toward thee; let not my seed of wheat be changed for tares out of thy land, Let not the enemy
carry it away and mingle his own tares therewith; for thy land verily receiveth not his tares,
neither indeed can they be laid up in thine houses.
146 I have planted thy vine in the earth, it hath sent down its roots into the depth and its growth
is spread out in the height, and the fruits of it are stretched forth upon the earth, and they that are
worthy of thee are made glad by them, whom also thou hast gained. The money which thou hast
from me I laid down upon the table (bank); this, when thou requirest it, restore unto me with
usury, as thou hast promised. With thy one mind have I traded and have made ten, thou hast
added more to me beside that I had, as thou didst covenant. I have forgiven my debtor the mine,
require thou it not at my hands. I was bidden to the supper and I came: and I refused the land and
the yoke of oxen and the wife, that I might not for their sake be rejected; I was bidden to the
wedding, and I put on white raiment, that I might be worthy of it and not be bound hand and foot
and cast into the outer darkness. My lamp with its bright light expecteth the master coming from
the marriage, that it may receive him, and I may not (? he may not) see it dimmed because the oil
is spent. Mine eyes, O Christ, look upon thee, and mine heart exulteth with joy because I have
fulfilled thy will and perfected thy commandments; that I may be likened unto that watchful and
careful servant who in his eagerness neglecteth not to keep vigil (other MSS.: I have not
slumbered idly in keeping thy commandments: in the first sleep and at midnight and at
cockcrow, that mine eyes may behold thee, &c.). All the night have I laboured to keep mine
house from robbers, lest it be broken through.
147 My loins have I girt close with truth and bound my shoes on my feet, that I may never see
them gaping: mine hands have I put unto the yoked plough and have not turned away backward,
lest my furrows go crooked. The plough-land is become white and the harvest is come, that I
may receive my wages. My garment that groweth old I have worn out, and the labour that hath
brought me unto rest have I accomplished. I have kept the first watch and the second and the
third, that I may behold thy face and adore thine holy brightness. I have rooted out the worst
(pulled down my barns, Syr.) and left them desolate upon earth, that I may be filled full from thy
treasures (Gr. MSS. add: all my substance have I sold, that I may gain thee the pearl). The moist
spring that was in me have I dried up, that I may live and rest beside thine inexhaustible spring
(al. and Syr.: rest beside thy living spring). The captive whom thou didst commit to me I have
slain, that he which is set free in me may not fall from his confidence. Him that was inward have
I made outward and the outward [INWARD], and all thy fullness hath been fulfilled in me. I
have not returned unto the things that are behind, but have gone forward unto the things that are
before, that I become not a reproach. The dead man have I quickened, and the living one have I
overcome, and that which was lacking have I filled up (Syr. Wright, not the older one, inserts
negatives, ' not quickened ', &c.), that I may receive the crown of victory, and the power of
Christ may be accomplished in me. I have received reproach upon earth, but give thou me the
return and the recompense in the heavens. (U omits practically all this chapter.)
148 Let not the powers and the officers perceive me, and let them not have any thought
concerning me; let not the publicans and exactors ply their calling upon me; let not the weak and
the evil cry out against me that am valiant and humble, and when I am borne upward let them not
rise up to stand before me, by thy power, O Jesu, which surroundeth me as a crown: for they do
flee and hide themselves, they cannot look on thee: but (for) suddenly do they fall upon them that
are subject to them, and the portion of tile sons of the evil one doth itself cry out and convict
ron
(Ron)
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