Odes of Solomon/Ode 17

And I Opened the Gates That Were Closed

¹ I was then crowned by my God,

and my wreath is living.

² And I was justified by my Lord,

and my salvation is imperishable.

³ I was loosed from vanities,

and I was not condemned.

⁴ With her hands she cut off my bonds.

I received the face and the likeness of a new person,

and I walked in it and was redeemed.

⁵ And the thought of truth led me on,

and I followed after it and did not go astray from it.

⁶ And all who saw me were amazed,

and I seemed to them like a stranger.

⁷ And the one who knew and magnified me

is the Most High in all his fullness.

And he glorified me by his kindness,

and raised my knowledge to the height of truth.

⁸ And from there he gave me the way of his halakhot,

and I opened the gates that were closed,

⁹ and broke in pieces the iron bars.

My own iron dissolved and melted before me.

¹⁰ And nothing to be seen was closed to me,

because I was the gate for everything.

¹¹ And I went to all my prisoners to free them,

that I might not leave anyone bound or who binds.

¹² And I gave my knowledge without envy,

and I gave my study through my love.

¹³ And I sowed my fruits in hearts,

and transfigured them by me.

¹⁴ And they received my blessing and lived,

and they were gathered to me and were redeemed,

¹⁵ because they became my members,

and I became their leader.

¹⁶ Praise to you, our leader, anointed master.

Hallelujah!