Skip to content

Chapter VI: Part 6

Text size

It happened, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, said he to them, He who is sober among you, let him utter their explanation. Came forward Iakobos. He kissed the breast of Jesus, said he, My Lord, was sober in me thy spirit, and I am ready to utter their explanation. Concerning this indeed thy power prophesied once by David in the thirty-fourth psalm, saying thus concerning the ninth repentance of the Pistis Sophia. Give judgment, O Lord, unto those who illtreat me, fight with those who fight with me: lay hold on a weapon with a shield and arise to help me. Draw out a sword [86^a] and shut off (the way) in the presence of those who afflict me. Say to my soul, I am thy salvation: let them be ashamed and be disgraced those who seek after my soul. Let them turn them back and be ashamed those who think unto me evil (things). Let them be as the dust before a wind and the angel of the Lord persecuting them. Let their road become darkness and slippery and the angel of the Lord afflicting them. Because they hid unto me a snare without cause unto their own destruction. And they reproached my soul with that which is vain. Let come to them the snare which they know not, and let seize them the trap which they hid for me, and they will fall into this snare. But my soul will be glad over the Lord, and [86^b] it will be cheerful over its salvation. All my bones will say, O Lord, who is he who will be able to be like thee? Thou savest the poor (one) from the hand of him who is stronger than he, and thou deliverest a poor (one) with a miserable (one) from those who spoil him. Arose witnesses of violence; they questioned me about the things which I know not: they repaid to me evil (things) instead of good, (things) and childlessness to my soul. But I, they having annoyed me, I clothed me with a sackcloth and I humbled my soul in a fasting, my prayer will turn (back) into my bosom. I was pleasing to thee, as he who is my neighbour, and as my brother; and I humbled my(self) as he who lamenteth, and as he who mourneth. They delighted [87^a] over me, and they were ashamed. Scourges collected upon me, and I knew not. They were separated, and they were not pained at heart. They tempted me and they derided me in derision, they gnashed their teeth upon me. O Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? Set up my soul out of their evil works, and deliver mine only sonship from the lions. I shall manifest to thee, O Lord, in a congregation which is many, and I shall bless thee in a people which hath not number. Let them not rejoice at me, those who are enemies unto me in violence, those who hate me without a cause, and they are winking with their eyes. Because I indeed, they are wont to speak with me in words of peace, and they are [87^b] wont to think in anger in guiles. They widened their mouth upon me, and they said, Well (done) our eyes were full of sight of him. Thou sawest, O Lord. Be not silent, O Lord, withdraw not thee from me. Arise, O Lord, and give heed unto my judgment. Give heed unto my avenging, my God and my Lord. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness: let them not rejoice at me, my God, nor let them say, Well (done), our soul! Let them not say, We swallowed him (up). Let them be ashamed and be disgraced together, those who rejoice over my evil. Let them clothe them with shame with disgrace, those who say great words against me. Let them be glad and be joyful, those who wish my righteousness [88^a] and let them say, Let the Lord be great and be exalted. Let them be exalted, those who wish the peace of his servant. My tongue will be glad for thy righteousness with thy honour in all the day.

These therefore having said them Iakobos, said he Jesus, Well (and) fairly (done), Iakobos: this is the explanation of the ninth repentance of the Pistis Sophia. Amen, amen I say to you, Ye will be first in unto the kingdom of the heavens before all the Invisibles with all the Gods with all the Rulers, these which become in the thirteenth Aeon and in the twelve Aeons. But ye, not ye alone, [88^b] but every one also who will do my mysteries. But these having said them, said he to them, Understand ye in what manner I am speaking with you? Sprang up again Mariham, said she, Yea, O Lord, This is that which thou saidst to us once, The last (ones) will be first, and the first (will) be last. The first (ones) therefore (are those) whom they fashioned before us, the Invisibles. Since they it is, who became before the mankind, they with the Rulers, and the men who will receive mysteries, will be first (before) them in unto the kingdom of the heavens. Said he to her Jesus, Well (done), Mariham. Added also Jesus, said he to his disciples, It happened therefore, she having uttered [89^a] the ninth repentance the Pistis Sophia, oppressed her again the power of face of lion, wishing to take away every power from her. She cried also up unto the Light, saying, O Light, whom I believed from at first, because of whom I suffered these great tribulations, help me. And they accepted from her her repentance at that hour: heard her the First Mystery and they dispatched me by his command, I came to help her, I brought her up from the Chaos, because she repented, and also because that she believed the Light, she suffered these great tribulations with these great dangers, (she was deceived) by the Self-willed God, and she was not deceived by any work except [89^b] by a power of light, because of the likeness to the light which she believed. Because of this therefore they dispatched me by the command of the First Mystery for me to help her in concealment: but that I should not yet come unto the Place of the Aeons altogether. But I came out of all their midst, not any power knew (it), neither those of the inward part of the inward parts, nor those of the outward part of the outward, except the First Mystery only.

It happened therefore, I having come unto the Chaos to help her, she saw me, I being comprehensible and enlightening greatly, becoming in mercifulness toward her. For I was not being self-willed as the power of face of lion, this which took away the power of light from the Sophia, and also this which oppressed her to take away all the light which (is) in her. [90^a] Saw therefore me enlightening, the Sophia, more than the power of face of lion a number of ten thousand times, and I am becoming in great mercifulness toward her. And she knew that I am out of the Height of the Heights, this whose light she believed from at first. Was confident of heart the Pistis Sophia, and she said the tenth Repentance, saying, I cried up unto thee, O Light of the Lights, in my being oppressed, thou heardest me. O Light, deliver my power out of lips of violence and the unlawful, and out of snares of guile, O Light, that which they will take away from me by a snare of guile, they would not have brought it to thee. For the snares of the Self-willed are spread abroad and with the traps of the unmerciful (ones). Woe [90^b] to me indeed, because my place of dwelling was distant, and I became in the places of dwelling of the Chaos: my power became in Places which are not mine; and I flattered those unmerciful (ones): and whenever I should flatter them they are wont to fight against me without a cause. These therefore Jesus having said them to his disciples, said he to them, Now therefore he whose spirit moveth him, let him come forward and say the explanation of the tenth repentance of the Pistis Sophia.

Answered Petros, said he, O Lord, concerning this also thy power of light prophesied by David once, saying in the hundred and nineteenth psalm, I cried up unto thee, O Lord, in my being oppressed, thou heardest me, O Lord, deliver my soul [91^a] out of lips of violence and from a tongue of guile. What will they give to thee, and what will they add unto thee with a tongue of guile? The arrows of the strong one are sharp with the coals of the desert. Woe to me because my place of dwelling became far away. I dwelt in the places of dwelling of Kedar. My soul was made sojourner in a multitude of places. I was being peaceable with those who hate the peace, whenever I should speak with them they are wont to fight with me without a cause. This therefore now, O Lord, is the explanation of the tenth repentance of the Pistis Sophia, that which she said while are oppressing her the material emanations of the Self-willed, they with his power of face of lion afflicted her greatly. Said he [91^b] to him Jesus, Well (done) Petros and fairly (said). This is the explanation of the tenth repentance of the Pistis Sophia.

Added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened therefore, having seen me the power of face of lion, I having come near unto the Pistis Sophia enlightening greatly, it was angry unto the more, and it emanated out of it other multitudes of emanations being fierce greatly. These therefore having become, said the eleventh Repentance the Pistis Sophia saying, Why exalted itself the power of the strong (one) among evils? Its thought is taking away the light from me at every time; and as iron they are cutting, [92^a] they took away a power from me. I loved to come down unto the Chaos, more than to remain in the Place of the thirteenth Aeon the Place of the righteousness; and they wished to take me by guile, for to swallow down all my light. Because of this therefore the Light will take away all their light, and (will) be overthrown all their other matter and it will take away their light, and not let them dwell in the thirteenth Aeon their place of dwelling, and not leave their name in the Place of those who will live: and will see the (things) which happened to thee O power of face of lion, the twenty-four emanations, and they (will) fear and not be disobedient, but they (will) give up the purgation of their light, and they will see thee, and (will) rejoice over thee, and (will) say, Behold, an emanation [92^b] which did not give up the purgation of its light, that it should be delivered, but it boasteth itself in the multitude of the light of its power, because that it did not emanate out of the power which is in it, and it said, I shall take away the light of the Pistis Sophia, this which they will not take from her. Now therefore he whose power was exalted in him let him come forward and utter the explanation of the eleventh repentance of the Pistis Sophia.

Then came forward Salome, said she, My Lord, concerning this thy power of light prophesied once by David, saying in the fiftieth with one psalm, Why doth the powerful boast himself in his wickedness? Thy tongue meditateth the violence all the day; as a razor [93^a] being sharp thou didst beguile. Thou lovedst the evil more than the good. Thou lovedst the violence more than speaking of the righteousness. Thou lovedst all the words of the deceit with a tongue of guile. Because of this God will overthrow thee for ever, he will pluck thee up, and he (will) drag thee out of thy abode: and he will tear (away) thy root, and he (will) cast it outside of those who live. Diapsalma. The righteous will see and they (will) fear and they will mock at him and they (will) say, Behold a man who put not God to him for helper. But he trusted upon his wealth which is much, and he presumed upon his vanity. But I, I am being as a tree of olive yielder of fruit in the house of the God, I trusted unto the mercy of God even unto age of the age. [93^b] And I shall manifest to thee because thou workedst with me, and I have patience upon thy name because kind it is in presence of thy holy (ones). This therefore now, my Lord, is the explanation of the eleventh repentance of the Pistis Sophia, thy power of light having moved me, I said it according to thy wish.

It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words which said them Salome, said he, Well (done) Salome. Amen, amen I say to you, I shall complete you in every mystery of the kingdom of the light. But added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened therefore after these (things) I drew near unto the Chaos enlightening greatly greatly, that I should take away the light of that power of face of lion: while I am enlightening [94^a] greatly, it (she MS.) feared and it cried up unto its God Self-willed, for him to help it: and at that hour looked out of the thirteenth Aeon the God Self-willed, he looked down unto the Chaos being angry greatly, wishing to help his power of face of lion, and at that hour surrounded the Pistis Sophia the power of face of lion, itself with all its emanations, wishing to take away all the light which (is) in the Sophia. It happened therefore, they having oppressed the Sophia, she cried up unto the Height, crying up unto me for to help her. It happened therefore, she having looked unto the Height she saw the Self-willed being angry greatly, and she feared, she said the twelfth [94^b] Repentance concerning the Self-willed (God) with his emanations. But she cried up against me saying thus, Forget not, O Light, my hymn; because opened mouths upon me the Self-willed with his power of face of lion: they make guile unto me, and they surrounded me wishing to take away my power; and they hated me because I hymned unto thee. Instead of loving me, they slandered me. But I, I was hymning, they plotted for to take away my power because I hymned unto thee, O Light; and they hated me because I loved thee. Let the darkness come upon the Self-willed, and let remain at his right (hand) the Ruler of the Darkness which (is) outer: and in thy giving judgment unto him [95^a] take away his power from him: and the work which he thought unto himself to take away my light from me, thou shalt take away his own from him: and let fail all his powers of his lights which (are) in him. And let another take his greatness among the three Triple-powered: Let become lightless all the powers of his emanations, and (let) his matter become having not light in it. Let his emanations remain in the Chaos, and (let) them not allow them to go unto their Place: let their light fail which (is) in them, and allow them not to go up unto the thirteenth Aeon their Place. Let [95^b] the Receiver, the purifier of the lights, purify all the lights which become in the Self-willed, and let him take them from him (them?). Let them lay hold upon his emanations, the Rulers of the Darkness below; and let not any (one) accept him in his Place, and let not any obey the power of his emanations in the Chaos: let them take away the light which is in his emanations and (let) them blot out their name in the thirteenth Aeon, and his own also (let) them take away his name out of that Place for ever: and the power of face of lion let them bring upon it the sin of him who emanated it in presence of the Light, and (let) them not blot out the unlawfulness of the matter which he sent out, (the Self-willed); [96^a] and their sin altogether shall become in presence of the Light for ever; and (let) them not allow them to see out; and (let) them take away their name from every Place. Because that they spared me not, and they oppressed her (his, MS) whose light they took away with her (his MS.) power. And furthermore those in whom they planted me they wished to take away all my light from me: they loved to come down unto the Chaos; they shall become in it, and they shall not bring them up from this hour. They wished not the place of dwelling of the Place of the righteousness, and they shall not receive them unto it from this hour. He clothed him(self) with the darkness as clothing, and it went into his belly as water, and it went into all his powers as oil. [96^b] Let him wrap him(self) up in the Chaos as in a garment, and (let) him bind him(self) with the darkness as with a girdle of leather at every time. These (things) are happening to those who brought these upon me because of the light, and those who said, Let us take away all her power. But, thou, O Light, have compassion on me because of the mystery of thy name; and save me in the kindness of thy mercy: because that they took away my light with my power, and my power was shaken within me, and I was not able to stand in their midst. I was as matter which fell; they cast me unto this part and that, as a demon being in the air. My power perished, because I have not mystery; and my matter is worn out (?) because of my light, because they took it away. And I, they were deriding me, [97^a] they are wont to look at me beckoning unto me. Help me according to thy compassion. Now therefore he whose spirit is ready, let him come forward and say the explanation of the twelfth repentance of the Pistis Sophia.

But came forward Andreas, said he, My Lord, the Saviour, thy power of light prophesied once by David concerning this repentance which said the Pistis Sophia. And it said in the hundred with eight psalm, O God be not silent unto my blessing, because the mouth of the sinner with the guile, they opened their mouth upon me: they spake at me in a tongue of guile; and they surrounded me in words [97^b] of hatred, and they fight with me without a cause: instead of loving me. They slandered me, but I, I was praying. They established against me evil (things) instead of good (things), and a hatred instead of my love. Set up a sinner over him, and let the Accuser stand at his right (hand). Whenever they should give judgment unto him, let him (come) out being condemned, and let his prayer become unto a sin. Let his days be shortened, and let another take his episcopate. Let his sons be orphans, and let his wife be widow. Let them turn out his children, and let them remove them away, and (let) them beg. Let them cast them out of their houses. Let the usurer demand [98^a] all the (things) which become to him; and let strangers rob all his toils. Let there not become him who will help him; nor let compassion become to his orphans. Let them blot his sons out, and let them blot his name out in one generation. Let them remember the sin of his fathers in presence of the Lord, and let them not blot out the unlawfulness of his mother. Let them become in presence of the Lord at every time. Let them scatter his remembrance out of the earth. Because that he remembered not to do a mercy, and on the contrary he persecuted a poor man and miserable, and he persecuted after one being [98^b] pained at heart unto putting him to death. He loved the curse, and it shall come to him. He did not wish the blessing, it shall be far from him. He clothed him with the curse as a tunic, and it went unto his inside as water, it was as oil in his bones. Let it become to him as vesture which he will wrap about him, and as a girdle, being about to gird him with it at every time. This is the work of those who slander with the Lord and those who say contrary to lawful (things) against my soul. But thou, O Lord, do mercy with me because of thy name. Save me because I am poor and I am miserable: my heart was disturbed in my inward part, they took me away from the midst, as a shadow which declined. They drive me away [99^a] as locusts. My knees weakened in the fasting, and my flesh changed because of (the want of) the oil. But I, I became to them for reproach: they saw me, they moved their heads. Help me, O Lord God, and save me according to thy mercy. Let them know that this is thy hand, and thou, thou fashionedst it, O Lord. This therefore is the explanation of the twelfth repentance, this which said the Pistis Sophia being in the Chaos.

But added again Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened also after these (things), cried up at me the Pistis Sophia, saying, O Light of the Lights, I transgressed in the twelve [99^b] Aeons, I came down from them. Because of this I said twelve Repentances according to each one of the Aeons. Now therefore, O Light of the Lights, forgive to me my transgressions, because great greatly it is, because I forsook the Place of the Height, I came, I dwelt in the Place of the Chaos. These therefore, having said them the Pistis Sophia, she added also in the thirteenth Repentance, saying, Hear me while I hymn unto thee, O Light of the Lights. Hear me saying the Repentance of the thirteenth Aeon, the Place out of which I came down, that should be completed the thirteenth Repentance of [100^a] the thirteenth Aeon: these Aeons which I transgressed, I came down out of them. Now therefore, O Light of the Lights, hear me while I hymn unto thee in the thirteenth Aeon, my Place out of which I came. Deliver me, O Light, in thy great mystery, and forgive my transgression in thy forgivingness. And give to me the baptisms and forgive my sins, and cleanse me out of my transgression. And my own transgression is the power of face of lion, this which shall not be hidden from thee in every time, because I came down because of it. And I, I transgressed alone among the Invisibles, in whose Place I become. I came down unto the Chaos, [100^b] I transgressed before thee, that thy precept should be completed. These therefore said the Pistis Sophia. Now therefore, he whose spirit moveth him for to understand her words, let him come forward and utter their meaning. Came forward Martha, said she, O Lord, my spirit moveth me for to utter the explanation of those (words) which said the Pistis Sophia. Thy power prophesied once concerning them by David in the fiftieth psalm, saying thus, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy. According to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my sin. Wash me greatly out of my unlawfulness. And my sin is in my presence [101^a] at every time: that thou shouldst be justified in thy words, and conquer in thy giving judgment unto me. This is the explanation of the words which said the Pistis Sophia.

Said he to her, Jesus, Well (done) (and) fairly, Martha the happy. But added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened therefore, the Pistis Sophia having said these words, completed was the time for bringing her up from the Chaos, and through my own self, without the First Mystery I brought a power of light out of myself; I sent it down unto the Chaos for it to bring the Pistis Sophia up from the Place which is deep of the Chaos [101^b], and bring her unto the Place which (is) upper of the Chaos, until the command (should) come out from the First Mystery for them to bring her up from the Chaos absolutely. And my power of light brought the Pistis Sophia up unto the Places which (are) upward of the Chaos. It happened therefore, the emanations of the Self-willed having known that they brought the Pistis Sophia up unto the Places which (are) upward of the Chaos they again persecuted her unto the high (part), wishing to take her again unto the Places which (are) of the Chaos below. And was enlightening greatly my power of light, this which I sent to bring the Pistis Sophia up from the Chaos. It happened therefore, having persecuted the Sophia, the emanations [102^a] of the Self-willed, they having brought her unto the Places which (are) upward of the Chaos, she hymned again, and she cried up at me saying, I shall hymn up unto thee, O Light, because I wished to come (close) to thee. I shall hymn up unto thee, O Light, because thou art my deliverer: leave me not in the Chaos: deliver me, O Light of the Height, because thou art he unto whom I hymned: thou dispatched to me thy light through thyself and thou deliveredst me: thou broughtest me unto the Places which (are) upward of the Chaos. Let them fall therefore below unto the Places which (are) beneath of the Chaos, the emanations of the Self-willed, these which are persecuting me: and let them not come unto the Places which (are) upward, for to [102^b] see me. And let great darkness cover over them, and let come to them an obscurity of darkness: and let them not see me in the light of thy power, this which thou dispatchedst to me to deliver me, that they should not lay hold upon me: and their plot which they thought for to take away my power, let it not happen for them: and according as they spake of me to take away my light from me, take away theirs also instead of mine. And they said to take away all my light, and they were not able to take it away, because thy power of light becometh indeed with me, because they plotted without thy precept, O Light, because of this they were not able to take away my [103^a] light, because that I believed the light, and I shall not fear; and the light is my deliverer, and I shall not fear. Now therefore he whose power is exalted, let him say the explanation of the words which said the Pistis Sophia. But it happened, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came forward Salome, said she, My Lord, my power forced me for to say the explanation of the words which said the Pistis Sophia. Thy power prophesied once by Solomon saying, I shall manifest to thee, O Lord, because thou art my God. Leave me not, O Lord, because [103^b] thou art my hope: thou gavest to me thy judgment without a cause, and I was delivered through thee. Let fall those who are persecuting me; and let them not see me. Let a cloud of smoke cover over their eyes, and a mist of air let it make darkness unto them: and let them not see the day, that they should not lay hold on me. Let become powerless their plot, and the (things) which they plotted let them come upon themselves they deliberated unto a plot, and it did not happen for them: and they conquered them though being mighty; and the (things) which they prepared evilly fell down upon them. My hope (is) being in the Lord, and I shall not fear: because thou art my God, [104^a] my Saviour.

It happened therefore, Salome having finished saying these words, said he to her, Jesus, Well (done) Salome and fairly: this is the explanation of the words which said the Pistis Sophia.

But added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened therefore, the Pistis Sophia having finished saying these words in the Chaos, I caused the power of Light which I sent to her for to deliver her, I caused it to make a crown of light unto her head, that should not be able to prevail against her from this hour the emanations of the Self-willed. And it having made a crown of light unto her head, moved all the matter which (are) evil, which (are) in her, and they were all purged from her [104^b], they perished and they became in the Chaos, looking at them the emanations of the Self-willed, and rejoicing at them. And the purities of true light which (are) in the Sophia, her true light combined to give power with the light of my power of Light, this which made a crown for her head. It happened therefore also, while (my power) surroundeth the true light which (is) in the Sophia, her true light did not become outside of the crown of the power of the flame of light, that should not steal it, the emanations of the Self-willed. These (things) therefore having happened to her, the power of true light which (is) in the Sophia began (and) hymned. But she hymned unto my power of Light which became for a crown unto her head: [105^a] but she hymned saying, The Light becometh for a crown unto my head, and I shall not become outside it, that should not rob me the emanations of the Self-willed: and (even) if should move all the matters, but I shall not be moved: and (even) if should perish all my matters, and remain in the Chaos, these which were seen by the emanations of the Self-willed. But I shall not perish, because the light becometh with me, and I also become with the light. But these words said the Pistis Sophia. Now therefore he who understandeth the meaning of these words, let him come forward and utter their explanation. But came forward Maria the mother of Jesus, said she, My son according to the world, [105^b] my God and my Saviour according to the Height, command to me and (let) me utter the explanation of the words which said the Pistis Sophia. But answered Jesus, said he, Thou also Maria, this (one) who tookest form which (is) in the Barbelo according to the matter, and thou tookest likeness which (is) in the Virgin of the Light according to the Light, thou with the other Mariham the happy. And the darkness became because of thee, and also came out of thee the body of the matter in which I am becoming, this which I cleansed and I purified it. Now therefore I command to thee for to utter the explanation of the words, these which said the Sophia.

But answered Maria the mother of Jesus, said she, My Lord, thy power of light prophesied about these [106^a] words once by Solomon in his nine(teenth) ode and said it, The Lord upon my head as a crown, and I shall not become outside of him. They planted for me the crown of the truth and he caused thy branches to burst forth in me: because he is not being like to a crown drying up, which is not wont to burst forth; but thou art living upon my head and thou bursteth forth over me, thy fruits are full and they are completed, being full of thy salvation. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words, which is saying Maria his mother, said he to her, Well (done and) fairly. Amen, amen I say to thee, Will call thee happy from (one) end of the world even unto (the other) end, because [106^b] sojourned with thee the pledge (of) the First Mystery: and through that pledge are about to be delivered all the (things) of the earth with all the (things) of the Height. And that pledge itself is the beginning and the end. But added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened, having said the thirteenth repentance the Pistis Sophia, from that hour indeed was completed the precept of all the afflictions, these which they ordered unto the Pistis Sophia because of the completion of the First Mystery, this which becometh from at first; and came the time for them to deliver her from the Chaos [107^a] and to bring her up from all the darknesses: for was received (they received, MS) from her her repentance by the First Mystery. And himself that Mystery, dispatched to me a great power of Light out of the Height for me to help the Pistis Sophia and to bring her up out of her Chaos. But I looked at the Height of Aeons, I saw the power of Light which the First Mystery dispatched to me, that I should deliver the Sophia from the Chaos. It happened therefore, I having seen it coming out of the Aeons and rushing toward me, but I, I was being over the Chaos, another power of Light came out of me also, that it should help also the Pistis Sophia. And the power of [107^b] Light which came out of the Height by the First Mystery came down upon the power of Light which came out of me, and they met one another, they made a great effluence of light. These therefore having said them Jesus to his disciples, said he, Do ye understand in what manner I am speaking with you? Sprang up again Mariham, said she, My Lord I understand what thou art saying concerning the explanation of this word: thy power of light prophesied once by David in the eighty-fourth psalm, saying, The mercy with the truth met one another, and the righteousness with the peace kissed one another. The truth burst forth out [108^a] of the earth and the righteousness looked out of the heaven. The mercy therefore is the power of Light which came by the First Mystery, because he heard the Pistis Sophia, the First Mystery, he had mercy on her in all her afflictions. The truth also is the power which came out of thee, because that thou completedst the truth, for thee to deliver her from the Chaos. And again the righteousness is the power which came by the First Mystery which will steer the Pistis Sophia: and again the peace is the power which came out of thee, because that it will go toward the emanations of the Self-willed, and take away from them the lights, which they took away from the Pistis Sophia, namely, that thou may gather them into the Sophia [108^b] and make them at peace with her power. The truth also is the power which came out of thee, thou being in the Place below of the Chaos. Because of this, thy power said by David, The truth burst forth out of the earth, because that thou art in the Place below of the Chaos. The righteousness also which looked out of the heaven, that is the power which came out of the Height by the First Mystery, this which went into the Sophia.

It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words, said he, Well (done), Mariham the happy, this (One) who will inherit all the kingdom of the Light. After these (things) there came also forward Maria the mother of Jesus, said she, My Lord [109^a] and my Saviour, command to me also, for me to say this word of answer? Said he, Jesus, He whose spirit will become understanding I forbid him not, but I urge him the more for to say the meaning which moved him.

Now therefore Maria my mother according to the matter in which I sojourned I command to thee, for thee to say also the meaning of the word. But answered Maria, said she, My Lord, concerning the word which thy power prophesied by David, The mercy with the truth met one another, the righteousness with the peace, they kissed one another, the truth burst forth in the earth, and the righteousness looked out of the heaven. Thy power prophesied this word once concerning thee, thou being yet little, before [109^b] the spirit came upon thee, thou being in a vineyard with Ioseph came the spirit out of the Height, he came to me into my house, being like to thee, and I was not knowing him, and I was thinking that (it) is thou. And said to me the spirit, Where is Jesus my brother that I may meet him? And he having said this to me, I was puzzled, and I was thinking that (it) is a phantasm to the tempting me. But I took him up I bound him unto the foot of my place of lying which is in my house, until I should come to you out unto the field, thou with Ioseph. And I having found thee in the vineyard, while Ioseph giveth the vineyard unto the reed, it happened therefore, thou having heard me saying the word to Ioseph, thou understoodest the word, thou rejoicedst, and saidst thou, Where is he that I may see him or else I am remaining [110^a] for him in this place? But it happened, Ioseph having heard thee saying these words he was disturbed, and we came up together, we went into the house: we found the spirit bound unto the place of lying, and we looked at thee with him, we found thee being like to him, and was loosened he who was bound unto the bed, he embraced thee, he kissed thee, and thou also thou kissedst him, ye became only one. This therefore is the word with its explanation. The mercy is the spirit which came out of the Height by the First Mystery: because that he had mercy on the race of the men, he dispatched his spirit for to forgive the sins of all the world, and for them to receive mystery and inherit the kingdom of the light. The truth also is the power which sojourned in me, having come [110^b] out of the Barbelo, it became for thee for body material and it preached of the Place of the truth. The righteousness is thy spirit, this which brought the mysteries out of the Height for him to give them to the race of the mankind. The peace also is the power which sojourned in thy material body according to the World, this which baptised the race of the mankind, until it made them stranger unto the sin, and made them at peace with thy spirit, and become being at peace with the emanations of the Light, namely, that the righteousness with the peace kissed one another. And according as he said, The truth burst forth out of the earth, but the truth is [111^a] thy material body, this which burst forth from me according to the earth of the mankind, this which preached of the Place of the truth (Coptic) of the Truth: and also according as he said, The righteousness burst forth out of the heaven, (so) the righteousness is the power which looked out of the Height, this which will give the mysteries of the light to the race of the mankind, and for them to become righteous and for them to be good, and inherit the kingdom of the light. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words which said Maria his mother, said he: Well (done and) fairly, Maria. Came forward the other Maria, said she, My Lord, bear with me, and be not angry with me. While thy mother was [111^b] speaking with thee concerning the explanation of these words, my power disturbed me for to come forward, and say also the explanation of these words. Said he to her Jesus, I command to thee for to say their explanation. Said she Maria, My Lord, the mercy and the truth met one another. The mercy therefore is the spirit which came upon thee, thou having received baptism by Iohannes: the mercy therefore is the spirit of the divinity, this which came upon thee: he had mercy on the race of the mankind, he came down, he met the power of Sabaoth the good, this which is in thee, this which preached of the Places of the truth. But she said also, The righteousness with the peace kissed one another. [112^a] The righteousness therefore is the spirit of the Light, this which came upon thee, this which brought the mysteries of the Height, for to give them to the race of the mankind. The peace also is the power which (is) in thee of Sabaoth the good, this which baptised (and) forgave to the race of the mankind, and it made them at peace with the sons of the light. And also according as thy power said by David, The truth burst forth in the earth, namely, the power of the Sabaoth the good. He said, It burst forth in the earth. This which burst forth in Maria thy mother the native of earth. The righteousness also which looked out of the heaven, that [112^b] is the spirit which (is) in the Height, this which brought all the mysteries out of the Height, he gave them to the race of the mankind, they became righteous and they became good, they inherited the kingdom of the light. It happened therefore, Jesus having finished hearing these words, saying them Mariham, said he, Well (done) Mariham, inheritor of the light. Came again forward Maria the mother of Jesus, she prostrated at his feet, she kissed them, and said she, My Lord and my son and my Saviour, be not angry with me, but spare me that I may say the explanation of these words another time. The mercy with the truth met one another [113^a]. I am Maria thy mother with Elisabet the mother of Iohannes, I met her: the mercy therefore is the power which (is) in me of the Sabaoth: this which came out of me, namely thee, thou hadst mercy on all the race of the mankind. The truth also is the power which (is) in Elisabet, namely Iohannes, this who came, he preached of the way of the truth, namely thee: who preached before thee. And again the mercy with the truth which met one another, are thou my Lord who met Iohannes on the day, thou being about to receive baptism (and Iohannes himself). But thou also with Iohannes [113^b] are the righteousness with the peace who kissed one another.

The truth burst forth out of the earth, and the righteousness looked out of the heaven, namely, the time (at) which thou ministeredst to thy own self: thou madest form of Gabriel, thou lookedst out upon me out of the heaven, thou spakest with me, and thou having spoken with me, thou burstedst forth in me, namely the truth, namely the power of Sabaoth the good, this which becometh in thy material body, namely the truth which burst forth out of the earth.

It happened therefore, [114^a] Jesus having heard these words, saying them Maria his mother, said he: Well (done and) fairly. This is the explanation of all the words, these which my power of light prophesied about them once by David the prophet.

[_Written on the vacant page between the 1st and 2nd Documents._]

[114^b] But these are the names which I shall give from the Boundless (One downwards). Write them with a sign, that the sons of God should be manifested from this place (onwards). This is the name of the Deathless (One) ααα ωωω. And this is the name of the sound by which the Perfect Man was moved ιιι. But these are the interpretations of the names of these Mysteries. The first is ααα. Its interpretation is φφφ. The second is μμμ or is ωωω. Its interpretation is ααα. The third is ψψψ. Its interpretation is οοο. The fourth is φφφ. Its interpretation is ννν. The fifth is δδδ. Its interpretation is ααα. He who (is) upon the throne is ααα. This is the interpretation of the second αααα αααα αααα. This is the interpretation of the whole name.

THE SECOND DOCUMENT
THE SECOND TOME OF THE PISTIS SOPHIA

[115^a] Came also forward Iohannes, said he, O Lord, command to me also for to say the explanation of the words which thy power of light prophesied once by David. But answered Jesus, said he to Iohannes, Thou also Iohannes I command to thee for to say the explanation of the words, these which my power of light prophesied by David, The mercy with the truth met one another, and the righteousness with the peace kissed one another. The truth burst forth in the earth and the righteousness looked out of the heaven. But answered Iohannes, said [115^b] he, This is the word which thou saidst unto us once, I came out of the Height, I went in unto Sabaoth the good. I embraced the power of light which (is) in him. Now therefore the mercy with the truth which met one another: thou art the mercy, which dispatched thee out of the Places of the Height by thy Father, the First Mystery which looketh inward, having dispatched thee for to have mercy on all the World. The truth also is the power of the Sabaoth the good, this which planted itself in thee, this which thou castedst in the Left, thou, the First Mystery which looked outward. And received it the little Sabaoth the good, he cast it in unto the matter of the Barbelo. [116^a] And he preached of the Place of the truth (of the alethia) in all the Places of those on the Left. That matter therefore of the Barbelo, that (is) which becometh to thee for body to-day. And the righteousness with the peace which kissed one another: the righteousness is thou, who broughtest all the mysteries out of thy Father the First Mystery which looked in, and thou baptisedst the power of the Sabaoth the good, and thou camest unto the Place of the Rulers; thou gavest to them the mysteries of the Height: and they became righteous and they became good. The peace also is the power of the Sabaoth, this which itself is thy soul, this which went in unto the matter [116^b] of the Barbelo. And all the Rulers of the six Aeons of the Sabaoth (Iabraoth) made them at peace with the mystery of the light. And the truth which burst forth in the earth: that is the power of the Sabaoth the good. This which came out of the Place of the Right, this which is outside of the Treasury of the Light. And it went unto the Place of those on the Left, it went in unto the matter of the Barbelo, and it preached to them the mysteries of the Place of the truth. The righteousness also which looked out of the heaven: thou art the First Mystery, which looked outward, having come out of the Spaces of the Height with the Mysteries of the kingdom of the light, and [117^a] thou camest down upon the vesture of the light, this which thou tookest from the Barbelo, which is Jesus our Saviour, thou having come down upon him as a dove.

It happened therefore when Iohannes had uttered these words, said he to him, the First Mystery which looked outward, Well (done), Iohannes the brother, the beloved. Added the First Mystery saying, It happened therefore, the power which came out of the Height, which is I, whom my Father dispatched, for me to deliver the Pistis Sophia from the Chaos. I therefore with the power also which came out of me, and the soul which I took from Sabaoth the good, they came close to one another [117^b], they became one effluence of light which enlighteneth greatly greatly; I called unto Gabriel down out of the Aeons, and with Mikhael through the command of my Father the First Mystery who looked inward: I gave to them the effluence of light, I caused them to go down unto the Chaos for to help the Pistis Sophia, and (to) take away the powers of light, these which the emanations of the Self-willed took away from her, (to) take them away from them, and (to) give them to the Pistis Sophia. And immediately they took the effluence of light down unto the Chaos, it enlightened greatly greatly in all the Chaos. And it widened out in all their Places: and having seen the great [118^a] light of that effluence, the emanations of the Self-willed they feared one upon another, and that effluence drew out of them all powers of light, these which they took away from the Pistis Sophia. And were not able to dare the emanations of the Self-willed to lay hold on that effluence of Light in the Chaos of darkness, nor were they able to lay hold on her by art of the Self-willed, this who laid hold on the emanations. And Gabriel with Mikhael brought the effluence of Light upon the body of the matter of the Pistis Sophia, and they cast in unto it all her lights which they took away from her, and received all the light the body of her matter, [118^b] and again received light all her powers which (are) in her, these whose light they took away, and they ceased being diminished of light, because they took up their light which they took away from them, because that they gave the light to them through me. And Mikhael with Gabriel, these who ministered to me, these who took the effluence of light unto the Chaos, they will give to them the mysteries of the light: they are those who were entrusted with the effluence of Light, this which I gave to them, I took it unto the Chaos. And Gabriel (Mikhael added in margin without ‘with’) did not take away for themselves any from the lights of the Pistis Sophia, these which they took away from the emanations of the Self-willed. It happened therefore, the effluence of Light, it [119^a] having cast in unto the Pistis Sophia all her powers of light, these which it took from the emanations of the Self-willed, she became light all (over), and the other powers of light, those which become in the Pistis Sophia, these which the emanations of the Self-willed did not take away, they were cheerful again, and they were filled with light: and the lights which they cast in unto the Pistis Sophia vivified the body of her matter, this in which there is not light, this which was about to perish, (or this which is wont to perish), and they set up all her powers, these were about to dissolve: and they received for them a power of light, they became as they were being at first. [119^b] And again they were exalted in the perception of light, and all the powers of light of the Sophia recognised one another through the effluence of Light, and they were delivered by the light of that effluence. And my effluence of Light, having taken away the lights from the emanations of the Self-willed, these which they took from the Pistis Sophia. It cast them in unto the Pistis Sophia, and it returned, it came up from the Chaos. These (things) therefore while the First Mystery is saying unto the disciples, that they happened to the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos, answered, said he to them, Do ye understand in what manner I am speaking with you?

Comments

Log in to leave a comment.

Pistis SophiaChapter VI: Part 6

0%37 min left in chapter