Ode XXXVII

The Odes of Solomon are a collection of forty-two early Christian hymns preserved primarily in Syriac, composed in the late first or early second century CE — the earliest surviving Christian hymnbook. They reflect a mystical Christianity shaped by Jewish liturgical tradition, immersed in the imagery of water, light, and the Word of God.

Ode XXXVII is one of the shortest in the collection, a four-verse prayer of completed petition. The odist stretches out hands, raises voice, and speaks with the lips of the heart — and is heard. The Lord's word comes in return, giving the fruits of the odist's labours and rest in grace. It is a cycle of cry, response, gift, and rest.

Text from the Digital Syriac Corpus (Codex Nitriensis). This is a Good Works Translation from Syriac by the New Tianmu Anglican Church.

1.

I stretched out my hands toward the Lord,
and to the Most High I raised my voice.

2.

And I spoke with the lips of my heart,
and he heard me when my voice reached him.

3.

His word came to me,
which gave me the fruits of my labours.

4.

And it gave me rest in the grace of the Lord.
Hallelujah.

Colophon

Text: Odes of Solomon, Ode XXXVII
Source Language: Syriac
Source: Digital Syriac Corpus, Ode 37 (Codex Nitriensis)
Translation: New Tianmu Anglican Church (Good Works Translation, Syriac → English)
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Source Text: ܛ݆ܫܲܚܳܬܳܐ ܕܵܫܠ݆ܝܡܴܘܢ — ܛ݆ܫܴܘܚܬܳܐ ܠܟ

1.

ܦܶܫܿܛܶܬ ܐܺܝ̈ܕܰܝ ܠܘܳܬ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ܆
ܘܰܠܘܳܬ ܡܪܰܝܡܳܐ ܐ݀ܰܪܺܝܡܶܬ ܩܳܠܝ.

2.

ܘܡܰܠܿܠܶܬ ܒܣܶܦ̈ܘܳܬܶܗ ܕܠܶܒܝ܆
ܘܫܰܡܥܰܢܝ ܟܰܕ ܢܦܰܠ ܩܳܠܝ ܠܘܳܬܶܗ.

3.

ܦܶܬܓܳܡܶܗ ܐܶܬܼܳܐ ܠܘܳܬܝ܆
ܕܝܰܗ̱ܒ ܠܺܝ ܦܺܐܪ̈ܶܐ ܕܥܰܡ̈ܠܰܝ.

4.

ܘܝܰܗ̱ܒ ܠܺܝ ܢܝܳܚܳܐ ܒܛܰܝܒܽܘܬܶܗ ܕܡܳܪܝܳܐ.
ܗܰܠܶܠܘܽܝܰܐ.

Source Colophon

Text: ܛ݆ܫܲܚܳܬܳܐ ܕܵܫܠ݆ܝܡܴܘܢ, Ode XXXVII
Source: Digital Syriac Corpus (Codex Nitriensis)
Language: Syriac (Classical)

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