The daughters of the Hebrews, who had cried in Jeremiah's laments, exchanged their lamentations: from their own Scriptures they repeated lullabies. From their books a hidden Power was prophesying within their words.
Refrain: From all that You created, praise to You on this feast of Yours.
They answered and said: Rejoice today, Eve in Sheol, for the Son of your daughter has descended like the Medicine of Life to raise the mother of His Mother. Blessed Child, He crushes the head of the serpent that struck her.
Your type shone from the youth of fair Isaac. Sarah saw that Your mysteries rested upon his childhood: 'O son of my vows, in whom is hidden the Lord of vows.'
Samson the Nazirite portrayed the type of Your deliverance. He tore apart the lion, the image of death; You destroy death itself and bring forth from its bitterness the sweet life of humanity.
Hannah too cherished Samuel because of You, for Your righteousness was hidden in him: he cut Agag to pieces as a figure of the evil one, yet he wept over Saul, for Your grace also was portrayed in him.
How meek You are, and how mighty, O Child! Your judgment is mighty; Your love is sweet. Who can stand against You? Your Father is in heaven and Your Mother on earth—who can describe You?
If someone seeks Your hidden Nature, it is in heaven, in the mighty Bosom of the Godhead; and if someone seeks Your visible Body, there it lies in view within the little bosom of Mary.
The mind wanders among Your generations, O Rich One: dense folds surround Your Godhead, while despised appearances mark Your humanity. Who can sound Your depths, O great Sea who made Yourself little?
We come to see You as God, and behold, You are a man; we come to see You as a man, and the sign of Your Godhead shines forth. Who can take his stand amid Your reversals, O True One?
[We come to see] the dwelling that came to You from David's house: from his beds You inherited a manger, from his palaces a cave; instead of his chariot, perhaps a lowly colt came to You.
Who would believe that You inherited David's throne? We went to rejoice in You, and a cry from You rang out to heaven and to the earth below. After You had gladdened us, the hidden Power hungered before You.
How freely You give Yourself, O Child! You cast Yourself upon everyone who meets You; You smile at everyone who sees You. Your love reaches out as though it hungered for humanity.
You make no distinction between Your fathers and strangers, nor Your birth-giver from other mothers, nor the woman who nursed You from women called unclean. Is this Your boldness, or is it Your love, O Lover of all?
How eager You are: upon everyone who sees You, rich and poor alike, You cast Yourself and are held by them. They did not call You—where did such hunger for humanity come from?
What kind of love is Yours? If someone rebukes You, You do not grow angry; if someone shouts at You, You are not terrified; if someone insults You, You are not embittered. Are You greater than the law that repays injuries?
Moses was meek, yet his zeal was harsh: he struck and killed. Elisha too, who restored a child to life, tore a crowd of children by bears. Who are You, O Child, whose love is greater than that of the prophets?
The son of Hagar, who was wild, kicked Isaac; Isaac endured it and kept silent, while his mother became jealous. Are You his mystery, or is he Your type? Do You resemble Isaac—or is it he who resembles You?