Odes of Solomon

tr. Harris, 1911

Chapter 31

¹The abysses were dissolved before the Lord: and darkness was destroyed by His appearance: ²error went astray and perished at His hand: ¹and folly found no path to walk in¹, and was submerged by the truth of the Lord. ³He opened His mouth and spake grace and joy: and He spake a new song of praise to His name: ⁴and He lifted up His voice to the Most High, and offered to Him the sons that were with Him². ⁵And His face was justified, for thus His holy Father had given to Him. ⁶Come forth, ye that have been afflicted and receive joy, and possess your souls by His grace; and take to you immortal life. ⁷And they made me a debtor when I rose up, me who had not been a debtor³: and they divided my spoil, though nothing was due to them. ⁸But I endured and held my peace and was silent⁴, as if not moved by them. ⁹But I stood unshaken like a firm rock which is beaten by the waves and endures. ¹⁰And I bore their bitterness for humility’s sake: ¹¹in order that I might redeem my people, and inherit it, and that I might not make void my promises to the fathers⁵, to whom I promised the salvation of their seed. Hallelujah.

Notes

lit. and folly, there was given her no path.
lit. in His hands. Cf. Is. viii. 18; Heb. ii. 13.
2 Cor. v. 21. Perhaps we should translate ‘a criminal.’
1 Pet. ii. 23.
Rom. xv. 8; Luke i. 55.