Nisibis 52

On Satan and Death On the voice of that Death, do not be troubled. Of Death and Satan I heard a voice as they were contending: Which of the two is more powerful than his companion? Against the fool the crooked one: "To you, glory, O son of a shepherd, who saved all his flock from wolves, the hidden ones who would have devoured her, evil and Death." Death: "Show your authority, which conquers all." Satan: "Show your strength, which makes all sin." "To you, evil one, which one who wishes alone will hear you? To me, both the one who wishes and the one who does not wish, come to my snare." "To you, Death, it is only the one who is weary of the watch that is near. To me, however, there are nets and also snares of cunning." "Hear, evil one, which one is more cunning than your breaking? But there is no one who can escape from me." "You, Death, in which one did you find your strength failing? I, however, in dreams become stronger than I." "Evil one, you have no power over all who mock you. To me, both those who curse me and those who do not curse me come to my hands." "You, Death, received power from God. To me, only without help, when I cause sin, I become stronger." "You, evil one, like a hunter you set snares, and like a king I am adorned with authority." "You are foolish, O Death, to know how great I am, that for freedom, which is empowered, you sufficed to capture." "You, evil one, like a robber you go about. I, however, like a lion break, and I do not become angry." "To you, Death, there is no one who serves, nor who worships. To me, with sacrifices, kings serve me as a god." Many call Death as if to a good thing.

To you, O Evil One, there is none who calls you or names you. You are not aware, O Death, of how many have been troubled. In a mask, a mask, he calls to me and mocks me. Is your name "Satan" or "Satan"? Do not adorn your name; all is hidden, cover your face. Your knowledge, O Death, is weighty, for you do not hear. That every man is upon you, that is the crooked one, hidden, your self. The faces are revealed in creation, for you did not finish like yourself, that without end you do not come. You have found nothing more, as is true, that you have done, even you like me, to the sons of men. From me, fear, every man fears as from a lord. For you, however, it is that the rebel mocks you as a fool. For you, O Death, mocks your name and your work. My name is "Satan," and my tremblings are many, my friends. To inherit the changes, that is your sweetness, which is turned. Again, the soul is bound always to your tremblings. Sheol, the helper, in whose midst there is no end nor return. She is the abyss that swallowed and also subdued all movements. Sheol, the narrow one, every one who falls into her is choked. Sin is the helper whose cessation is the hope of man. Also, the mourner gave me a place among the penitents. The cessation of their hope is the sinner who died in his sins. With your hunting, that one who was before and cut off his hope. If you had not made him sin, he would do well.

Blessed is he who casts a glance at one another at the cursed servants, that he may see in them as they saw in him, even as he began in them. Their terror is this, my brethren, that they saw in them that again there is for you that in them you may see what was determined.