Odes of Solomon

Nuhra2021 Ode 42

Ode 42 And Death Vomited Me Up 1 I stretched out my hands and drew near to my Lord, for the spreading out of my hands is his sign, 2 and my outward-stretching (course) is the plain wood (bridge) that was suspended over his level way. 3 And I became worthless even to those who knew me, so that I had to disappear from those who were not able to keep me in their clutches. 5a All my persecutors died, 4 and I will remain with those who love me. 5b And those who proclaimed concerning me studied about me, 5c because I am alive, 6 and I stood up and will be with them. And I will speak by their mouths, 7 for they have rejected those who persecute them. And I placed on them the yoke of my love. 8 Like the arm of the bridegroom on the bride, so is my yoke on those who know me. 9 And like the marriage tent spread out in the married couple’s house, so is my love over those who are faithful to me. 10 And I was not rejected, although I was thought to be, and I did not perish, although they supposed it of me. 11 Sheol saw me and was in misery, and Death vomited me up and many together with me. 12 To Death I was vinegar and bitterness, and I descended as far as his lowest depth. 13 And he let his feet and head weaken, because he was not able to endure my presence. 14 And I made a synagogue of the living among Death’s dead, and I spoke to them with living lips, so that my utterance would not prove void. 15 And those who had died ran to me, and they called out and said, Son of God, have pity on us! 16 And treat us according to your kindness, and bring us out from the bonds of darkness, 17 and open the gate for us, so that by it we can come out with you, for we see that our death has not touched you. 18 May we also be saved with you, because you are our savior. 19 And I heard their voice and set their faithfulness on my heart, 20 and I set my name on their head, because they are the free children, and they are mine. Hallelujah!