The Sibylline Oracles, translated from the Greek into English Blank Verse by Milton S. Terry, Professor in Garrett Biblical Institute. New edition revised after the text for Ruch. New York: Eaton & Mains; Cincinnati: Curts & Jennings. 1899.
====== The Sibylline Oracles: Book 6 ======


===== BOOK VI =====

CONTENTS OF BOOK VI

Preexistence, incarnation, and baptism of the Son of God, 1-9. His teaching and his miracles, 10-25. Miseries in store for the guilty land, 26-32. The blessed cross, 33-36.


The great Son of the Immortal famed in song\\
I from the heart proclaim, to whom a throne,\\
To be held fast the most Father gave\\
Ere, he was brought forth; then was he raised up\\
5 According to flesh given, washed, at the mouth\\
Of the river Jordan, which goes rushing on\\
Trailing its gleaming billows, from the fire\\
Escaping he first shall see God's sweet Spirit\\
Descending with the wings of a white dove.\\
10 And a pure flower shall bloom, and springs be full.\\
And he shall show the ways to men, and show\\
The heavenly paths, and teach all with wise\\
And he shall come for judgement and persuade\\
A disobedient people while he boasts\\
15 Descent praiseworthy from a heavenly Sire.\\
Billows shall he tread, sickness of mankind\\
Shall he destroy, he shall raise up the dead,\\
And many sufferings shall he drive away;\\
And from one scrip shall be men's fill of bread,\\

[1. This book is scarcely entitled to a place among the Sibylline Oracles, or to be called a book. It is a brief hymn in honor of Christ and the cross, and probably of later date than any other portion of the present collection.

2-4. Comp. John xvii, 5.

9. Comp. Matt. iii, 16.

10. Pure flower.--Cited by Lactantius, Div. Inst., iv, 13 [L., G, 486], and comp. Isa, xi, 1, 2, where the Septuagint reads blossom.

16. Tread.--See Matt. xlv, 25.

16-19. Cited by Lactantius, Div. Inst., iv, 15 [L., 6, 494].]

(1-15.)

20 When the house of David shall bring forth a child;\\
And in his hand the whole world, earth, heaven, sea.\\
And he shall flash upon the earth, as once\\
The two begotten from each other's ribs\\
Saw human form appearing. It shall be\\
25 When earth shall be glad in the hope of child.\\
But for thee only, Sodomitic land,\\
Are evil woes laid up; for thou thyself\\
Ill-disposed didst not apprehend thy God\\
Who mocks at mortal schemes; but from a thorn\\
30 Didst crown him with a crown, and fearful gall\\
Didst mingle unto insolence and spirit.\\
This shall bring evil woes about for thee.\\
O the Wood, O so blessed, upon which\\
God was outstretched; the earth shall not have thee,\\
35 But thou shalt look upon a heavenly house,\\
When thou, O God, shalt flash thine eye of fire.\\

[20. Child.--Or a plant; a shoot. Comp. Isa. xi, 1.

23. Comp. Gen. ii, 21-23.

26. Sodomitic land.--Judea, so called on account of her wickedness. Comp. Isa. i, 10; Ezek. xvi, 48,49.

27-31. Cited by Lactantius, Div. Inst., iv, 18 [L., 6, 507].

33. Cited by Sozomen, Hist. Eccl., ii, 1 [G., 67, 933].]

(16-28)