Isho'yahb to Narsai and Maremmeh

[ed. bishop Isho'yahb future Isho'yahb III, letter 30]

To Mar Narsai and Mar Maremmeh

That by force of persuasion you come to the necessary remembrance, brethren, you request ?health?a letter? out of the necessity of a weak person, as appears to be to you, this barely and after much delay, that only from mortality does immortal love come about, which we were supposed to have before all things. Although this love is not dead, and perhaps you will say that she is not dead; nonetheless she is sick and ill-treated: in one part of the body from the sorrow of offence, and in the other from the pain of scorn. But thanks to the mercy of the Lord, who sometimes renews the breath of his intimacy in us by way of the resurrection, just as he now influences your strength, that in this letter you will recall of that which you have forgotten, although the mode of its speech was composed in a singular manner. The same arises from the sickness aforementioned. For it clings to sickness and deception, and both cling to the passive soul. But even so, and for that only thanks to the kindness of the Lord who completely kept to us the remnant of religion in long memories. I also pray that those riches, many of whom had previously forgotten, should not be sent again after this manner of failure. But how are you doing and again i would like to know how you are doing. May the Lord grant in his mercy that you do so, as it is fitting for you to act. You also pray for me that I may be worthy of mercy and may find the grace of repentance, which is useful for healing my pains and I may see you in peace as it pleases the Lord.