Satan's Lament

God of the righteous and the unrighteous, man’s company has devastated me.

Not once has he rebelled against my rule; he has closed his eyes to himself, and has not found himself.

His dust is a stranger to the joy of disobedience, a stranger to the spark of pride.

The prey says to the huntsman, ‘Seize me’: save me from the all too obedient servant!

Set me free from such a quarry; remember my obedience of yesterday.

My lofty aspiration through him has been abased; alas for me, alas for me, alas for me!

His nature is raw, his resolution weak, this opponent cannot withstand one blow from me.

I need a servant of God possessed of vision, I need a riper adversary!

Take back this plaything of water and clay: a child’s toy suits not a man of a certain age.

What is man? A handful of straw; one spark from me is enough for a handful of straw.

If nothing but straw existed in this world, what profited it to endow me with so much fire?

It were a shame to melt a piece of glass; to melt a rock – that is a proper task!

I have become so saddened by all my triumphs that now I come to You for recompense;

I seek from You one who dares to deny me – guide me, to such a man of God.

I need a man who will twist my neck, whose glance will set my body quivering;

One who will say, ‘Depart from my presence’, one in whose eyes I am not worth two barleycorns.

Grant me, O God, one living man of faith; haply I shall know delight at last in defeat.