they may feed on its fruit.
Go and howl and weep, Evil One, for me and for you,
for not one of us will enter the “Garden of Life.”
Now that you have confessed, Death, come, let me tell you:
all this talk of yours is idle chatter to me.
I will go and watch the snares that I have set;
you too, Death, fly off and look after all who are sick.
Our Lord has brought both to nothing, one on each side:
the Evil One will be brought to nothing here, and Death hereafter, there.