Odes of Solomon

Nuhra2021 Ode 16

Ode 16 God Spread Out the Earth and Settled the Waters in the Sea 1 As the ploughman’s work is the ploughshare, and as the helmsman’s work is ship-steering, so also is my work the praise of the Lord by his psalms. 2 My occupation and my craft are in his hymns, because his love has nourished my heart, and he made his fruits to bubble up even to my lips. 3 For my love is the Lord, and therefore I will sing to him. 4 For I am made strong in his hymns, and in him I have confidence. 5 I will open my mouth, and his spirit will speak through me the glory of the Lord and his beauty, 6 the work of his hands and the labor of his fingers, 7 for the sake of his mercies’ abundance and of his speech’s strength. 8 For the speech of the Lord searches what is concealed, and his thought (searches) what is revealed. 9 For the eye sees his works and the ear hears his thought. 10 He spread out the earth and settled the waters in the sea, 11 stretched out the heavens and fixed the stars, 12 and put in order the creation and established it, and he rested from his works. 13 And created things run in their courses, and fulfill their tasks, and they know not how to stop and be still. 14 And his hosts are subject to his speech. 15 The storehouse of the light is the sun, and the storehouse of the darkness is the night. 16 And the sun makes the day to be bright, and night brings darkness over the face of the earth. 17 And their welcoming each other completes the beauty of God. 18 And there is nothing apart from the Lord, because he was before anything came into being. 19 And the ages are by his speech, and by the thought of his heart. 20 Glory and honor to his name! Hallelujah!