XXXII.

For Defence against Satan.

(PARÆNESIS LIX., tom. vi., p. 526.)

JUDGE my cause, oh Lord, and avenge me,"

On Satan who oppresses me;

Let Thy power fight on my behalf,

Against his dogs who rouse themselves against me.

I have renounced him and his wiles,
And the deceitful ways of the corrupter;
For this reason, behold he labours
To catch me with his devices.

And if Thy might does not help me,
And Thy cross does not save me,

He will beguile me with one of his snares,
For his stratagems are very numerous.

Lord! let him not overcome me in the contest,
Who was conquered when he warred with Thee;
For great will be the shame to him,
Whom that conquered one conquers!

I have heard often that by the yoke
Of lowliness he is subdued ;-

Oh Thou that raisest the humble from the dust,
And bringest down the haughty to ruin,

Put far from me an evil heart, O Lord,
And along with it all arrogancy;
And cause humility to abide with me,
And meekness and gentleness.

Grant, Lord, that I may be Thine own,
And please Thee according to Thy will;
And enlighten the eyes of my understanding,
That I sleep not the sleep of death!

Cursed be thou, oh Satan,

In the name of Jesus, the God;
And let thy profane mouth be closed
At the command of Christ, my Lord!

Cursed be thou in earth and heaven
By those above and those beneath!
To Thee, O Jesus, I fly,

And make Thy cross my refuge.

For Thou art my deliverer from his yoke,

That I might become a labourer in Thy vineyard; And I will thank, worship, and praise Thee,

And the Father, and the Holy Ghost!

HEPTASYLLABIC, in strophes of four verses.

a

"Judge my cause, oh Lord, and avenge me.”—An exact quotation from Psalm xliii. 1.

"And enlighten the eyes."-A quotation, with some verbal differences, from Psalm xiii. 3.

XXXIII.

For the whole Convent.

(PARENESIS LXVI., tom. vi., p. 536.)

RECEIVE, Oh Lord,

Our united supplications,
Our ministration also,

And our prayers.
Give us a heart

Full of affection,

And also a mind

Patient of suffering.

A mouth which confesseth

In faith, impart to us,

And let our voices be

A harp of praise;

And as our bodies endure

Watching and labour,

Let Thy grace be extended

Towards our sins.

Our mouths which have been

Instruments of praise to Thee,

Our tongues also

Which have sung psalms to Thy glory,

Lord! let them not cry out

From the place of torment,

Which Thou hast made capable
Of singing Thy praise!

Our eyes which have borne

The heaviness of slumber,

And our feet which have laboured

And been fatigued for Thee,

Let them not be deprived

Of their expectation,

Nor their reward be lost

In the day of retribution!

Let not the sounds of our mouths
And of our stringed instruments,
Be turned, oh Lord,

To lamentation and weeping;
But in Thy loving-kindness,

And with Thy favour,

And Thy goodness,

Accept our vigils!

And make us all worthy,

That with one heart

Sincere and pure,

We may stand before Thee;

And in a worthy manner

May offer up praise

To Thee, oh Lord, and to the Father,

And to the Spirit. Amen!

THIS hymn, both in its form and contents, is very similar to the Twenty-ninth, entitled, "A Hymn of the whole Church." As the sentiments of this are somewhat more specific and limited, the title given may probably express its original application. The metre is tetrasyllabic, in strophes of eight verses. The first strophe is a good illustration of the rhyme which Ephraem often aims at, although it is never carried throughout one of his compositions. The first four verses of the strophe end in AN; the last four in O.