In The Time Of The King
Hymn 2 of
Nearly identical with Hymn XIII. On the Nativity. See: In The Days Of The King
Resp.— To You be praise Who in this feast makest all to exult!
1. In the time of the King whom they called by the name Semha — our Lord was
manifested among the Hebrews.— Thus Semha and Denha reigned together—the King on
earth and the Son on high— blessed be His power!
2. In the days of the King who wrote down men in the taxing,— our Saviour came
down and wrote down men in the Book of Life; He wrote and was written—on high He
wrote us, on earth He was written; glory to His Name!
3. His Birth was in the days of the King whose name was Semha.— Symbol and truth
met one another—King and King, Semha and Denha.— That kingdom bore His Cross;
blessed be He Who took it up!
4. Thirty years abode He on earth in poverty.— Voices of praise in all
measures—let us weave my brethren for our Lord's years—thirty crowns for thirty
years; Blessed be His number!
5. In the first year, mistress of treasure and filled with blessings,— let the
Cherubin give thanks with us, they who bear— the Son in glory Who gave up His
glorious state—and toiled and found the sheep that was lost—to Him be
thanksgiving!
6. In the second year let the Seraphin multiply thanksgiving with us—they who
cried Holy to the Son, and turned and saw Him— among unbelievers put to shame.—
He endured scorn and taught us glory; to Him be glory given!
7. In the third year let Michael and his hosts give thanks with us—they who were
wont to serve the Son on high— and saw Him on earth doing service.— He washed
men's feet and cleansed men's souls; blessed be His meekness!
8. In the fourth year let all the heavens give thanks with us! Too narrow for
the Son it shall burst to see— how He lay on the couch of despised Zaccheus.— He
filled the couch and had filled the heavens;— to Him be thanksgiving!
9. In the fifth year let the Sun that burns the earth with its heat— give thanks
to our Sun that He straitened His largeness,— and tempered His force that the
eye might endure to see Him—the inward eye of a pure soul; blessed be His
radiance!
10. In the sixth year again let all the air give thanks with us—in the vastness
whereof all things exult.— It saw its great Lord that He became— a little babe
in a lowly bosom; blessed be His honour!
11. In the seventh year let the clouds and winds sound the trumpet with us—they
whose dew sprinkles the faces of the flowers—yet saw they the Son that He
subdued His brightness—and endured scorn and shameful spitting—blessed be His
salvation!
12. Yet again in the eighth year let Creation give glory—from whose fountain the
fruits draw nurture.— She adored when she saw the Son at the breast—pure babe
nurtured by pure milk; blessed be His good pleasure!
13. In the ninth year let the earth give glory, which when her lap is watered
then brings forth the root.— She saw Mary an unwatered soil— whose fruit that
she yielded is a mighty sea; to Him be exultation!
R., To You be glory, Son of the Lord of all, Who gives life to all!
14. In the tenth year let Mount Sinai give glory, which melted— before its Lord!
It saw against its Lord— stones taken up: but He took stones— to build the
Church upon the Rock; blessed be His building!
15. In the eleventh year let the great sea give thanks— to the hand of the Son
Who measured it! And it wondered to see how He came down and was washed— in
humble waters, He that cleanses Creation; blessed be His triumph!
16. In the twelfth year let the holy Temple give thanks— which beheld the Child
as He sat— among the elders: the doctors were silenced— as the Lamb of the feast
bleated in the feast; blessed be His atonement!
17. In the thirteenth year let diadems with us give thanks— to the King Who
triumphed and was crowned— with a crown of thorns: He wove for man— a mighty
diadem at His right hand; blessed be He That sent Him!
18. In the fourteenth year let the Passover of Egypt give thanks— to the
Passover that came and made passover for all—and instead of Pharaoh overwhelmed
Legion—and instead of horsemen drowned demons; blessed be His retribution!
19. In the fifteenth year let the lamb of the flock give thanks—that our Lord
slew it not as did Moses—but redeemed by His Blood mankind.— He the Shepherd of
all died for all; blessed be He That begot Him!
20. In the sixteenth year let the seed-grain in mystery give thanks— to that
Husbandman Who gave His Body for seed— in a barren soil that corrupts all
things.— It proved fertile and yielded new bread; blessed be He that is pure!
21. In the seventeenth year let the Vine give thanks to our Lord,— the Vineyard
of truth, wherein souls were— as the scions. He gave peace to this vineyard, but
laid waste that vineyard which bare wild grapes; blessed be the Uprooter!
22. In the eighteenth year let our leaven give thanks— to the leaven of truth
that penetrates and draws— all minds and makes them to become— one mind in one
doctrine; blessed be His doctrine!
23. In the nineteenth year let the Salt give thanks for Your Body.— O blessed
Babe it is the soul— that is the salt of the Body, and Faith— the salt of the
soul whereby it is preserved; blessed be Your preservation!
R., Glory to Your Epiphany, O God and Man!
24. In the twentieth year let temporal wealth with us give thanks—which men that
are perfect have cast off and abandoned— because of the Woe; and have gone and
loved— poverty because of its beatitude; blessed be He Who desired it!
25. In the one-and-twentieth year let the waters give thanks that were
sweetened— in a mystery of the Son. In the honey of Samson— the nations tasted
bitterness therein that destroyed them:— they had life in the Cross that
redeemed them; blessed be its pleasantness!
26. In the two-and-twentieth year let arms and the sword give thanks—for they
could not slay our Adversary.— You are He Who slew him as You are He Who
restored— the ear that Simon's sword cut off; blessed be Your healing!
27. In the three-and-twentieth year let the ass likewise give thanks—that gave
the colt whereon He should ride—He opens likewise the mouth of wild asses—the
offspring gave Him praise; blessed be the praise of You!
28. In the four-and-twentieth year let wealth give thanks to the Son!— Treasures
were amazed at the Lord of treasures—how He grew up among the poor.— He made
Himself poor that He might make all rich; blessed be His participation!
29. In the five-and-twentieth year let Isaac give thanks to the Son— Who in the
mount saved him from the knife—and became in his stead the lamb to be slain.—
The mortal escaped, and He died Who gives life to all; blessed be His offering!
30. In the six-and-twentieth year let Moses with us give thanks—who feared and
fled from the slayers;— let him give thanks to the Son, for He it was Who on His
feet— entered Sheol and spoiled it and came forth; blessed be His Resurrection!
[31. In the seven-and-twentieth year let the eloquent Orators— give thanks to
the Son, for they could not find— means whereby we should prevail in our
judgment:— He was silent in judgment and made our judgment prevail; to Him be
applause!]
32. In the seven and twentieth year let all Judges give thanks—who as being just
have put to death illdoers;— let them give thanks to the Son Who instead of the
evil— died as being good, though He was Son of the Just One; blessed be His
mercies!
33. In the eight-and-twentieth year let them give thanks to the Son—all the
mighty men who saved us not— from the captors. One is to be worshipped,— Who was
slain and laid hold and saved us; blessed be His deliverance!
34. In the nine-and-twentieth year let Job with us give thanks—who bare
sufferings in his own behalf:— but our Lord bare on our behalf— the spitting and
the stripes, the thorns and the nails; blessed is His compassion!
35. In the year that is the thirtieth let them give thanks with us—the dead that
have lived through His dying—the living that were converted in His Crucifixion,—
and the height and the depth that have been reconciled in Him! Blessed be He and
His Father!
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