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Pistis Sophia

THE SECOND DOCUMENT THE SECOND TOME OF THE PISTIS SOPHIA

G. (George) Horner translation

[115a] 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 [115b] 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. [116a] 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 [116b] 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 64Right, 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 [117a] 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 [117b], 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 [118a] 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, [118b] 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 65ministered 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 [119a] 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. [119b] 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?

Came forward [120a] Petros, said he, My Lord, concerning the explanation of the words which thou saidst, thy power of light prophesied about them once by Solomon in his Odes, Came out an effluence it made a great river being wide, it drew all (things) and it turned itself toward the Temple. They were not able to lay hold on it with strong-banks, with places built: nor were able to lay hold on it the arts of those who lay hold on the waters: they brought it over all the earth, and it laid hold on all. Drank those who became upon the sand which is dry: their thirst was dissolved and it was quenched, they having given to them the drink from that which is exalted: happy (ones) are the deacons [120b] of that drink, those who were entrusted with the water of the Lord: they turned lips which were dry, took a cheerful heart those who were brought low: they laid hold on souls giving up the 66breath, that they should not die: they set up the limbs which fell, they gave power to their boldness, and they gave light to their eyes: because they all knew themselves in the Lord, and they were delivered through a water of life eternal. Hear therefore, my Lord and I (shall) utter the word in boldness, according as thy power prophesied by Solomon. An effluence came out it became a great river being wide, namely, that the effluence of Light was wide [121a] out in the Chaos in all the Places of the emanations of the Self-willed. And the word also which thy power said by Solomon, It drew all (things), it brought them toward the Temple, namely, that it drew all the powers of light out of the emanations of the Self-willed, these which they took away from the Pistis Sophia, and it cast them in unto the Pistis Sophia another time. And the word also which thy power said, Were not able to lay hold on it strong-banks with places built, namely, that the emanations of the Self-willed were not able to lay hold on the effluence of Light in the wall of the darkness of the Chaos. And the word [121b] also which it said, They brought it over all the earth, and it filled every thing, namely, that Gabriel with Mikhael they having brought it upon the body of the Pistis Sophia, it cast in unto her all the lights, these which took away from her the emanations of the Self-willed and became light the body of her matter. And the word which it said, Drank those who become upon the sand which is dry, namely, that received light all those which become in the Pistis Sophia, these whose light they took away at first. And the word which it said, Their thirst was dissolved and it was quenched, namely, that her power ceased being diminished of light and they were satisfied with light, because they gave (back) to them their light [122a] which they took away from them. And also according as also said thy power, They gave to them the drink through him who is exalted, namely, that they gave the Light to them through the effluence of Light, this which came out of me, I the First Mystery. And according as said thy power of light, Happy are the deacons of that drink, namely, the word which thou saidst, Mikhael with Gabriel, these who served they took the effluence of Light unto the Chaos, and also they brought it up (from Chaos). They will give to them the mysteries of the Light of the Height, these who were entrusted with the effluence of the Light. And also according as said thy power, They turned [122b] lips which were dry, namely, Gabriel with Mikhael took not away for themselves the light of the Pistis Sophia, these which they snatched from the emanations of the Self-willed, but they cast them in unto the 67Pistis Sophia. And also the word which it said, Received a cheerfulness of heart those who were dissolved, namely, that all the other powers of the Pistis Sophia, these which took not away the emanations of the Self-willed were cheerful very, and they were filled with light out of the other light, because they cast it in unto them. And the word which thy power said, They vivified souls giving-up the breath, that they should not die, [123a] namely, that they having cast the lights in unto the Pistis Sophia they vivified the body of her matter, this from which they took away its light at first, this which was about to perish. And also the word which thy power said, They set up limbs which fell, (or that they should not fall), namely, that they having cast in unto her her lights, they set up all her powers, these which were about to be dissolved. And also according as thy power of light said, They gave a power to their boldness, namely, that they took again their light, and they became as they were being at first. And also the word which [123b] said, They gave a light unto their eyes, namely, that they received perception from the light, and they knew the effluence of Light, that it is belonging unto the Height. And also the word which it said, They all knew them in the Lord, namely, that all the powers of the Pistis Sophia knew one another by the effluence of Light. And also the word which it said, They were delivered by a water of life eternal, namely, that they were delivered by the whole the effluence of Light. And the word which it said, Drew them all the effluence of Light. And it drew them toward the Temple, namely, that the effluence of Light [124a] having taken up all the lights of the Pistis Sophia and having snatched them from the emanations of the Self-willed, it cast them in unto the Pistis Sophia and it returned, it came out of the Chaos, it came upon thee, who thyself art the Temple. This is the explanation of all the words, these which said thy power of light by the Ode of Solomon. It happened therefore, the First Mystery having heard these words, saying them Petros, said he to him, Well (done), O happy Petros, this is the explanation of the words which they said. But added also in the word the First Mystery said he, It happened therefore, I having not yet brought the Pistis Sophia up from the Chaos, because that they had not yet commanded to me by my Father, [124b] the First Mystery who looked inward. Then therefore after these (things) having known the emanations of the Self-willed that my effluence of Light took away the powers of light from them, these which they took away from the Pistis Sophia, it cast them in unto the Pistis Sophia, and also they saw the 68Pistis Sophia becoming light as she was being from at first, they were angry with the Pistis Sophia, and also they cried up against their Self-willed for to come and help them and take away the powers which (are) in the Sophia another time. And the Self-willed dispatched out of the Height in the thirteenth Aeon, he dispatched another great power of light, it came down unto the Chaos as an [125a] arrow flying, that he should help his emanations, and take away the lights of the Pistis Sophia another time. And having come down that power of light, the emanations of the Self-willed, these which become in the Chaos, which afflicted the Pistis Sophia, they were confident of heart greatly, and again they persecuted the Pistis Sophia with great fear and in a great disturbance; and they afflicted her some among the emanations of the Self-willed, one indeed among them changed himself unto a form of great serpent, another also changed himself unto a form of serpent of basilisk having seven heads: another also changed himself unto a form of dragon, and also the first [125b] power of the Self-willed which is of face of lion, and also all his emanations which are many greatly came together they oppressed the Pistis Sophia, and also they brought her into the Places which are below (of) the Chaos, and also they disturbed her greatly. It happened therefore, they having disturbed her, she ran from them, she came unto the Places which (are) of the upper part of the Chaos, and ran after her the emanations of the Self-willed, they disturbed her greatly. It happened therefore after these (things), looked out of the twelve Aeons the Adamas the tyrant, this (one) also was being angry with the Pistis Sophia, because that she was wishing to go unto the Light of the Lights, this who was being above all of them: [126a] because of this he was angry with her. It happened therefore, the Adamas the tyrant having looked out of the twelve Aeons, he saw the emanations of the Self-willed oppressing the Pistis Sophia, until they take away all the lights in her. But it happened the power of the Adamas having come down unto the Chaos (close) to all the emanations of the Self-willed, it happened therefore, that demon having come down unto the Chaos he thrust the Pistis Sophia down, and the power of face of lion, with the face of serpent, and with the face of basilisk serpent, and with the face of dragon, and with all the other emanations of the Self-willed which are [126b] many greatly, they all surrounded the Pistis Sophia, wishing to take away her powers which (are) in her another time. And they oppressed the Pistis Sophia greatly, and they threatened her. It happened therefore, they having oppressed her and having 69disturbed her greatly, she cried again up towards the Light and she hymned saying, O Light thou (art) he who helped me: let thy light come upon me, because thou art my accepter, and I am coming (close) to thee, O Light. I am believing thee, O Light, because thou art my deliverer of me from the emanations of the Self-willed and with the Adamas the tyrant; and thou (art) he who delivereth me from all his [127a] threats which are cruel.

But these having said the Pistis Sophia, then also by the command of my Father the First Mystery which looked inward, I sent also Gabriel with Mikhael with the ten (?) great effluences of Light, that they should help the Pistis Sophia. And I ordered unto Gabriel with Mikhael, that they should take away the Pistis Sophia upon their hands, that her feet should not touch the darkness below: and also I ordered unto them for to steer her from the Places of the Chaos, into those which they are about to bring her. It happened therefore, the angels having gone down unto the Chaos, they with the effluence of Light, and also all the emanations of the Self-willed [127b] with the emanation of the Adamas, they saw the effluence of Light enlightening greatly greatly, there being not measure unto the light which becometh from it, they feared and they let go of the Pistis Sophia: and the great effluence of Light surrounded the Pistis Sophia on every side of her on left of her and on right of her, and on every side of her, and it became a crown of light unto her head. It happened therefore, the effluence of Light having surrounded the Pistis Sophia, she was confident of heart greatly greatly, and it ceased not surrounding her on every side of her; and she feared not the emanations of the Self-willed, these which become in the Chaos, nor also she feared the other new [128a] power of the Self-willed, this which he cast down unto the Chaos as an arrow flying; nor also she trembled at the demonic power of the Adamas, this which came out of the Aeons. And also by my command, I, the First Mystery who looked outward, enlightened greatly greatly my effluence of Light, this which surrounded the Pistis Sophia on every side of her. And the Pistis Sophia remained in the midst of the light, there being a great light on left of her and on right of her and on every side of her, and being also a crown unto her head: and all the emanations of the Self-willed changed not also their face, nor were they able to support the rush of the great [128b] light of the effluence, this which became a crown unto her head. And all the emanations of the Self-willed, a multitude among them fell on right of her, because that she is enlightening greatly 70greatly; and other multitudes fell on left of her, and they were not able to approach unto the Pistis Sophia at all, from the great light. Nevertheless they fell all upon one another (or they came all who are close to one another). And they were not able to do anything of evil to the Pistis Sophia, because that she was trusting unto the light. And through the command of my Father the First Mystery, who looked inward, I also, I came down unto the Chaos enlightening greatly greatly. [129a] I came up to the power of face of lion, this (power) which was enlightening greatly, and I took away all its light which (is) in it, and I held down all the emanations of the Self-willed for them not to go unto their Place from this hour, which (is) the thirteenth Aeon. And I took away the power from all the emanations of the Self-willed: and they fell all in the Chaos being powerless. And I brought out the Pistis Sophia, being on (the) right of Gabriel with Mikhael. And the great effluence of Light, it went also in unto them; and filled her sight with her enemies the Pistis Sophia, because I took away their power of light from them, and I brought the Pistis Sophia out of the Chaos, she having trampled [129b] upon the emanation of the Self-willed the face of serpent, and also she was trampling upon the emanation of face of basilisk having seven heads. And she is trampling upon the power of face of lion, with the face of dragon. I caused the Pistis Sophia to remain standing upon the emanation of the Self-willed, this which became of face of basilisk of serpent having seven heads, but it was being strong(er) than all of them in its evils. And I, the First Mystery, I stood upon it, and I took away all the powers which (are) in it, and I destroyed all its matter, that seed from it should not rise up from this hour.

But these while the First Mystery is saying unto the disciples, he answered saying, Understood ye in what manner I am speaking [130a] with you. Came forward Iakkobos said he, My Lord, concerning the explanation therefore of the words which thou saidst, prophesied about them once thy power of light by David in the ninetieth psalm, He who dwelleth under the help of him who is high shall abide under the shadow of the God of the heaven. He will say to the Lord, Thou art my accepter, and my place of refuge: my God I am trusting unto him; because he it is who will save me from the snare of the snarer, and from a word being cruel. He will make shadow unto thee under his (thy, MS) breast, and thou wilt trust under his wing. His [130b] truth will surround thee as an armour (weapon, MS). Thou wilt not fear for a fear of night, and for an arrow which flieth in the day, for a thing which moveth 71in the darkness; for a calamity of demon of the hour of mid-day. There are a thousand (who) will fall on left of thee and ten thousand on right of thee; but they will not approach unto thee. Nevertheless thou wilt fill thy sight with them, thou wilt see the recompense of the sinners: because thou art, O Lord my hope; thou placest for thee that which is high for place of refuge: there is not evil (which) will approach unto thee; there is not scourge (which) will approach in unto thy place of abiding: because he will order unto [131a] his angels because of thee, for to keep thee in all thy ways; and they (will) lift thee upon their hands lest-at-any-time thou should dash against a stone with thy foot. Thou wilt mount upon a serpent with a basilisk, and trample upon a lion with a dragon. Because he trusted unto me I will save him; I will make shadow unto him, because he knew my name: he will cry up unto me, and I, I shall hear him, I am with him in his affliction, and I shall save him and (I shall) give glory to him; and (I shall) increase him in a multitude of days, and (I shall) teach him of my salvation. This is, O Lord, the explanation of the words which thou saidst. Hear therefore that I may say them in boldness. The word therefore which [131b] thy power said by David, He who dwelleth under the help of him who is high, will abide under the shadow of the God of the heaven, namely, that when the Pistis Sophia had trusted unto the Light she abode under the light of the effluence of Light. This which came from the Height through thee. And the word which thy power said by David, I shall say to the Lord, Thou art my accepter and my place of refuge, my God I trusted unto him. That is the word with which hymned the Pistis Sophia, Thou art my accepter and I am coming (close) to thee. And also the word which thy power said, My God unto whom I am trusting, thou art [132a] he who will save me from the snare of the snarers, and from a word being cruel. That is that which said the Pistis Sophia, O Light I am believing thee, because thou art he who will deliver me from the emanations of the Self-willed, and with those of the Adamas the tyrant. And thou also art he who will deliver me from all their threats which are cruel. And also the word which said thy power by David, He will make shadow unto thee under his (thy, MS) breast, and thou wilt trust under his wing, namely, that the Pistis Sophia became in the light of the effluence of Light, this which came out of thee, and she remained confident of heart, for the light which (is) on left of her [132b] with that which (is) on right of her, namely the wings of the effluence of Light. And the word which thy 72power of light prophesied by David, The truth will surround thee as armour (a weapon, MS), that is the light of the effluence of Light, that which surrounded the Pistis Sophia on every side of her as armour. And the word which thy power said, He will not fear for a fear of night, namely, that the Pistis Sophia feared not for the fears with the disturbances, these in which they planted her in the Chaos which is the night. And the word which thy power said, He will not fear [133a] for an arrow flying in the day, namely, that the Pistis Sophia did not fear for the power, this which the Self-willed dispatched out of the Height at the last, this which came unto the Chaos, being as an arrow flying, which thy power therefore of light said, Thou wilt not fear for an arrow flying in the day. Because that power came out of the thirteenth Aeon, that is (that) which is lord over the twelve Aeons, and that is (that) which enlighteneth unto all the Aeons. Because of this therefore he said, The day. And the word also which thy power said, He will not fear [133b] for a thing, walking in the darkness, namely, that the Sophia did not fear for the emanation of face of lion (serpent, MS) which was giving fear to the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos, namely, the darkness. And the word which thy power said, He will not fear for an accident with a demon of the hour of mid-day, namely, that the Pistis Sophia did not fear for the emanation demonic of the Adamas, the tyrant, this which thrust the Pistis Sophia down in great calamity, this which came from Adamas out of the twelve Aeons. Because of this therefore said thy power, He will not fear [134a] for a calamity of demon of the time of mid-day. The time of mid-day is because it came out of the twelve Aeons, namely, the time of mid-day. And also Night, because it came out of the Chaos, namely, the night, and it came out of the twelve Aeons, which are between the two. Because of this thy power of light said, The time of mid-day because the twelve Aeons are between the thirteenth Aeon and between the Chaos. And the word also which thy power of light said by David, There are thousand (who) will fall on left of him and a ten thousand on right of him; and they will not approach him, namely, [134b] that when the emanations of the Self-willed One, these which are numerous greatly, they having not been able to support the great light of the effluence of Light, a multitude among them fell on left of the Pistis Sophia. And a multitude fell on right of her. And they were not being able to approach her to hurt her. And the word which thy power of light said by David, Nevertheless thou wilt fill thy sight with them, and thou wilt see the recompense of the 73sinners, because thou, O Lord, art my helper, namely, the word that the Pistis Sophia filled her sight with her enemies which are the emanations of the Self-willed, those all of which fell (down) upon one another: [135a] not only she filled her sight with them in this, but thou also, my Lord, the First Mystery, thou tookest away the power of light which becometh in the power of face of lion, and also thou tookest away the power of all the emanations of the Self-willed, and also thou heldest them down in Chaos for them to go unto their Place from that hour. Because of this therefore the Pistis Sophia filled her sight with her enemies, namely, the emanations of the Self-willed in every thing, which prophesied David about the Pistis Sophia, saying, Nevertheless thou wilt fill thy sight with them, and thou wilt see the recompense of the sinners. Not only that she filled her sight with them, they fell upon one another in the Chaos, but she saw [135b] also their recompense also this which they repaid to them: according as the emanations of the Self-willed thought to take away the light of the Pistis Sophia from her, thou repaidest to them, and thou recompensed to them. And thou tookest away the power of light which (is) in them instead of the light of the Sophia, this (one) who believed the light of the Height. And according as thy power of light said by David, Thou placedst him who is high for thee for place of refuge: there is not evil (which) will be able to approach thee, and there is not scourge (which) will approach in unto thy place of dwelling, namely, that when the Pistis Sophia had believed (closely) in the Light, and when she had been oppressed she hymned up unto him, were not able to do anything of evil to her the emanations of the Self-willed, [136a] nor were they able to hurt her, and they were not able to approach her at all. And the word which thy power of light said by David, He will order to his angels concerning thee, that they should guard thee in all thy ways, and lift thee upon their hands lest-at-any-time thou should dash against a stone with thy foot. That also is the word that thou orderest to Gabriel with Mikhael for them to steer the Pistis Sophia through all the Places of the Chaos, until they brought her up and raised her in their hands, that her feet should not touch the darkness below, and (should not) also lay hold on her those of the darkness below. And the word which thy power of light [136b] said by David, Thou wilt trample upon a serpent with a basilisk, and thou wilt trample upon a lion with a dragon. Because he trusted unto me I shall save him and I shall make shadow unto him, because he knew my name, namely, the word that when the Pistis Sophia came, coming up from the Chaos, 74she trampled upon the emanations of the Self-willed, she trampled upon those who have face of serpent, and upon those who have face of basilisk of serpent having seven heads. And she trampled upon the power of face of lion, with that which hath face of dragon, because that she believed the Light she was delivered from them all. This is, my Lord, the explanation of the words which thou saidst.

It happened therefore, the First [137a] Mystery having heard these words said he: Well (done) Iakkobos, the beloved, But added also in the word the First Mystery, said he to the disciples, It happened, I having brought the Pistis Sophia up from the Chaos, she cried out also saying, I was delivered from the Chaos and I was loosed from the bonds of the darkness. I came (close) to thee, O Light, because thou becamest light on every side of me, thou art delivering me and thou art helping me: and the emanations of the Self-willed, these which are fighting against me, thou preventedst them by thy light, and they were not able to approach in unto me, because thy light was becoming with me, and it is delivering me by thy effluence of Light: because that [137b] emanations of the Self-willed oppressed me, they took away my power from me: they cast me out in the Chaos there being not light in me. I became as a matter which is heavy in comparison with them. And after these (things) a power of effluence came to me from thee delivering me: it made light on left of me and on right of me, and it was surrounding me on every side of me, that should not any part of mine become being lightless. And thou coveredst over me with the light of thy effluence. And thou purged out of me all my matters evil. And I became above all my matters because of thy light, and thine effluence of Light: that is (that) which exalted me, and it took away from me the emanations of the Self-willed, these which are wont [138a] to afflict me. And I became being confident of heart in thy light, and in the light which is purified by thy effluence. And were distant away from me the emanations of the Self-willed, these which were oppressing me, and I became light by thy great power, because thou, thou art wont to deliver at every time. This is the Repentance which said the Pistis Sophia, she having come up from the Chaos, and having been loosened the bonds of the Chaos. Now therefore he who hath ear to hear let him hear. It happened therefore, the First Mystery having finished saying these words unto the disciples, came forward Thomas, said he, My Lord, there is ear to my light-dweller and my understanding understandeth the words [138b] which thou saidst. Now therefore 75command to me that I may utter the explanation of the words clearly. But answered the First Mystery, said he to Thomas, I command to thee for to utter the explanation of the hymn, that which hymned up toward me the Pistis Sophia. But answered Thomas, said he, My Lord, concerning the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia, because she was delivered out of the Chaos, thy power of light prophesied about it once by Solomon the son of David in his Odes, I was delivered out of the bonds, I ran (close) up to thee, O Lord, because thou becamest to me on right (hand), [139a] thou art delivering me, and thou art helping me. Thou preventedst those who fight against me, and they were not manifested; because thy face was becoming with me, delivering me in thy grace. I received insult in presence of a multitude, and they cast me out, I became as lead before them. Happened to me a power from thee helping me, because thou puttest torches on right of me and left of me, that not any part of me should be being lightless. Thou shelteredst me under the shadow of thy mercy, and I became above the coats of the skin. Thy right (hand) is that which exalted me, and thou tookest the weakness [139b] away from me, I became prevailing in thy truthfulness, being cleansed in thy righteousness. Were distant away from me those who fight against me. And I was justified in thy kindness, because thy rest becometh ever unto age of the age. This therefore, O my Lord, is the explanation of the repentance which said the Pistis Sophia, having been delivered from the Chaos. Hear therefore, that I may say in boldness. The word therefore which thy power of light said by Solomon, I was delivered out of the bonds I ran (close) to thee, O Lord. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, I was loosened from the bonds of the darkness, I came (close) to thee, O Light. [140a] And the word which said thy power, Thou becamest to me on (the) right, thou art delivering me and thou art helping me. That also is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, Thou becamest light on every part of me, and thou art helping me. And the word which thy power of light said, Thou preventedst those who fight against me, and they were not manifested. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia. And the emanations of the Self-willed, these which fight against me, thou preventedst them by thy light, and they were not able to approach in unto me. And the word which thy power said, Thy face was becoming with me in thy grace. That is the word which said [140b] the Pistis Sophia. Thy light was becoming with me delivering me by thy effluence of Light. And the 76word which thy power said, I was insulted before a multitude and they cast me out. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia. Oppressed me the emanations of the Self-willed. And they took away my power from me, and I was despised with them. And they cast me out in the Chaos there being not light in me. And the word which thy power of light said, I became as lead before them. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, they having taken away my light from me I became as matter being heavy with them [141a]. And the word also which thy power said, And became to me a power from thee, helping me. That also is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And after these (things) a power of light came to me from thee, delivering me. And the word which thy power said, Thou puttest torches on the right of me and on the left of me, that not anything about me should become being lightless. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, Thy power made light on right of me and left of me and (was) surrounding me on every part, that not anything about me should become lightless. And the word which thy power said, Thou shelteredst me [141b] in the shadow of thy mercy. That also is the word which said the Pistis Sophia. And thou coveredst over me with the light of thy effluence. And the word which thy power said, I became above the coats of skin. That also is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And they purged away from me all my matters evil. And I was exalted above them through thy light. And the word which thy power said by Solomon, Thy right (hand) is that which exalted me, and it took the weakness away from me. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thine effluence of Light, that is that which exalted me by thy light, and it took away from me the emanations of Self-willed [142a], these which were afflicting me. And the word which thy power said, I became prevailing in thy truth, and cleansed in thy righteousness. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, I became prevailing by thy light. And I am becoming light which is purified by thy effluence. And the word which thy power said, Were distant from me those who fight against me. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, Were distant from me the emanations of the Self-willed, these which were oppressing me. And the word which thy power of light said by Solomon, And I was justified in thy kindness, because thy rest becometh [142b] even unto age of age. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, I was delivered in thy kindness, because thou, thou art wont to deliver every one. This therefore, my Lord is all the explanation of the repentance 77which said the Pistis Sophia, she having been delivered from the Chaos, and she was loosened out of the bonds.

It happened therefore, the First Mystery having heard Thomas saying these words, said he to him, Well (done and) fairly, Thomas, the happy: this (is) the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia. But he added also the First Mystery, said he to the disciples, But [143a] added also the Pistis Sophia, she hymned up unto me saying, I hymn up unto thee this, through thy precept; thou broughtest me from the Aeon which is high, which (is) the upper part, and thou broughtest me down unto the Places which (are) below. And also by thy precept thou deliveredst me out of the Places which (are) below. And through thyself thou tookest away the matter there which becometh in my powers of light, and I saw it. And thou art he who scatterest away from me the emanations of the Self-willed these which were oppressing me, and being enemies unto me. And thou gavest to me the authority for to loosen [143b] the bonds of the emanations of the Adamas, and thou struckest the serpent of basilisk, that of the seven heads: thou castest him out of my hands, and thou madest me stand upon his matter, thou destroyedst it, that this seed should not rise (up) from this hour. And thou art he who was being with me, giving power to me in all these (things). And thy light surrounded me in every Place. And through thyself thou madest all the emanations of the Self-willed powerless: because thou tookest away the power of their light from them. And thou directedst my way to bring me out of the Chaos. And thou removedst me out of the material darkness, and thou tookest away all my powers from them, [144a] these (powers) whose light they took away. Thou castest in unto them a light being purified, and all my members, these in which there is not light, thou gavest to them a light being purified out of the light of the Height. And thou directedst the way for them. And the light of thy face, it became to me manifest incorruptible. Thou broughtest me up to that which is above the Chaos, the Place of the Chaos with the destruction, that should be dissolved all the matters which (are) in it, these which become in that Place and became new all my powers by thy light, and thy light became in them all: thou puttest the light of thy effluence in me, I became light being purified.

[144b] This again is the second hymn which said the Pistis Sophia. He who understandeth therefore this repentance, let him come forward and say it. It happened therefore, the First Mystery having finished saying these words, came 78forward Mathaios, said he, I understood the explanation of the hymn, this which said the Pistis Sophia, now therefore command to me that I may say it boldly. But answered the First Mystery, said he, I command to thee Mathaios for to utter the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia. But answered Mathaios, said he, Concerning the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia, thy power of light [145a] prophesied about it once, the Ode of Solomon. It is he who brought me down from the Places which are high above, and he brought me up from the Places which are at the bottom below. He who there took away the (things) which are in the Middle, and he taught me them. He who scattered away mine enemies with my adversaries. He who gave to me authority over bonds to loosen them. He who struck the serpent which hath seven heads with my hands, He made me stand upon his root, that I should blot out his seed. And thou wast being with me, thou art helping me in every Place. Surrounded me thy name. Thy right hand destroyed the poison of the evil [145b] speaker. Thy hand opened the road for thy faithful (ones). Thou redeemedst them out of the tombs, and thou removedst them out of the midst of the embalmed-corpses. Thou tookest bones being dead, thou clothedst them with a body; and those which move not, thou gavest to them an energy of life. Thy road became uncorruptness and with thy face. Thou broughtest thine Aeon upon the corruption, that they should all be dissolved and made new and thy light should be foundation to them all. Thou buildest thy richness on them, and they became a dwelling being holy. This therefore, my Lord, is the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia. Hear therefore, that I may say manifestly. The word which thy power said by Solomon, [146a] He who brought me down out of the Places which are high above, and also thou broughtest me up from the places which are in the bottom below. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, I hymn up unto thee, this through whose precept thou broughtest me out of this Aeon which is high above, and thou broughtest me unto the Places below. And also thou deliveredst me by thy precept, thou broughtest me up from the Places which are below. And the word which thy power said by Solomon, He who there took away those which are in the Middle and he taught me them. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia. And also through thyself thou causedst to be purified the matter which is in the midst of my power, and I saw [146b] it. And also the word which thy power said by Solomon, He who 79scattered away mine enemies with mine adversaries. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thou art he who scattered away from me all the emanations of the Self-willed, these which were oppressing me, and these which were becoming enemy unto me. And the word which thy power said, He who gave to me his wisdom over bonds to loosen them. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And he gave to me his wisdom, for me to be loosened from the bonds of those emanations. And the word which thy power said, He who struck the serpent which hath seven heads with my hands, [147a] and he made me stand upon his root, that I should blot out his seed. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thou struckest the serpent, he of the seven heads through my hands. And thou settest me up upon his matter, thou destroyedst him that his seed should not rise up from this hour. And the word which thy power said, And thou wast being with me, and thou wast helping me. That is the word which said the [147b] Pistis Sophia, And thou wast being with me, thou art helping me in all these (things). And the word which thy power said, And thy name surrounded me in every Place. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thy light surrounded me in all their Places. And the word which said thy power, And thy right (hand) destroyed the poison of the evil speaker. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And through thee were made powerless the emanations of the Self-willed, because thou tookest away the light of their power from them. And the word which thy power said, Thy hand opened the road of thy faithful (ones). That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, Thou directedst my road to bring me out of the Chaos, because I believed thee. And the word which thy power said, Thou redeemedst them out of the tombs, and thou removedst them out of the midst of the embalmed-corpses. That is the word which said [148a] the Pistis Sophia, And thou redeemedst me out of the Chaos, and thou removedst me out of the material darkness, namely, the emanations of darkness which (are) in the Chaos, these whose light thou tookest away from them. And the word which thy power said, Thou tookest away bones being dead, thou clothedst them with a body, and those which move not, thou gavest to them an energy of life. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thou tookest away all my powers, these in which there is not light, thou puttest in unto them a light being purified. And all my members in which there is not light moving, thou gavest to them a light of life from thy Height. And the word which thy power said, Thy road 80became uncorruptness, with thy face. [148b] That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thou directedst thy road for me and (with, MS) the light of thy face became to me a life indestructible. And the word which thy power said, Thou broughtest thy Aeon upon the destruction, that they should loosen all the bonds. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, Thou broughtest me even me, thy power, upon the Chaos and upon the destruction, that should be loosened all the matter which becometh in that Place, and should be made new all my powers by the light. And the word which thy power said, And thy light maketh foundation for them all. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thy light became in them [149a] all. And the word which thy power of light said by Solomon, Thou puttest thy richness upon him. And he made a dwelling being holy. That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, Thou strengthenest the light of thy effluence upon me, and I became light, being purified. This therefore, my Lord, is the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia.

It happened therefore, the First Mystery having heard these words, saying them Mathaios, said he, Well (done) Mathaios and fairly, the beloved. This is the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia. But added also the First Mystery, said he, But added also the Pistis Sophia in this hymn, said she, I [149b] shall say, Thou art the Light, that which is high, because thou deliveredst me; and thou broughtest me (close) to thee; and thou causedst them not to take away my light, even the emanations of the Self-willed, these which are enemy unto me: O Light of the Lights I hymned up at thee, thou deliveredst me, O Light, thou broughtest my power up from the Chaos. Thou deliveredst me from those who went down unto the darkness. These words also said the Pistis Sophia. Now therefore he whose mind became intelligent, having understood the words which said the Pistis Sophia, let him come forward and utter their explanation.

It happened therefore, the First Mystery having finished saying these words unto the disciples, came forward Maria, said she, My Lord, my mind intelligent is at every time, for me to come forward at every moment and utter the explanation of the words which she said. But [150a] I am fearing Petros, because he is wont to threaten me, and he hateth our sex. But these she having said them, said he to her the First Mystery, Every one who will be filled with the spirit of light for to come forward, and utter the explanation of the things 81which I say, there is not anyone (who) will be able to prevent him. Now therefore, thou O Maria, utter the explanation of the words, these which said the Pistis Sophia. Answered therefore Maria, said she to the First Mystery in the midst of the disciples, My Lord, concerning the explanation of the words which said the Pistis Sophia, thy power of light prophesied them once by David, I shall exalt thee, O Lord, because thou acceptedst me, and thou didst not cause to rejoice my enemies over me. O Lord my God, I [150b] cried up unto thee and thou healedst me. O Lord, thou broughtest my soul up from Amente, thou savedst me from those who went down unto the pit. These having said them Maria, said he to her, the First Mystery, Well (done and) fairly, Maria the happy. But he added also in the word, said he to the disciples, Added also the Pistis Sophia in this hymn, said she, The Light became to me for deliverer, and turned my darkness for me unto light, and it rent asunder the Chaos, which surroundeth me, he girded me with light. It happened therefore when the First Mystery finished saying these words, came in front Martha, said she, My Lord thy power prophesied once [151a] by David concerning these words, The Lord became to me helper, he turned my mourning for me unto joy, he rent asunder my sackcloth he girded me with gladness. But it happened, the First Mystery having finished hearing these words, saying them Martha, said he, Well (done and) fairly, Martha.

But added also the First Mystery, said he to the disciples. Added also in the hymn the Pistis Sophia and said she, My power hymn unto the light, and forget not all the powers of the light, these which he gave to thee; and all the powers which (are) in thee hymn unto the name of his mystery which is holy. He who forgiveth all thy transgression. He who delivereth thee [151b] out of all their oppressions, those with which afflicted thee the emanations of the Self-willed. He who delivered thy light out of the emanations of the Self-willed, these which belonged unto the destruction. He who gave a crown of light unto thy head in his compassion until he delivered thee. He who filled thee with light being purified; and thy beginning will become new as an Invisible of the Height. These words the Pistis having hymned (with) them, because she was delivered, and remembering all the things which I gave to her: it happened therefore, the First Mystery having finished uttering these words unto the disciples, said he to them, He who understandeth the explanation of these words, let him come forward, and say them in boldness.

82[152a] Came again forward Maria, said she, My Lord, concerning these words with which hymned the Pistis Sophia, thy power of light prophesied them by David, My soul, bless the Lord, all those which (are) in my inward part bless his name which is holy. My soul, bless the Lord and forget not all his recompenses: he who forgiveth all thy unlawfulness; he who healeth all thy sicknesses. He who redeemeth thy life out of the destruction. He who giveth a crown of mercy upon thy head and (of) compassion. He who satiateth thy wish with good; thy youth (he) will make new as that of an eagle, namely, that the Sophia will become as the Invisibles which are at the Height: [152b] having said therefore, As an eagle, because that the dwelling of the eagles is being in the height, and the Invisibles (are) also in the Height, namely, that the Sophia will become light as the Invisibles, as she was from her beginning. It happened therefore, the First Mystery having heard these words, saying them Maria, said he, Well (done), O Maria the happy. It happened therefore after these things added also in the word the First Mystery, said he to the disciples, I took away the Pistis Sophia, I brought her up unto a Place being below the thirteenth Aeon, and I gave to her a new mystery of the light which is not that of her Aeon, the Place of the Invisibles. And also I gave [153a] to her a hymn of the light, that should not be able to prevail against her from this hour the Rulers of the Aeons. And I put her in that Place, until I come for her and take her unto her Place which is at the Height. It happened therefore, I having put her in that Place, she said also this hymn saying thus, In faith I believed the Light, and he remembered me, he heard my hymn: he brought my power up from the Chaos with the darkness below of all the matter. And he brought me up, he put me in an Aeon being exalted, and being firm. He put me on the road which goeth unto my Place, and he gave to me a new mystery which not my Aeon is, and he gave to me [153b] a hymn of the light. Now therefore, O Light, all the Rulers will see the (things) which thou diddest with me, and they (will) fear, and they (will) believe the Light. This hymn therefore said the Pistis Sophia, rejoicing because they brought her up from the Chaos. And they brought her unto the Place which (is) below the thirteenth Aeon. Now therefore he whose mind moveth him, understanding the explanation of the meaning of the hymn, that which said the Pistis Sophia, let him come forward and say it. Came forward Andreas, said he, My Lord, this is that which thy power of light prophesied about it once by David: In patience I had 83patience with the Lord, [154a] he gave heed unto me, and he heard my supplication. He brought my soul up from the pit of the misery with the mire of the filth, he set my feet upon a rock, and he directed my footsteps. He cast unto my mouth a new song, a blessing for our God. There are many (who) will see and they (will) fear, and they (will) hope in the Lord. It happened therefore, Andreas having uttered the meaning of the Pistis Sophia, said he to him the First Mystery, Well (done) Andrea the happy. But added also in the word, said he to the disciples, These are all the words which happened to the Pistis Sophia. It happened therefore, I having brought her unto the Place which is below of the [154b] thirteenth Aeon. I came being about to go unto the Light, and cease (being) with her, said she to me, O Light of the Lights, being thou about to go unto the Light and cease from being with me: and (is about to) know the Adamas the tyrant, that thou ceasedst being with me, and to know that becometh not he who will deliver me: he cometh also unto me unto this Place, he with all his Rulers who hate me. And also the Self-willed will give power to his emanation of face of lion, and all (will) come and all oppress me at once, and (will) take away all my light from me, and I (shall) become powerless. And also I (shall) become lightless. Now therefore, O Light [155a] and my Light, take away the power of their light from them, that they may not be able to prevail to oppress me from this hour. It happened therefore, I having heard these words saying them the Pistis Sophia, I answered to her, saying, Not yet did my Father command to me, he who emanated me out, for to take away their light from them. But I shall seal (up) their Places of the Self-willed with all his Rulers, these which hate thee, because thou believedst the Light. And also I shall seal (up) the Places of the Adamas with his Rulers, that they should not be able to war with thee, until their time is fulfilled, and until [155b] cometh the season, and commandeth to me my Father, that I should take away their light from them. But afterwards also said I to her. Hear and I (will) speak with thee of their time in which these (things) will happen, namely, these which I said to thee, They are about to happen whenever (the) three times should be fulfilled. Answered the Pistis Sophia, said she to me, O Light, whereby shall I know when (will) happen the three times, that I might be glad and rejoice because approached the time for thee to lead me unto my Place, and also I shall rejoice because came the time (when) thou wilt take away the powers of light from all those who hate 84me, because I [156a] believed thy light? But I, I answered, said I to her, Whenever thou wilt see the gate of the Treasury of the great Light, this which is open unto the thirteenth Aeon, namely the Left, whenever they should open that gate, then were fulfilled the three times. Answered also the Sophia, said she, O Light, whereby shall I know, being in this Place, that they opened that gate? But I, I answered, said I to her, Whenever they open that gate, will know those who become in all the Aeons, because of the great light which will become in all their Places: nevertheless therefore, behold, I appointed that they should not dare (to do) unto thee anything of evil, until were fulfilled [156b] the three times. But thou, thou shalt become having the authority to go up unto their twelve Aeons at the time which thou wishest, and also thou (wilt) return and come unto thy Place, this which is below the thirteenth Aeon, this in which thou art becoming now. But thou wilt not have authority to go in unto the gate of the Height, this which becometh in the thirteenth Aeon, for thee to go in unto thy Place, this out of which thou camest. Nevertheless therefore whenever should be fulfilled the three times, will oppress thee the Self-willed with all his Rulers, for them to take away thy light from thee, [157a] he being angry with thee, thinking that thou, thou restrained his power in the Chaos, and he is thinking that thou, thou tookest away its light from it: he will be exasperated against thee, for him to take away thy light from thee, that he should send it unto the Chaos, and give it in unto his emanation which is there, that it should be able to come up from the Chaos and come unto his Place. But these will begin the Adamas. But I, I shall take away all thy powers from him and give them to thee. And I shall come and take them away. Now therefore whenever they should oppress thee at that time, hymn up unto the Light, and I, I shall not fail thee for to help thee. And I am coming (close) to thee quickly out of the Places which are below. [157b] And I am coming down unto their Places and take away their light from them. I am coming unto this Place in which I put thee, this which is below the thirteenth Aeon, until I lead thee unto thy Place, this out of which thou camest.

It happened therefore, the Pistis Sophia having heard these words, I saying them to her, she rejoiced in great joy. But I, I left her in the Place which is below the thirteenth Aeon. I went unto the light, I ceased from being with her. But all these words was the First Mystery saying to the disciples, that they happened to the Pistis Sophia. And he was sitting 85upon the hill of the Olives, saying all these words in the midst of the disciples.

But he added also, said he to them, But it happened also [158a] after all these (things) while I am being in the World of the mankind, sitting by the road which is this Place, which is the mountain of the Olives, before that they dispatched my vesture, this which I left in the twenty-fourth Mystery (reckoning) from within, but the First itself it is (reckoning) from without, this which is that, the great Uncontainable, this in which I shone, and before that I went unto the Height to receive my other two vestures: sitting by you in this Place, namely, the mountain of the Olives, was fulfilled the time which I said to the Pistis Sophia, Will oppress thee the Adamas with all his Rulers. It happened therefore, having happened that [158b] time, but I, I was becoming in the World of the mankind, sitting by you in this place which is the mountain of the Olives, looked the Adamas out of the twelve Aeons, he looked down unto the Place of the Chaos, he saw his power demonic which (is) in the Chaos, in which there is not light at all, because I had taken away its light from it: and he saw it being darkness, and it was not possible to come unto his Place which is the twelve Aeons. Remembered also the Adamas (about) the Pistis Sophia, and he was angry with her greatly greatly, thinking that it (is) she who restrained his power in the Chaos. [159a] And thinking that it (is) she who took away its light from it, and he was exasperated greatly, and he added anger upon anger: he emanated out of him an emanation of darkness, and with another cruel (power) of evil Chaos, that he might disturb the Pistis Sophia with them.

And he fashioned a Place of darkness in his Place, that he should oppress the Sophia with it. And he took multitudes of Rulers of his own, they persecuted the Sophia, for to bring her unto the Chaos of darkness which he fashioned. And for to oppress her in that Place. And for to disturb her the two emanations of the darkness, these which emanated out the Adamas, [159b] until they took away all her light from her, and until the Adamas took away the light of the Pistis Sophia, and gave it to the two emanations which are cruel, and they took it unto the great Chaos, which is below this which is dark, and they cast it in unto his power of darkness which is chaotic, that perhaps it should be able to come unto this Place: because that it had become dark greatly, because I took away its power of light from it. It happened therefore, they having persecuted the Pistis Sophia, she cried out also, she hymned up 86unto the Light, since I said to her, Whenever they oppress thee and thou hymnest up unto me I am coming quickly and I (will) help thee. It happened therefore, they having oppressed her, but I, I was [160a] sitting by you in this place, which is the mountain of the Olives. She praised up unto the Light, saying, O Light of the Lights, I believed thee. Deliver me from these Rulers which are persecuting me, and help me lest-at-anytime they may take away my light from me, as (did) the power of face of lion. Because thy light becometh not with me, with thy effluence of Light, for them to deliver me. Otherwise was angry with me the Adamas, saying to me, Thou, thou restrainedst my power in the Chaos. Now therefore, O Light of the Lights, if I did this (and) I restrained it. If I did nothing of violence to that power. Or if I oppressed it as it oppressed me, then (and, MS) shall take away my light from me, all these [160b] Rulers who persecute me, and they shall put me out, being empty: and the enemy the Adamas shall persecute my power and seize it, and he shall take away my light from me, and cast it in unto his power of darkness, this which is in the Chaos: and he shall put my power in the Chaos. Now therefore, O Light, seize me in thy anger, and exalt thy power over my enemies, these who rose up against me at last. Speed, vivify me according as thou saidst, I shall help thee.

It happened therefore, the First Mystery having finished saying these words unto the disciples, said he, He who understood these words which I said, let him come forward and utter their explanation. Came forward Iakkobos said he, My Lord, [161a] concerning this hymn, in which hymned the Pistis Sophia, thy power of light prophesied them once by David in the seventh psalm, O Lord, my God I trusted unto thee; save me from those who persecute me and deliver me, lest-at-anytime he might carry off my soul as a lion, there being not he who redeemeth and he who delivereth. O Lord, my God, if I did this (thing) if there is violence in my hands, if I repaid to those who repaid to me evil (things), may I perish by my enemy, being empty: and may my enemies persecute my soul and seize it: and trample my life down unto the earth and cause my glory to become in the Chaos. Diapsalma. Rise (up), [161b] O Lord, in thy wrath: be exalted at the last to my enemies: rise up in the commandment which thou orderedst.

It happened therefore, the First Mystery having heard these words, saying them Iakkobos, said he, Well (done), Iakkobos the beloved. But added also the First Mystery, said he to the disciples, It happened therefore, the Pistis Sophia having finished saying the words of this hymn she 87turned round to see, whether the Adamas turned backward with his Rulers for to go unto their Aeon, and she saw (they saw, MS) them running after her: she turned unto them, said she to them, Why do ye persecute me saying, I have not help for him to deliver me from you. Now therefore a judge of truth is [162a] the Light and strong (he) is. But he is compassionate until the time which he said to me, I am coming and I (will) help thee, and he (will) not bring his wrath upon you at every hour. And this is the time which he said to me. Now therefore if ye turn not yourselves backward, and cease from persecuting me, the Light will make ready his power, and he will make ready with all his powers, and he made ready in his power for to take away your light which is in you, and ye will become darkness: and his powers he fashioned them, for him to take away your powers from you, and ye (will) perish. But these having said them the Pistis Sophia, she looked unto the Place of the Adamas, she saw the Place of dark [162b] and of Chaos, this which he fashioned. And also she saw the two emanations of darkness which (are) cruel greatly, these which emanated them out the Adamas, that they should lay hold on the Pistis Sophia, and should cast her down unto the Chaos, which he fashioned, and should oppress her in that place, and should disturb her, until they took away her light from her. It happened therefore, the Pistis Sophia having seen those two emanations of darkness and of the Place of darkness, these which fashioned the Adamas, she feared and she cried up unto the Light saying, O Light, behold, was angry the Adamas, the violent being, he fashioned an emanation of darkness and [163a] also he emanated out another (from) Chaos, and he fashioned another dark and chaotic and he prepared it. Now therefore, O Light, the Chaos which he fashioned for to cast me unto it, and (to) take away my power of light from me, take away his from him; and the thought which he thought for to take away my light, they will (take) his from him; and the violence which he said for to take away my light from me, take away all his (lights). These are the words which said the Pistis Sophia in her hymn. Now therefore he who is sober in his spirit, let him come forward and utter the explanation of the words (which said) the Pistis Sophia in her hymn.

Came also forward Martha, said she, My Lord, I am sober [163b] in my spirit, and I understand the words which thou sayest: now therefore command to me that I may utter their explanation in boldness. But answered the First Mystery, said he to Martha, I command to thee Martha for to utter the 88explanation of the words, these which said the Sophia in her hymn. But answered Martha said she, My Lord, these are the words which thy power of light prophesied once by David in the seventh psalm, God is a judge of truth, strong, compassionate, being not wont to bring his anger day by day: if ye turn not yourselves he will whet his sword, he stretched his bow, he made (it) ready: he made ready in it [164a] weapons of death, his arrows he fashioned for those whom they will burn. Behold, the violence travailed, he conceived trouble he brought forth unlawfulness, he dug a pit, he excavated it, he will fall down unto the hole which he fashioned, his trouble will turn upon his head and his violence (is) coming upon the middle of his head. But these having said them Martha, said he to her the First Mystery who looketh outwards, Well (done and) fairly, Martha, the happy.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying unto his disciples all the things which happened to the Pistis Sophia, being in the Chaos, and with the manner (in) which she hymned up unto the Light, until he delivered her and brought her up from the Chaos, [164b] and brought her in unto the twelve Aeon, and with the manner (in) which he delivered her out of all her oppressions, with which oppressed her the Rulers of the Chaoses, because that she lusted to go (close) to the Light.

Added again in the word Jesus, said he to his disciples, It happened therefore after all these (things) I took away the Pistis Sophia, I brought her in unto the thirteenth Aeon, I, shining greatly greatly, there being not measure unto the light which was becoming from me, I came in unto the Place of the twenty-four (fourth, MS) Invisibles, I, shining greatly greatly; and they were disturbed with great disturbance: they looked, they saw the Sophia who was being with me, they recognised her. [165a] But I, they recognised me not who I (was), but they were thinking of me as of an emanation of the land of the Light. It happened therefore, the Sophia having seen her fellow Invisibles, she rejoiced in great joy, and she was delighted greatly; she wished to show to them the wonders which I did with her below in the land of the mankind, until I delivered her. She came up unto the midst of the Invisibles, she hymned unto me in their midst, saying, I shall manifest to thee, O Light, because thou art a Saviour, and thou art a redeemer at every time: I shall hymn this hymn unto the Light because he delivered me: and he delivered out of the hand of the Rulers [165b] mine enemies. And thou deliveredst me in all the Places, and thou deliveredst me from 89the exaltation and the humiliation of the Chaoses, and from the Aeons of the Rulers of the Sphere. And I having come out of the Height, I went astray in Places, there being not light in them. I could not return into the thirteenth Aeon my dwelling, because there is not light in me nor power, my power was defective altogether, and the Light delivered me from all my afflictions. I hymned up unto the Light, he heard me, they having afflicted me. He guided me in the creation of the Aeons, for him to bring me up unto the thirteenth Aeon, my dwelling. I shall manifest to thee, O Light, because thou deliveredst me, and (for) thy wonders in the race of [166a] the mankind, I having become deficient of my power, thou gavest power to me, and I having become deficient of my light, thou filledst me with light being purified. I became in the darkness with the shadow of the Chaos, being bound in the bonds being cruel of the Chaos, there being not light in me: because I exasperated the precept of the Light, I transgressed, I gave anger to the precept of the Light, because I came out of my Place: and I having come down, I was deficient of my power, and I became lightless, and there was not any to help me: and in their afflicting me I hymned up unto the Light, and he delivered me out of all my afflictions: and also he burst all my bonds: he brought me up from the darkness with the oppression of the Chaos. I shall manifest [166b] to thee, O Light, because thou deliveredst me, and thy wonders happened in the race of the mankind. And thou brokest-in-pieces the gates which (are) high of the darkness, and with the bars which (are) cruel of the Chaos, and thou madest me go down from the Place, from which I transgressed: and also they took away my power because I transgressed, and I ceased from the mysteries, I came down in the gates of the Chaos: and they having afflicted me, I hymned up unto the Light, he delivered me out of all my afflictions. Thou dispatchedst thine effluence, it gave power to me, and it delivered me out of all my oppressions. I shall manifest to thee, O Light, because thou deliveredst me, and (for) thy wonders in [167a] the race of the mankind. This therefore is the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia, being in the midst of the twenty-four Invisibles, wishing, for them all to know all the wonders which I did with her, and wishing for them to know that I went unto the World of the mankind. I gave to them the mysteries of the Height. Now therefore he who is exalted in his understanding, let him come forward, and say the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia. It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words, came forward Philippos, 90said he, Jesus My Lord, exalted is my understanding and I understand the explanation of the hymn which said the Sophia: prophesied [167b] also about it once David the prophet, saying in the hundred and sixth psalm, Manifest to the Lord that he is kind, because unto age is his mercy, let those whom the Lord redeemed say, This is he, he redeemed them out of the hand of their enemies: he gathered them in from their countries, out of the east with the west with the north with the sea. They went astray in the wilderness in a place in which there is not water; they found not the road to the city of their dwelling. Being hungry being thirsty their soul failed in them. He delivered them out of their necessity. They cried up unto the Lord, he heard them being distressed: he guided them unto a road, being straight [168a] for them to go up unto the Place of their dwelling, Let them manifest to the Lord in his mercies, and his wonders among the sons of the men: because he satisfied a soul, being hungry, a soul being hungry he filled it with good. Those who sit in the darkness with the shadow of the death, those who are bound in a poverty with the iron; because he exasperated the word of God, they irritated the counsel of him who is exalted: their heart was humbled in their tribulations; they became weak and there was not he who helped them. They cried up unto the Lord in their being distressed; he delivered them out of their necessity, he brought them out of the darkness with the shadow of the death, and he burst their bonds. Let them manifest to the Lord in his mercies, and his wonders for the sons [168b] of the men: because he broke gates of brass, he shattered bars of iron: he received them unto him in the road of their unlawfulness; for they were humiliated because of their unlawfulness: their heart abhorred every (kind) of meat, they approached unto the gates of the death. They cried up unto the Lord in their being distressed, he delivered them out of their necessity: he sent his word, he healed them, and he saved them out of their tribulation. Let them manifest to the Lord in his mercy and his wonders among the sons of the men. This therefore, my Lord is the explanation of the hymn which said the Sophia. Hear therefore, my Lord that I may say it plainly. The word indeed which said David, Manifest [169a] to the Lord because he is kind, because an eternal is his mercy. That is the word which said the Sophia, I shall manifest to thee, O Light, because thou art a Saviour, and thou art a redeemer at every time. And the word which said David, Let those whom the Lord redeemed say this, He redeemed them out of the hand of their enemies. That is the 91word which said the Sophia, I shall say this hymn unto the Light, He delivered me; and he delivered me out of the hand of the Rulers mine enemies, with the rest also of the psalm. This therefore, my Lord is the explanation of the hymn which said the Sophia in the midst of the twenty-four Invisibles, wishing for them to know [169b] all the wonders which I did with her, and she wished for them to know, that thou gavest thy mysteries of the race of the mankind.

It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words, saying them Philippos, said he, Well (done), O happy Philippos, this is the explanation of the hymn which said the Sophia. It happened therefore also after all these (things) came forward Mariham, she worshipped at the feet of Jesus, said she, My Lord, be not angry with me seeking from thee, because we are seeking after every thing in an exactness with a certainty, for thou saidst unto us once, Seek that ye may find and knock that they may open to you. For every one who seeketh will find, and every one who knocketh [170a] in, they will open to him. Now therefore, my Lord, who is he whom I shall find, or who is he unto (whom) we shall knock, or who, rather, is he for whom it is possible to say unto us the answer to the words about which we shall seek (from) thee, or who, rather, is he who knoweth the power of the words after which we shall seek, because that in a mind thou gavest mind to us of the Light, and thou gavest to us perception with a thought being exalted greatly? Concerning this therefore there is not anyone becoming in the World of the mankind, nor becoming in the Height of the Aeons, for whom it is possible to say unto us the answer to the words which we seek after, except thee alone, this who knoweth the Universe and who is complete in the Universe. [170b] Because that I was not seeking after the manner (in) which seek the men of the World; but we are seeking indeed in the knowledge of the Height, this which thou gavest to us, and we are seeking also in the type of the search which is preferable, this which thou taughtest us for to seek in it.

Now therefore, my Lord, be not angry with me, but reveal to me the word about which I shall ask thee. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words, saying them Maria, the Magdalene, answered then (but, MS) Jesus, said he to her, Seek after that which thou wishest to seek after, and I shall reveal it to thee in an exactness with a certainty, Amen, amen I say to you, Rejoice in great joy and be [171a] glad greatly greatly, ye are seeking after every thing in an exactness, and I shall be glad greatly greatly, because ye seek after every 92thing in an exactness. And ye seek after the manner (in) which it is worthy to seek. Now therefore, seek after that which thou seekest after, and I shall reveal it to thee in joy. It happened therefore, Maria having heard these words, saying them the Saviour, she rejoiced in great joy, and she was glad for her greatly greatly. Said she to Jesus, My Lord and my Saviour, then of what kind are the twenty-four Invisibles, and being, also, of what type: or otherwise rather of what nature: or, then, being of what nature is their light? But answered Jesus, said he [171b] to Maria, What is that which is in this World being like to them: or what, rather, of Place which is in this World is that which is resembling unto them? Now therefore unto what shall I compare them: or, rather, is that which I shall say concerning them: for there is not any one in this World unto whom I shall be able to compare them; and there is not any of appearance in it unto whom I shall be able to liken them? Now therefore there is not any in this World being of the nature of the heaven, Amen I say to you, Each Invisible, is great(er) than the heaven with the Sphere which is upon it, and with the twelve Aeons together nine times, according as I finished saying to you another time. And there is not any light in this World being preferable unto the light [172a] of the sun. Amen, amen I say to you: The twenty-four Invisibles are of light more than the light of the sun which is in this World ten thousand times according as I finished saying to you another time. Because that the light of the sun in his truth of shape is not in this Place. Because that his light passeth through many veils of Places. But the light of the sun in his truth of shape, this which becometh in the Place of the Virgin of the Light shineth more than the twenty-four Invisibles and with the great Forefather invisible and with also the great Triple-powered God a ten thousand times, according as I finished saying to you another time. [172b] Now therefore, Maria, there is not any appearance in this world, nor is there light, nor is there shape comparable to the twenty-four Invisibles, that I should compare them unto them: but yet another little time, thou with thy brothers of fellow-disciples, I shall take you unto all the Places of the Height, and I shall take you unto the three Spaces of the First Mystery, until the Places only of the Space of the Ineffable. And ye will see all their shape in truth without comparison. And whenever I should take you unto the Height, ye will see the glory of those of the Height. And ye will become in a great wonder greatly greatly. And whenever I should take you unto the Place of the (Rulers of the) Destiny 93[173a] ye will see the glory in which they become, and out of their great glory which is preferable, ye will reckon this World with you as darkness of darkness: and ye will look out upon all the World of the mankind, being about to become the size of a speck of dust with you, from the great distance which it is distant from it greatly greatly, with the great size which it is great(er) than it greatly. And whenever I should take you unto the twelve Aeons, ye will see the glory in which they become, and from the great glory the Place of the Rulers of the Destiny will be reckoned with you as the darkness of the darknesses; and it will become the size of a speck of dust with you from the great distance which it is distant from it greatly, with the great size in which it is great(er) than [173b] it greatly, according as I finished saying unto you another time. And again whenever I should take you unto the thirteenth Aeon, and ye will see the glory in which it becometh, the twelve Aeons will be reckoned with you of the darkness of the darknesses: and ye will look out upon the twelve Aeons being about to become the likeness of a speck of dust with you from the great distance which it is distant from it greatly, with the greatness of size in which it is great(er) than it greatly. And whenever I should take you unto the Place of the Middle, ye will see the glory in which they are, the thirteenth Aeon will be reckoned with you as the darkness of the darknesses. And also ye will look upon the twelve Aeons and with all the Destiny and all the arrangement, and with all the Spheres [174a] with all their arrays in which they become, they will be the size of a speck of dust with you from the great distance which it is distant from it, and the great size (in) which it is great(er) than it greatly. And whenever I should take you unto the Place of those of the Right (hand), ye will see the glory in which they become, the Place of the Middle will be reckoned with you as the night which is in the World of the mankind: and if ye should look out upon the Middle, it will become the size of a speck of dust with you, from the great distance which the Place of those of the Right (hand) are distant from it greatly. And if I should take you unto the Land of the Light, namely, the Treasury of the Light, and ye (will) see the glory in which it becometh, [174b] the Place of those of the Right (hand) will be reckoned with you as the light of the hour of mid-day in the World of the mankind, the sun being not out (of cloud): and if ye should look upon the Place of those of the Right (hand), it will be the size of a speck of dust with you, from the great distance which is distant from it greatly, the Treasury of the Light. And 94whenever I should take you unto the Place of those who received the Inheritance, of those who received the mysteries of the Light, and ye (will) see the glory of the light in which they become, the Land of the Light will be reckoned with you as the light of the sun which is in the World of the mankind: and if ye should look [175a] upon the Land of the Light, it will be reckoned with you as a speck of dust, from the great distance which is distant from it, the Land of the Light, and from the greatness which it is great(er) than it greatly.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, sprang up Maria the Magdalene, said she, My Lord, be not angry with me, seeking (from) thee, because that we are seeking after every thing in an exactness. But, answered Jesus, said he to Maria, Seek after that which thou wishest to seek after, and I, I shall reveal it to thee boldly without parable. And every thing which thou seekest after, I shall say to thee in an exactness with a certainty, and I shall complete you with every power [175b] with every Pleroma, from the inward part of the inward parts as far as the outward part of the outward parts, from the Ineffable even unto the darkness of the darknesses, that they should call of (against you, MS), the Pleromas which are complete in every knowledge. Now therefore, Maria, seek that which thou art seeking after, and I shall reveal it to thee in great joy with great delight. It happened therefore, Maria having heard these words, speaking them the Saviour, she rejoiced in great joy greatly and she was delighted, said she, My Lord, then the men of the World, these who received the mysteries of the Light, will they become preferable to the emanations of the Treasury in thy kingdom? [176a] Because that I heard thee saying, Whenever I should take you unto the Place of those who receive the Mysteries, the Place, the Land of the Light will be reckoned with you as a speck of dust, from the great distance which it is distant from it, and with the great glory in which it becometh, namely the Land of the Light of the Treasury, the Place of the emanations, then therefore, my Lord will the men who receive the mysteries become preferable to (those who belong to) the Land of the Light, and become preferable to them in the Kingdom of the Light? But answered Jesus, said he to Maria, Fairly, however, at least thou seekest after everything in an exactness with a certainty: but hear, Maria, that I may speak with thee upon the Consummation of the Aeon with the catching-up [176b] of the Universe. It shall not happen thus, but I said unto you, Whenever I should take you unto the Place of the Inheritance of those who receive the 95mystery of the Light, the Treasury of the Light, the Place of the emanations, it will be reckoned with you as a speck of dust, and as the light of the sun of the day only. They said therefore, These will happen in the time of the consummation of the catching-up of the Universe. The twelve Saviours of the Treasury with the twelve arrays of each of them, namely, the emanations of the seven Voices with the five Trees will become with me in the Place of the Inheritances of the Light, being Kings with me: each one of them being King [177a] over his emanations: and also each one of them is becoming King according to his glory: the great according to his greatness, the small according to his smallness: and the Saviour of the emanations of the first Voice, they will become in the Place of the souls of those who received the First Mystery of the First Mystery in my Kingdom: and the Saviour of the emanations of the second Voice will become in the Place of the souls of those who received the Second Mystery of the First Mystery. Likewise also the Saviour of the emanations of the third Voice will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Third Mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the Saviour of the emanations of the fourth Voice of the Treasury of the Light [177b] will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Fourth Mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the fifth [sic] Saviour of the fifth Voice of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Fifth mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the sixth Saviour of the emanations of the sixth Voice of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Sixth mystery of the First Mystery. And the seventh Saviour of the emanations of the seventh Voice of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls [178a] of those who receive the Seventh mystery of the First Mystery in the Treasury of the Light. And the eighth Saviour, namely, the Saviour of the emanations of the first Tree of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Eighth mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the ninth Saviour, namely, the Saviour of the emanations of the second Tree of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Ninth mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the tenth Saviour of the emanations of the third Tree of the Treasury of the Light will [178b] become in the Place of the 96souls of those who receive the Tenth mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. Likewise also the eleventh Saviour, namely, the Saviour of the fourth Tree of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Eleventh mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the twelfth Saviour, namely, the Saviour of the emanations of the fifth Tree of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Twelfth mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the seven (seventh, MS) Amens with the five (fifth, MS) Trees with the three [179a] Amens will become on right-hand of me being King in the Inheritance of the Light. And the Twin-saviours, namely, the child of the child and with the nine Guards, they indeed will remain also on left of me being King in the Inheritance of the Light. And every Saviour will be King over the arrays of his emanations in the Inheritances of the Light, as also they are in the Treasury of the Light. And the nine Guards of the Treasury of the Light will become, being preferable unto the Saviours in the Inheritances of the Light. And the Twin-saviours will become preferable unto the nine Guards in the Kingdom. And [179b] the three Amens will become preferable unto the Twin-saviours in the Kingdom. And the five Trees will become preferable unto the five Amens in the Inheritances of the Light. And Ieou with the Guard of the Veil of the great Light with the Receivers of Light with the great two Chief Captains with the great Sabaoth, the good, they will become being King in the first Saviour of the first Voice of the Treasury of the Light, this which will become in the Place of those who receive the First Mystery of the First Mystery. Because that Ieou with the Guard of the Place of those on Right (hand) with Melkhisedek the great Receiver of the Light, with the great [180a] two Chief Captains who came out of the Light which is choice, which is pure, greatly, of the First Tree even unto the fifth. Ieou indeed he is the Overseer of the Light who came forth first from the pure light of the first Tree. The Guard also of the Veil of those of (the) Right (hand) who came forth out of the second Tree. And the two Chief Captains came forth also out of the pure light choice greatly of the third Tree with the fourth in the Treasury of the Light. But Melkhisedek also came forth out of the fifth Tree. Sabaoth the great also (the) good, this whom I called, my Father, [180b] he came forth out of Ieou the Overseer of the Light. These six therefore by the command of the First Mystery, the last Helper caused to become in 97the Place of those of (the) Right (hand) for the arrangement of the collection of the Light which is of the Height of the Aeons of the Rulers, and in the World with every race which is in them. These which I shall say unto you of the work of each over which they put him in the Distribution of the Universe. Because of the height therefore of the work in which he put him, they will become fellow-kings in the First Mystery of the first Voice of the Treasury of the Light, this which will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the First Mystery of the First Mystery. And the Virgin of the Light with the great [181a] Captain of the Middle, this who were wont the Rulers of the Aeons to call, The great Iao, according to the name of a great Ruler who (is) in their Place; he, with the Virgin of the Light, with his twelve Deacons, this from whom ye received shape, and ye received the power out of them, they will also all become Kings: with the first Saviour of the first Voice in the Place of the souls of those who will receive the First Mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And with the fifteen Helpers of the seven Virgins of the Light, these who become in the Middle will be distributed in the Places of the twelve Saviours, [181b] with the others also, Angels of the Middle, each according to his glory, and (shall) be kings with me in the Inheritances of the Light. And I, I shall rule over all of them in the Inheritances of the Light.

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