Odes of Solomon/Ode 5

Coptic text

For They Have Devised a Scheme

¹ I give you thanks, O Lord,

because I love you.

² O Most High, do not forsake me,

because you are my hope.

³ Freely have I received your steadfast love;

I will live by it.

⁴ When my persecutors come,

let [even] them not see me.

⁵ A cloud of darkness will fall on their eyes,

and a murky mist will darken them.

⁶ And they will have no light to see

to take hold of me.

⁷ Let their plan wax <weak>,

and let what they have cunningly devised return upon their own heads.

⁸ For though they have devised a plan,

even it did not succeed for them.

⁹ Though they readied themselves with wickedness,

even while they were found to be in vain.

¹⁰ For my hope is in the Lord,

and I will not fear.

¹¹ And because the Lord is my salvation,

I will not fear.

¹² And he is like a wreath on my head,

and I will not be removed.

¹³ Even if everything should be shaken,

I will stand firm.

¹⁴ And if everything visible should perish,

I would not die,

¹⁵ because the Lord is with me,

and because I am with him.

Hallelujah!

Syriac text

For They Have Devised a Scheme

¹ I will thank you, O Lord,

because you are my God.

² Do not forsake me, O Lord,

because you are my hope.

³ You gave me your justice freely,

and I was saved by you.

⁴ Let my persecutors fall,

and let them not see me.

⁵ Let a cloud of darkness cover their eyes,

and a murky mist darken them.

⁶ And let them not see the (light of) day,

lest they take hold of me.

⁷ Let their plans prove powerless,

and let what they have planned come down upon them.

⁸ They have devised a plan,

and it has not succeeded for them.

And they have been defeated, (though) they have power.

⁹ And what they readied (with) wickedness

has fallen down on them.

¹⁰ My hope is in the Lord,

and I will not fear.

¹¹ For you are my God, my Savior.

¹² The Lord has been a wreath for my head,

and I will not be removed;

¹³ and if everything should be shaken,

nevertheless I will not be shaken.

¹⁴ And if everything visible should perish,

nevertheless I will not perish,

¹⁵ because the Lord is with me,

and I also am with the Lord.