Epiphany Hymn 7: The Flock at the Well

The flock of Jacob came down

and stood around the well of water.

In the water they took on the likeness of the wood that was covered by it.

These are mysteries and types of the cross,

in which the parables are interpreted.

Refrain: Blessed is he who atoned for your sins, so that you might receive his Body worthily!

In these rods likenesses are shown,

and in the sheep, parables.

The cross is figured in the rods, and in the sheep the souls of men.

His wood was a mystery of our Wood;

and in the same way his sheep were a mystery of our flock.

The sheep of Christ rejoice

and stand around the font of baptism;

in the water they put on the likeness

of the living and goodly cross,

on which all created things gaze;

and all of it is stamped on them all.

At the well Rebekah received

the jewels for her ears and her hands.

The Bride of Christ has put on

precious things that come from the water:

on her hand the living Body,

and in her ears the promises.

Moses drew water and watered the sheep

of Jethro, the priest of sin.

But our Shepherd has baptized his sheep,

he who is the high priest of truth.

At the well the flocks were mute,

but here the sheep have speech.

The People passed through the water and were baptized;

the People came up on dry land and became like the pagans.

The commandment had no taste in their ears;

the manna went bad in their vessels.

Eat the living Body,

the medicine of life that gives life to all!

To the sons of Lot Moses said,

“Give us water for money;

only let us pass by through your territory.”

They refused him the way, and the water that does not last.

See, the living water is given freely,

and the path that leads to Eden!

From the water Gideon chose for himself

the men who were victorious in the battle.

You have gone down to the victorious waters:

come up and triumph in the fight!

Receive atonement from the water,

and from the fight the crown!

You who are baptized, take your lamps,

like the lamps of the house of Gideon;

conquer the darkness by your lamps,

and the silence by your hosannas!

Gideon too in the battle

triumphed by the shout and the flame.

David the king longed for

the water of the well, and they brought it to him;

but he did not drink it, for he saw that it had been bought with the blood of men.

In the midst of the water you have reveled,

the water that was bought with the blood of God.

The prophet saw God coming out of Edom

like one who treads the grapes.

He made ready the winepress of wrath;

he trod down the peoples and delivered the People.

He has turned and ordained baptism:

the peoples live, and the People has come to nothing.

In the river Jeremiah buried

the linen belt that was ruined;

and the People grew old and decayed.

…

The peoples that were decayed and ruined

have been clothed in newness by the waters.

At Siloam, the blessed stream,

the priests anointed Solomon.

His youth was held in honor;

his old age was despised.

Through the pure waters you have been clothed

in the purity of heaven.

The fleece that was dry of the dew:

Jerusalem was figured in it.

The basin that was filled with water:

baptism was figured in it.

That one was dry, as fitted its type;

this one was full, as fitted its symbol.

The weary body washes in water

and is refreshed from its toil.

See, here is the font in which are hidden

refreshment and life and delights!

In it weary Adam found rest,

he who brought toil into the creation.

The fountain of sweat in the body

is set there to protect against fever;

the fountain of baptism

is set there to protect against the flame.

This is the water that has power

to quench Gehenna.

Whoever travels through the desert

takes water with him as armor

against all-conquering thirst.

Go down to the fountain of Christ,

receive life in your limbs

as armor against death.

Again, the diver brings up

the pearl out of the sea.

Be baptized, and bring up from the water

the purity that is hidden in it,

the pearl that is set as a jewel

in the crown of the Godhead.

Sweet water in his vessel

the sailor lays up as a store;

in the middle of the sea he lays it up and keeps it, the sweet in the midst of the bitter.

So, amid the floods of sin,

keep the water of baptism.

The woman of Samaria said to our Lord,

“See, the well is truly deep.”

Baptism, high though it is,

has in its mercy stooped down to us;

for the atonement is from above

that has come down to sinners.

“Whoever drinks the water that I will give him

will truly never thirst again.”

For this holy baptism,

be thirsty for it, my beloved;

then you will never be thirsty again,

so as to come to another baptism.

In the baptism of Siloam

the blind man washed, and his eyes

were opened and enlightened by the water;

he cast off the darkness that lay on them.

You have cast off the hidden darkness;

from the water you have been clothed in light.

Pilate washed his hands

so that he might not be one of those who killed him.

You have bathed your bodies,

your hands together with your mouths.

Go in and be among those who eat,

for this medicine of life gives life to all.

“Follow me, and I will truly make you

fishers of men.”

For instead of a catch of what perishes,

they fished for the catch that lasts forever.

They who had taken fish for death

baptized those who were going to die, and gave them life.

A hundred and fifty fish were taken

from the water by Simon’s net;

but by his preaching there were taken,

out of the bosom of baptism,

tens of thousands and thousands of people,

a catch of the sons of the kingdom.

See, our priest, like a fisherman,

is standing over the scanty water;

he has taken a great catch from it,

of every shape and of every kind;

he has drawn up the catch to bring it near

to the King of kings, the Most High.

Simon took the fish and drew them up,

and they were brought near before our Lord.

Our priest has taken out of the water,

by the hand that he received from Simon,

virgins and chaste men, who are brought near

at the festival of the Lord of feasts.

By your mercy I implore you under oath: pardon me!

For in mercy you too have sworn,

Rabboni: “In the death of him who dies

I have no pleasure, but in his life.”

You have sworn, and I have implored you under oath.

You who have sworn, pardon the one who has implored you!