(John MacDuff, "The Shepherd and His Flock")

As the pearl would remain forever in the depths
of the ocean unless the diver descended for it; so,
unless He who purchased us as gems and jewels
for His crown had taken us from the depths of sin,
there we would have remained forever.

And as He rescues the pearl, so He keeps it,
polishes it, and finally inserts it in His eternal
diadem!