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Hymns and Homilies

St Ephrem the Syrian, tr. Burgess, 1853

2. Hymn 2: On the Death of Children

Let the little children be pledges with Thee,
And above, in heaven, let them be Thy guests;
Let them be intercessors for all of us,
For pure is the prayer of childhood.
Blessed is He who entertains them in His pavilion.

Our Saviour took children in His arms
And blessed them before the multitudes;
And shewed that He loved childhood;
Because it is pure and free from defilement.
Blessed is He who makes them dwell in His tabernacle.

The Just One saw that iniquity increased on earth
And that sin had dominion over all men;
And sent His messenger and removed
A multitude of fair little ones.
And called them to the pavilion of happiness.

Like lilies taken from the wilderness
Children are planted in paradise;
And like pearls in diadems
Children are inserted in the Kingdom;
And without ceasing shall hymn forth praise.

Who will not rejoice at seeing
Children taken to the heavenly pavilion?
Who will weep for childhood
That has fled from the snares of sin?
Lord! make us happy with them in Thy habitation.

Glory be to Him who hath taken away
The little ones and made them meet for Paradise;
Glory be to Him who hath removed children
And placed them in a garden of pleasures.
Lo! they are happy there without danger!