Nisibis 53

By his own voice Come, hear how he contends concerning victory: The guilty who have not conquered, from the beginning they neither conquer. Death, the evil one, says to him: "That end is my victory." It is death that holds the conclusion, like a victor. Death, the true one, has shown: if you can come and cause the living one to die while he lives among the living, the one who has died—behold, he sees the one who lives, both good and evil. The righteous, in whose flesh evil has not corrupted me, this death of the body is a time of sacrifice. Do not think, Death, that you are death; you are like a shadow. Evil one, those who have conquered you are sad, and they also conquer you. But you, for those who have conquered you, behold, the living one conquers.

Also the defeated ones whom you kill are not yours. The cause of Adam, whom you conquered, drank the cup. Behold, the full Sheol of Sodomites and Assyrians, and the mighty ones in the flood made known that they are like me. All of them, or death, are they my slain? I see, I see that I have sinned; I see them as they have ended. Joseph, whose conqueror conquered his victory, or Satan? By the sign he conquered, and in the grave he conquered and cast him down. Moses, whose conqueror, or death, by the rod of what? He conquered in Egypt, and upon the rock they made known his victory. Elijah, who feared not you, or Satan? From before Jezebel he fled, because of his fear of me. Ahaz, who vanquished you, or death, with the crown of perfumes? The holy ones of gold he gave to him, and the calf hastened. To the agonistes he descended with Job, and he conquered and ascended. I see then, after he conquered, where is his victory? David, who vanquished him with his sack, that death? Upon the roof he conquered that one who conquered Goliath. Jehu, who uprooted the house of Baal, the evil temple, that he might uproot Sheol; he could not find the inheritance of my kingdom. Solomon, who removed from your mouth the child by the decree. The worker did his work in his old age for the heights. Samuel, who with gold your flesh, or Satan? I see his victory, that victorious one conquered the victory of the demon. Samson, who in Gaza, of the lion your flesh, death? With a simple jawbone of an ass, in the mill he ground his knowledge. Joshua, from his childhood, the evil one cast down. To me then, even in his old age, he could not find my weakness. Hezekiah, your weakness, death, who conquered the end.

David left the river and showed his treasures. Joktan conquered the evil one and was silent and baptized. He made known to that lamp which was spreading for you. Shimeon conquered, who brought the dove. With a woman you conquered, and through a woman you conquered and denied him. Apostles and prophets together curse you, Death. Where is the victory of Death and the strength of Sheol? To your lord in Sheol, his captives, the cursed servant. *** End: God, also the living, peace to your soul. His will is that which revives all his captives in Sheol. You are the one who called her to this that sinned against Adam. The wrath of the one who ate in the desert rebuked his lord. Curse your mouth, that which said to him, "Fall and worship me.