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Ode 31
A song that Marcus Aurelius might have known when he said "Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break."
1The abysses were dissolved before the Lord: and darkness was destroyed by His appearance:
2Error went astray and perished at His hand: and folly found no path to walk in, and was submerged by the truth of the Lord.
3He opened His mouth and spake grace and joy: and He spake a new song of praise to His name:
4And He lifted up His voice to the Most High, and offered to Him the sons that were with Him.
5And His face was justified, for thus His holy Father had given to Him.
6Come forth, ye that have been afflicted and receive joy, and possess your souls by His grace; and take to you immortal life.
7And they made me a debtor when I rose up, me who had been a debtor: and they divided my spoil, though nothing was due to them.
8But I endured and held my peace and was silent, as if not, moved by them.
9But I stood unshaken like a firm rock which is beaten by the waves and endures.
10And I bore their bitterness for humility's sake:
11In order, that I might redeem my people, and inherit it and that I might not make void my promises to the fathers, to whom I promised the salvation of their seed. Hallelujah.