The
Son of God beholdeth from the heavens the sea and its
foundations: He numbereth every drop of the showers of rain. By
His wondrous power He hath ordained the number of the days. Even
so in six days, by His spirit's might, the Lord in heaven devised
the valleys of the world and the high hills, and founded them.
Who is there that clearly knoweth all that mighty work except
Eternal God?
(ll. 19-33) Joys He dealeth out and riches. He first created
Adam, and a noble race, the angel princes, which later perished
utterly. For, it seemed to them in their hearts it well might be
that they themselves were lords of heaven, princes of glory.
Then a worse fate befell them, and they went to find a home in
hell, the foul abyss, where they must needs endure grim woe and
surging flame, no more possessing radiance of glory or high-built
halls in heaven; but they must needs plunge downward to those
depths of fiery flame, down to the bottomless abyss, insatiate
and rapacious. God only knoweth how He hath condemned that
guilty host.
(ll. 34-50) The Old One crieth out of hell, with horrible voice
uttereth words accursed: "Whither is fled the glory of the
angels, which we should have in heaven? This is a home of
darkness, terribly bound with fettering bonds of fire. The floor
of hell is ablaze, and flaming with poison.
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