Odes of Solomon/Ode 31

And Take Immortal Life for Yourselves

¹ The depths were dissolved before the Lord,

and darkness was destroyed by his appearance.

² Error went astray and perished because of him,

and Contempt could find no path to walk on,

because the Lord’s truth had submerged it.

³ He opened his mouth and spoke steadfast love and joy,

and he recited a new song of praise to his name,

⁴ and he lifted up his voice to the Most High,

and offered to him those who came to be children through his hands.

⁵ And his person was vindicated,

because thus his holy Father had granted to him.

⁶ Come forth, you who have been oppressed, and receive joy,

⁷ and gain your souls by his steadfast love;

and take immortal life for yourselves.

⁸ And they condemned me when I stood up,

I who had not been condemned.

⁹ And they divided my spoils, though nothing was owed to them.

¹⁰ But I endured and was silent and kept quiet,

that I might not be moved by them.

¹¹ But I stood unmoved like a solid rock

that is beaten by the breakers and endures.

¹² And I bore their bitterness for humility’s sake,

so that I might redeem my people and inherit them,

¹³ and that I might not make void the promises to the patriarchs,

those to whom I had been promised for their descendants’ redemption.

Hallelujah!