“One of you,” he said, “will betray me,”

and each of them immediately

beset his soul with cross-examination,

face afire with a thousand slights,

deft denials and sleight of conscience,

self-deception well practised since

the first temptation in the Garden

from which their humanity

was driven out by angels

holding flaming swords

Also from today’s Daily Office readings:

What can I liken you to, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin; who can restore you? Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles false and misleading. – from Lamentations 2:10-18