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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 62, lines 10–11 · The destined day
62.10
The Orphic Hymns 62.10 · The destined day
The prayer: come, so that each life may reach the day destined for it.
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ἀλλά1
allá
But
, θεά2
theá
goddess
, δικαίη3
dikaíē
just one
, μόλʼ4
mól’
come
ἔπι5
épi
to
ἐσθλῇσι6
esthlêisi
noble
γνώμαις7
gnṓmais
minds
, ὡς8
hōs
so that
ἂν9
àn
—
τὸ10
tò
the
πεπρωμένον11
peprōménon
destinedallotted
ἦμαρ12
êmar
day
βιοτῆς13
biotês
of life
may
ἀεὶ14
aeì
always
ἐπέλθῃ15
epélthēi
come
. But, goddess, just one, come to noble minds, so that the destined day of life may always come.
But, goddess, just one, come to noble minds, so that the destined day of life may always come.
Interpretation
But, goddess, just one, come to noble minds, so that the day destined for each life may always arrive.
The "destined day of life" is the day allotted to each person, in Homer's language the day of death. Peprōmenon comes from an old verb meaning "to give, to allot," so the day is a share handed out, like the shares of the Fates in Hymn 59. The request seems to be that Justice keep things so that each life runs on to its own appointed day and is not cut short by wrongdoing.
63.1
The Orphic Hymns 63.1 · Justice, the virtue
A hymn to Dikaiosyne, Justice as a quality of a person, who delights in the just.
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Of Justice. Incense: frankincense. O most just to mortals, rich in blessings, longed for, always delighting in just mortals on the basis of equality, all-honored, blessed in your lot, proud Justice,