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Hymn of Mar Ephraim
St Ephrem the Syrian, tr. Lewis, 1900
hymn
Again, verses of Mar Ephraim, from the Hymns of Paradise.
The assembly of the saints, in the type of Paradise.
. . . . . . . My brethren, the life-giving cluster maimed the serpent, held captive by the curse. Eve’s mouth was sealed in the silence of help, while again that mouth (reproached?) her Maker.
Blessed is he who is worthy to be in Paradise, when the glorious fruits of the trees abound.
And again they ought to look at the fruits of the noble ones; flowers . . . . . are conquered; they who see the pure and holy blossoms of their crowns; joy of the creation and its Creator. (They) please Him who knoweth all the fruits of righteousness, more than the fruits and berries of the trees. The beauty of nature praises Him; it praises the intellect. Paradise (is) knowledge; the flowers the deeds; the garden the freedom; the earth the mind.
Blessed is He who exalted Adam.
Blessed is he who is worthy to behold their robes.
Blessed is he who is worthy to listen to their wisdom.
Blessed is the ear that is drunk with their voices.
Blessed is he who learns to be amongst the foremost ones.
Woe be to him who does not even press that he may not be the last.
One of them cleft the air in his chariot. The angels desire to meet him, for they saw of late a body in their dwelling. And as the earthly form in the chariot ascended, thus our Lord descended clothed in a body by His grace; and being clothed in a cloud, He rode and ascended to reign above and beneath. Angels of fire and of wind wondered at the Elijah whom they saw, for in Him was hidden the gentle wisdom. On earth they wondered at . . . its Creator, and they saw the Virgin and they rejoiced.
Thou hast made the low things great and hast astonished the high things.
They offered her in the midst of the earth her crown in Paradise.
Whosoever never utters the curse of vituperation, he has a desire more than . . . and he who is chaste . . . some beauty shall be seen by him . . . his thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Praise be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and always, and for ever and ever. Amen.