Wider Ancient Witness Archive · 4.2 Greek and Greco-Roman Moral Wisdom Background Archive
Layer 4 — Wider Archive
Cleanthes — The Hymn to Zeus
This text is included as a comparative, historical, philosophical, ritual, textual, or fragmentary witness. It is not presented as part of the Restored Bible.
Cleanthes — The Hymn to Zeus
Most glorious of the immortals, called by many names, forever almighty,
Zeus, first cause of nature, who governs all things by law:
to you it is right that all mortals should speak,
for from you we are born, and alone of living things that move on the earth
we bear the likeness of God.
Therefore I will praise you, and sing your power forever.
All this ordered world, turning about the earth,
obeys you wherever you lead, and willingly submits to your rule.
Nothing is done upon the earth apart from you, O God,
nor in the heavens above, nor in the sea —
save only what the wicked do in their folly.
But you know how to make the crooked straight,
and to set in order what is disordered; the unloved is dear to you.
For you have so fitted together all things, the good with the bad,
that there comes to be one everlasting reason over all.
From this the wicked flee, the foolish among mortals,
who long for the getting of good, yet neither see nor hear
the universal law of God, which, if they obeyed it with understanding,
would give them a good life.
But deliver mankind, O Father, from their wretched folly;
scatter it from their souls, and grant them to find
the wisdom by which you justly govern all things;
that, being honored, we may honor you in return,
singing your works without ceasing, as is fitting for mortals;
for there is no greater honor for mortals or for gods
than to praise forever the universal law in righteousness.