Odes of Solomon/Ode 26

Who Can Compose the Odes of the Lord?

¹ I poured out praise to the Lord,

because I am his.

² And I will recite his Kedushah ode,

because my heart is with him.

³ For his lyre is in my hands,

and the odes of his repose will never cease in silence.

⁴ I will call to him with all my heart;

I will praise and exalt him with all my limbs.

⁵ For from the east to the west is his hymn,

⁶ and from the south to the north is his thanksgiving,

⁷ and from the top of the hills to their farthest reach is his fullness.

⁸ Who can compose the odes of the Lord,

or who recite them?

⁹ Or who can teach (the Lord’s) soul to live,

so that they would redeem (the Lord’s) soul?

¹⁰ Or what person could impose upon the Most High,

so that with their mouth (the Most High) might speak?

¹¹ Who is able to interpret the Lord’s Wonders?

For because to interpret would be to interpret away oneself,

and (the Lord’s Wonders) that had been interpreted would remain.

¹² For it is enough to know and to rest,

for in rest the psalmists remain in existence,

¹³ like a river that has a richly abundant spring,

and that keeps flowing for the help of those who study it.

Hallelujah!