The answer of the Lord to the powers of darkness

And I went through all their temptations,
So that I might know all the arts of Satan.
And how he appeared in Herod,
And destroyed all the children there!
Because he did not know the Son of God;
But now, O Satan, tremble at His rod!
The rod of Herod shall now fall on you,
And now I will destroy all your children;
And all that [judgment] shall now fall on you,
And all your angels shall now be destroyed:
And I will enjoy all those who flee to Me.
You simple shepherds, now you must appear,
And prove that you can never explain My Gospel,
Which I did not fulfill at that time:
No, no; the mysteries are still to come.
I ask: what winnowing fan appeared in My hand then?
I ask: what wheat did I gather there then?
I ask: what chaff did I destroy then?
Or how did they then enjoy My kingdom?
Though John told them it was near at hand,
Be wise, My shepherds, now, and understand
That all My Gospel must now be fulfilled;
And now, let Satan judge this as he will.
As My disciples died with Me,
Surely Satan’s triumph was seen;
To see the children murdered for My sake!
And he broke out strongly in Herodias,
To have My prophet John beheaded there.
But now let him fear My second coming:
For I will fulfill My oath to you as much
As ever Herod fulfilled his to her Referring to Herodias’s daughter, Salome, and Herod’s promise to give her whatever she asked..
So now, you simple and unwise shepherds,
Let all my Gospel lie before your eyes:
And judge whether you think I come down
To let the Devil show all his malice?
And as he said, "a fool to submit," Satan’s argument in the "Dispute" that Christ was a fool to die.
To lay My life and brethren at his feet!
Had I not had vengeance in My heart,
To turn the dart back on the Tempter?
For how could I ever come in triumph,
To turn the day of vengeance back on man?
Since every one of them is surely dead,
And so My vengeance was laid on them then.
But did I die to destroy man?
You simple shepherds, now you have laid your plan!
Know, if I come as a fool, as Satan said,
To give him power to rule in men's hearts;
Though he triumphed over Me in envy,
I tell you all, I have come to conquer him.

But, as he said, he never made the agreement,
And therefore, he will never stand by it:
Then I will now submit to his wisdom,
And the fifth day's dispute shall finish it.
So now let the world appear to judge him;
He says they have already judged his faith here;
And he says they approve of his ways,
And did they love all his hellish malice,
When he destroyed all the children there,
To enjoy his hellish malice then?
And next, I will come to Herodias,
And ask what pleasure he then brought to man,
To have the girl dance before the King,
And have the music bring John the Baptist's head?
Then now his head Satan's head. shall bring the music to everyone,
For Satan shall feel the fall exactly so.
And the world will now approve your petition,

"And say, 'This is music that we love.'
"'It is heavenly music sounding in our ears,
"'For death and hell have always been our fears.'
"For Satan had bound us so with his fetters:
"That it made us gloomy and walk in sorrow,
"So that we sat moping, and our hearts were sad;
"But now is the time our King will make us glad.
"We have no bloody Herod to fear now,
"But now a Hero in our dear Savior;
"Because he will now destroy the rod of sin,
"And we shall now enjoy our King."
And we [will enjoy] our Savior King in peace.
So Satan, now, I would have you see your friends,
Because they are now placed in order.
But the first friend you made was Cain!
I ask you, who approved of it at that time?
And see their vices! How you led them on,
Until the Deluge The Great Flood. came upon them.
But now, I mean to show your reign to kings,
And show their end—you shall be slain like them;
I will place Pharaoh and Jezebel in you,
And see all the bloody kings before them;
And then I ask if men approve of your ways—
Let men of learning examine all their conduct;
And let them show all their reigns and actions,
For I know they were all governed by you.
For on this earth there never was a king
With bloody hands who did not bring your likeness;
And your fall shall now be like their ruin.
And now I shall judge the whole from judges,
And now from judges men must stand or fall.
For you have done like Abimelech, Satan:
You robbed the father and destroyed the sons;