Pistis Sophia

IT came to pass, when Jesus had risen from the cHapP.1.

dead, that he passed eleven years discoursing a

with his disciples, and instructing them only up hitherto

to the regions of the First Commandment and eure

up to the regions of the First Mystery, that within pos

the Veil, within the First Commandment, which Ara

is the four-and-twentieth mystery without and ~

below—those [four-and-twenty] which are in the

second space of the First Mystery which is before

all mysteries,—the Father in the form of a dove.

And Jesus said to his disciples: “I am come What the

forth out of that First Mystery, which is the last an

mystery, that is the four-and-twentieth mystery.” und

And his disciples have not known nor understood

that anything existeth within that mystery; but

they thought of that mystery, that it is the

head of the universe and the head of all existence;

and they thought it is the completion of all com-

pletions, because Jesus had said to them concern-

ing that mystery, that it surroundeth the First

Commandment and the five Impressions and the

great Light | and the five Helpers and the 2.

whole Treasury of the Light.

And moreover Jesus had not told his disciples

The regions

of the great

Invisible.

The Trea-

sury of the

Light.

The Light-

world.

2 PISTIS SOPHIA

the total expansion of all the regions of the great

Invisible and of the three triple-powers and of

the four-and-twenty invisibles, and all their

regions and their zons and their orders, how they

are extended—those which are the emanations

of the great Invisible—and their ungenerated

and their self-generated and their generated and

their light-givers and their unpaired and_ their

rulers and their authorities and their lords and

their archangels and their angels and their decans

and their servitors and all the houses of their

spheres and all the orders of every one of them.

And Jesus had not told his disciples the total

expansion of the emanations of the Treasury, nor

their orders, how they are extended; nor had he

told them their saviours, according to the order of

every one, how they are; nor had he told them

what guard is at every [gate] of the Treasury of

the Light; nor had he told them the region of

the Twin-saviour, who | is the Child of the Child;

not had he told them the regions of the three

Améns, in what regions they are expanded; nor had!

he told them into what region the five Trees are

expanded; nor as to the seven Améns, that is the

seven Voices, what is their region, how they are

expanded.

And Jesus had not told his disciples of what

type are the five Helpers, nor into what region they

are brought; nor had he told them how the

great Light hath expanded itself, nor into what

region it hath been brought; nor had he told

them of the five Impressions, nor as to the First

Commandment, into what region they have been

brought. But he had discoursed with them gener-

ally, teaching that they exist, but he had not told

them their expansion and the order of their

regions, how they are. For this cause they have

not known that there were also other regions

within that mystery.

And he had not told his disciples: “I have

gone forth out of such and such regions until I

entered into that mystery, and until I went forth

out of it’; but, in teaching them, he said to them:

“T am come forth from that mystery.” For this

cause then they thought of that mystery, that it is

the completion | of completions, and that it is

the head of the universe and that it is the total

Fulness. For Jesus had said to his disciples:

“That mystery surroundeth that universe of

which I have spoken unto you from the day when

I met with you even unto this day.” For this

cause then the disciples thought there is nothing

within that mystery.

It came to pass then, when the disciples were

4.

CHAP. 2.

sitting together on the Mount of Olives, speaking Jesus and

of these words and rejoicing in great joy, and

exulting exceedingly and saying one to another:

“Blessed are we before all men who are on the

eatth, because the Saviour hath revealed this unto

us, and we have received the Fulness and the total

completion,’—they said this to one another, while

Jesus sat a little removed from them..

And it came to pass then, on the fifteenth day

of the moon in the month Tybi, which is the day on

which the moon is full, on that day then, when

the sun had come forth in his going, that there

came forth behind him a great light-power

shining most exceedingly, and there was no meas-

ure to the light conjoined with it. For it came

out of the Light of lights, and it came out of the

his disciples

are seated

on the Mount

of Olives.

A great

light-power

descendeth

on Jesus.

It surround-

eth him en-

tirely.

6.

CHAP. 3.

Jesus as-

cendeth

into heaven.

The confu-

sion of the

powers and

the great

earthquake.

4 PISTIS SOPHIA

last mystery, which is the four-and-twentieth |

mystery, from within without, those which are

in the orders of the second space of the First

Mystery. And that light-power came down over

Jesus and surrounded him entirely, while he was

seated removed from his disciples, and he had

shone most exceedingly, and there was no measure

for the light which was on him.

And the disciples had not seen Jesus because of

the great light in which he was, or which was about

him; for their eyes were darkened because of the

great light in which he was. But they saw only

the light, which shot forth many light-rays. And

the light-rays were not like one another, but the

light was of divers kind, and it was of divers type,

from below upwards, one [ray] more excellent

than the other, . . . , in one great immeasurable

glory of light; it stretched from under the earth

right up to heaven.—And when the disciples saw

that light, they fell into great fear and great

agitation. |

It came to pass then, when that light-power

had come down over Jesus, that it gradually sur-

rounded him entirely. Then Jesus ascended or

soared into the height, shining most exceedingly in

an immeasurable light. And the disciples gazed

after him and none of them spake, until he had

reached unto heaven; but they all kept in deep

silence. This then came to pass on the fifteenth

day of the moon, on the day on which it is full in

the month Tybi.

It came to pass then, when Jesus had reached

the heaven, after three hours, that all the powers

of the heaven fell into agitation, and all were set in

motion one against the other, they and all their

eons and all their regions and all theit orders, and

the whole earth was agitated and all they who

dwell thereon. And all men who are in the world

fell into agitation, and also the discipes, and

all thought: Peradventure the world will be

rolled up.

And all the powers in the heavens ceased not

from their agitation, they and the whole world,

and all were moved one against the other, from

the third hour of the fifteenth day of the moon of

Tybi until the ninth hour of the morrow. And

all the angels and their archangels and all the

powers of the height, all sang praises to the inter-

iors of the | interiors, so that the whole world

heard their voices, without their ceasing till the

ninth hour of the morrow.

But the disciples sat together in fear and were

in exceedingly great agitation and were afraid

because of the great earthquake which took place,

and they wept together, saying, “What will

then be? Peradventure the Saviour will destroy

all regions?” Thus saying, they wept together.

a

CHAP. 4.

While they then said this and wept together, Jesus de-

then, on the ninth hour of the morrow, the heavens

opened, and they saw Jesus descend, shining

most exceedingly, and there was no measure for

his light in which he was. For he shone more

[radiantly] than at the hour when he had ascended

to the heavens, so that men in the world cannot

describe the light which was on him; and it shot

forth light-rays in great abundance, and there was

no measure for its rays, and its light was not alike

together, but it was of divers kind and of divers

type, some [rays] being more excellent than

others . . . ; and the whole light consisted to-

scendeth

again.

The nature

of his glory.

CHAP. 5.

Jesus ad-

dresseth

them.

CHAP. 6.

He draweth

his light

unto him-

self.

6 PISTIS SOPHIA

gether. It was of threefold kind, and the one

[kind] was more excellent than the other... .

The second, that in the midst, was more excellent

than the first which was below, and the third,

which was above them all, was more excellent than

the two which were below. And the first glory,

which was placed below them all, was like to the

light which had come over Jesus before he had

ascended | into the heavens, and was like only

itself in its light. And the three light-modes

were of divers light-kinds, and they were of

divers type, one being more excellent than the

Other. y...4-4

And it came to pass then, when the disciples

saw this, that they feared exceedingly, and were

in agitation. Then Jesus, the compassionate and

tender-hearted, when he saw his disciples, that

they were in great agitation, spake with them,

saying: “ Take courage. It is I, be not afraid.”

It came to pass then, when the disciples had

heard this word, that they said: “Lord, if it be

thou, withdraw thy light-glory into thyself

that we may be able to stand; otherwise our eyes

are darkened, and we are agitated, and the whole

wotld also is in agitation because of the great light

which is about thee.”

Then Jesus drew to himself the glory of his

light; and when this was done, all the disciples

took courage, stepped forward to Jesus, fell down

all together, adored him, rejoicing in great joy,

and said unto him: “Rabbi, whither hast thou

gone, or what was thy ministry on which thou hast

gone, or wherefor rather were all these confusions

and all the earth-quakings which have taken

place?”

Then Jesus, the compassionate, said unto them:

“ Rejoice and exult from this hour on, for I have

gone to the regions out of which I had come forth.

From this day on then will I discourse with you

in openness, | from the beginning of the Truth

unto its completion; and I will discourse with

you face to face without similitude. From this

hour on will I not hide anything from you of the

[mystery] of the height and of that of the region

of Truth. For authority hath been given me

through the Ineffable and through the First

Mystery of all mysteries to speak with you,

from the Beginning right up to the Fulness, both

from within without and from without within.

Hearken, therefore, that I may tell you all things.

“Tt came to pass, when I sat a little removed

from you on the Mount of Olives, that I thought

on the order of the ministry for the sake of which

I was sent, that it was completed, and that the

last mystery, that is the four-and-twentieth

mystery from within without,—those which are

in the second space of the First Mystery, in the

orders of that space,—had not yet sent me my

Vesture. It came to pass then, when I had known

that the order of the ministry for the sake of

which I had come, was completed, and that that

mystery had not yet sent me my Vesture, which

I had left behind in it, until its time was com-

pleted—thinkine then this, I sat on the Mount

of Olives a little removed from you.

“Tt came to pass, when the sun rose in the east,

thereafter then through the First Mystery, which

existed from the beginning, on account of which

He pro-

miseth to

tell them all

things.

9.

CHAP. 7.

the universe hath arisen, | out of which also I am 10.

myself now come, not in the time before my

How the

Vesture of

Light was

sent unto

him.

Of the souls

of the disci-

ples and

their incar-

nation.

11.

8 PISTIS SOPHIA

crucifixion, but now,—it came to pass, through

the command of that mystery, that there should

be sent me my Light-vesture, which it had given

me from the beginning, and which I had left be-

hind in the last mystery, that is the four-and-

twentieth mystery from within without,—those

which are in the orders of the second space of the

First Mystery. That Vesture then I left behind

in the last mystery, until the time should be com-

pleted to put it on, and I should begin to discourse

with the race of men and reveal unto them all

from the beginning of the Truth to its completion,

and discourse with them from the interiors of the

interiors to the exteriors of the exteriors and from

the exteriors of the exteriors to the interiors of

the interiors. Rejoice then and exult and rejoice

more and mote greatly, for to you it is given that I

speak first with you from the beginning of the

Truth to its completion.

“For this cause have I chosen you verily from

the beginning through the First Mystery. Rejoice

then and exult, for when I set out for the world, |

I brought from the beginning with me twelve

powers, as I have told you from the beginning,

which I have taken from the twelve saviours of the

Treasury of the Light, according to the command

of the First Mystery. These then I cast into the

womb of your mothers, when I came into the

world, that is those which are in your bodies to-

day. For these powers have been given unto you

before the whole world, because ye are they who

will save the whole world, and that ye may be able

to endure the threat of the rulers of the world and

the pains of the world and its dangers and all its

persecutions, which the rulers of the height will

bring upon you. For many times have I said

unto you that I have brought the power in you out

of the twelve saviours who are in the Treasury

of the Light. For which cause I have said unto

you indeed from the beginning that ye are not

of the world. I also am not of it. For all

men who are in the world have gotten their souls

out of [the power of] the rulers of the zons. But

the power which is in you is from me; your souls

belong to the height. I have brought twelve

powers of the twelve saviours of the Treasury

of the Light, taking them out of the portion of

my power which | I did first receive. And

when I had set forth for the world, I came into

the midst of the rulers of the sphere and had the

form of Gabriel the angel of the eons; and the

rulers of the eons did not know me, but they

thought that I was the angel Gabriel.

“Tt came to pass then, when I had come into

the midst of the rulers of the eons, that I looked

down on the world of mankind, by command

of the First Mystery. I found Elizabeth, the

mother of John the Baptizer, before she had

conceived him, and I sowed into her a power

which I had received from the little lad, the Good,

who is in the Midst, that he might be able to

make proclamation before me and make ready

my way, and baptize with the water of the

forgiveness of sins. That power then is in the

body of John.

“Moreover in place of the soul of the rulers

which he was appointed to receive, I found the

soul of the prophet Elias in the eons of the

sphere; and I took him thence, and took his

soul and brought it to the Virgin of Light, and

12.

Of the in-

carnation

of John the

Baptizer.

That John

was Elias in

a former

birth.

CHAP. 8.

Of his own

incarnation

through

Marty.

10 PISTIS SOPHIA

she gave it over to her receivers; they brought

it to the sphere of the rulers and cast it into the

womb of Elizabeth. So the power of the little

Iao, who is in the Midst, and the soul of the pro-

phet Elias, they were bound into the body of

John the Baptizer. For this cause then were

ye in doubt aforetime, | when I said unto you:

‘John said: I am not the Christ, and ye said

unto me: ‘It standeth written in the scripture:

When the Christ shall come, Elias cometh before

him and maketh ready his way. But when

ye said this unto me, I said unto you: ‘Elias

verily is come and hath made ready all things,

as it standeth written, and they have done unto

him as they would. And when I knew that

ye had not understood that I had discoursed

with you concerning the soul of Elias which is

bound into John the Baptizer, I answered you

in the discourse in openness face to face: ‘If

ye like to accept John the Baptizer: he is Elias,

of whom I have said that he will come.’ ”

And Jesus continued again in the discourse

and said: “It came to pass then thereafter,

that at the command of the First Mystery I

looked down on the world of mankind and found

Mary, who is called ‘my mother’ according to

the body of matter. I spake with her in the type

of Gabriel, and when she had turned herself to

the height towards me, I cast thence into her the

first power which I had received from Barbelo—

that is the body which I have borne in the height.

And instead of the soul I cast into her the power

which | I have received from the great Sabaoth,

the Good, who is in the region of the Right.

“And the twelve powers of the twelve saviours

of the Treasury of the Light which I had received

from the twelve ministers of the Midst, I cast

into the sphere of the rulers. And the decans of

the rulers and their servitors thought that they

wete souls of the rulers; and the servitors

brought them, they bound them into the body

of your mothers. And when your time was

completed, ye were born in the world without

souls of the rulers in you. And ye have recetved

your portion out of the power which the last

Helper hath breathed into the Mixture, that

[power] which is blended with all the invisibles

and all rulers and all zons,—in a word, which

is blended with the world of destruction which

is the Mixture. This [power], which from the

beginning I brought out of myself, I have cast

into the First Commapdment, and the First

Commandment cast a portion thereof into the

great Light, and the great Light cast a portion

of that which it had received, into the five

Helpers, and the last Helper took a portion of

that which it received, and cast it into the

Mixture. And [this portion] is in all who are in

the Mixture, | as I have just said unto you.”

This then Jesus said to his disciples on the Mount

of Olives. Jesus containued again in the discourse

with his disciples [and said]: “Rejoice and exult

and add joy to your joy, for the times are com-

pleted for me to put on my Vesture, which hath

been prepared for me from the beginning, which

I left behind in the last mystery until the time

of its completion. Now the time of its com-

pletion is the time when I shall be commanded

through the First Mystery to discourse with

you from the beginning of the Truth to the

Mote con-

cerning the

light-

powers in the

disciples.

15.

Why they

should re-

joice that the

time of his

investi-

ture had

come.

CHAP. 9.

16.

CHAP. 10.

The mys-

tery of the

five words

on the

vesture.

The solution

thereof.

12 PISTIS SOPHIA

completion thereof, and from the interiors of

the interiors [to the exteriors of the exteriors],

for the world will be saved through you. Rejoice

then and exult, for ye are blessed before all

men who are on the earth. It is ye who will save

the whole world.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished

saying these words to his disciples, that he

continued again in the discourse, and said unto

them: “Lo, I have then put on my Vesture,

and all authority hath been given me through

the First Mystery. Yet a little while and I

will tell you the mystery of the universe and the

fulness of the universe; and I will hide nothing

from you from this hour on, but in fulness will

I perfect you in all fulness and | in all perfection

and in all mysteries, which are the perfection

of all perfections and the fulness of all fulnesses

and the gnosis of all gnoses,—those which are

in my Vesture. I will tell you all mysteries

from the exteriors of the exteriors to the interiors

of the interiors. But hearken that I may tell

you all things which have befallen me.

“Tt came to pass then, when the sun had

risen in the east, that a great light-power came

down, in which was my Vesture, which I had

left behind in the four-and-twentieth mystery,

as I have said unto you. And I found a mystery

in my Vesture, written in five words of those from

the height: ama rama oxza rachama 6zai,—

whose solution is this:

“*QO Mystery, which is without in the world,

for whose sake the universe hath arisen,—this

is the total outgoing and the total ascent, which

hath emanated all emanations and all that is

therein and for whose sake all mysteries and all

their regions have arisen,—come hither unto us,

for we are thy fellow-members. We are all

with thyself; we are one and the same. Thou

art the First Mystery, | which existed from 17.

the beginning in the Ineffable before it came

forth; and the name thereof are we all. Now,

therefore, are we all come to meet thee at the

last limit, which also is the last mystery from

within; itself is a portion of us. Now, there-

fore, have we sent thee thy Vesture, which hath

belonged to thee from the beginning, which

thou hast left behind in the last limit, which

also is the last mystery from within, until its

time should be completed, according to the

commandment of the First Mystery. Lo, its

time is completed; put it on [thee].

“*Come unto us, for we all draw nigh to thee rhe three

to clothe thee with the First Mystery and _ all i o

his glory, by commandment of himself, in that

the First Mystery hath given us it, consisting

of two vestutes, to clothe thee therewith, besides

the one which we have sent thee, for thou art

worthy of them, since thou art prior to us, and

existeth before us. For this cause, therefore,

hath the First Mystery sent thee through us the

mystery of all his glory, consisting of two vestures.

“In the first is the whole glory of all the The first

names of all mysteries and all emanations of “““~

the orders | of the spaces of the Ineffable. 18.

“* And in the second vesture is the whole glory The second

of the name of all mysteries and all emanations ““""*

which are in the orders of the two spaces of the

First Mystery.

“* And in this [third] vesture, which we have

The third

vesture.

14 PISTIS SOPHIA

just sent thee, is the glory of the name of the

mystery of the Revealer, which is the First

Commandment, and of the mystery of the five

Impressions, and of the mystery of the great

Envoy of the Ineffable, who is the great Light,

and of the mystery of the five Leaders, who are

the five Helpers. There is further in this vesture

the glory of the name of the mystery of all orders

of the emanations of the Treasury of the Light

and of their saviours, and [of the mystery] of

the orders of the ordets, which are the seven

Améns and the seven Voices and the five Trees

and the three Améns and the Twin-saviour, that

is the Child of the Child, and of the mystery of

the nine guards of the three gates of the Treasury

of the Light. There is further therein the whole

glory of the name [of all those] which are in the

Right, and of all those which are in the Midst.

And further there is therein the whole glory of

the name of the great Invisible, | which is the

great Forefather, and the mystery of the three

triple-powers and the mystery of their whole

region and the mystery of all their invisibles

and of all those who are in the thirteenth on,

and the name of the twelve zons and of all their

rulers and all their archangels and all their

angels and of all those who are in the twelve

eons, and the whole mystery of the name of all

those who are in the Fate and in all the heavens,

and the whole mystery of the name of all those

who are in the sphere, and of its fimaments

and of all who are in them, and of all their

regions.

“*To, therefore, we have sent thee this vesture,

which no one knew from the First Command-

ment downwards, for the glory of its light was

hidden in it, and the spheres and all regions from

the First Commandment downwards [have not

known it}. Haste thee, therefore, clothe

thyself with this vesture and come unto us.

For we draw nigh unto thee, to clothe thee by

command of the First Mystery with thy two

vestutes [other] which existed for thee from the

beginning with the First Mystery until the time

appointed by the Ineffable is completed. | Come,

therefore, to us quickly, that we may put them

on thee, until thou hast fulfilled the total ministry

of the perfection of the First Mystery which is

appointed by the Ineffable. Come, therefore,

to us quickly, in order that we may clothe thee

with them, according to. the command of the

First Mystery. For yet a little while, a very

little while, and thou shalt come unto us and leave

the world. Come, therefore, quickly, that thou

mayest receive thy whole glory, that is the glory

of the First Mystery.’

“Tt came to pass then, when I saw the mystery

of all these words in the vesture which was sent

me, that straightway I clothed myself therewith,

and I shone most exceedingly and soared into

the height.

“T came before the [first] gate of the firmament,

shining most exceedingly, and there was no

measure for the light which was about me, and

the gates of the firmament were shaken one

over against another and all opened at once.

“And all rulers and all authorities and all

angels therein were thrown all together into

agitation because of the great light which was on

me. And they gazed at the radiant vesture of

The day of

‘Come unto

>

us.

20.

CHAP. 11.

Jesus

putteth on

his vestures.

He enter-

eth the

firmament.

The powers

of the firma-

ment are

amazed and

fall down

and adore

im.

21.

CHAP. 12.

He entereth

the first

sphere.

The powers

of the first

sphere are

amazed and

fall down

and adore

him.

22.

16 PISTIS SOPHIA

light with which I was clad, and they saw the

mystery which contains their names, | and they

feared most exceedingly. And all their bonds

with which they were bound, were unloosed and

every one left his order, and they all fell down

before me, adored and said: ‘How hath the

lord of the universe passed through us without

out knowing?’ And they all sang praises to-

gether to the interiors of the interiors; but me

they saw not, but they saw only the light. And

they were in great fear and were exceedingly

agitated and sang praises to the interiors of the

interiors.

“ And I left that region behind me and ascended

to the first sphere, shining most exceedingly,

forty-and-nine-times more brightly than I had

shone in the firmament. It came to pass then,

when I had reached the gate of the first sphere,

that its gates were shaken and opened of them-

selves at once.

“T entered into the houses of the sphere,

shining most exceedingly, and there was no

measure to the light that was about me. And

all the rulers and all those who are in that sphere,

fell into agitation one against another. And

they saw the ereat light that was about me,

and they gazed upon my vesture and saw thereon

the mystery of their name. And they fell into

still greater agitation, and were in great fear;

saying: ‘How hath the lord of the universe

passed through us without our knowing?’ |

And all their bonds were unloosed and _ their

regions and their orders; and everyone left his

order, and they fell down all together, adored

before me, or before my vesture, and all sang

praises together to the interiors of the interiors,

being in great fear and great agitation.

“And I left that region behind me and came

to the gate of the second sphere, which is

Fate. Then were all its gates thrown into

agitation and opened of themselves. And I

entered into the houses of the Fate, shining most

exceedingly, and there was no measure for the

light that was about me, for I shone in the Fate

forty-and-nine times more than in the [first]

sphere.

“And all the rulers and all those who are in

the Fate, were thrown into agitation and fell

on one another and were in exceeding great fear

on seeing the great light that was about me.

And they gazed on my vesture of light and saw

the mystery of their name on my vesture and fell

into still greater agitation; and they were in

great fear, saying: “How hath the lord of the

universe passed through us without our knowing?’

And all the bonds of their regions and of their

orders and of their houses were unloosed; they

all came at once, fell down, adored before me

and sang praises all together | to the interiors

of the interiors, being in great fear and great

agitation.

“ And I left that region behind me and ascended

to the great aeons of the rulers and came before

their veils and their gates, shining most exceed-

ingly, and there was no measure for the light

which was about me. It came to pass then,

when I arttived at the twelve eons, that their

veils and their gates were shaken one over against

the other. Their veils drew themselves apart

of their own accord; and their gates opened one

CHAP. 13.

He entereth

the ssecond

sphere.

The powers

of the sec-

ond sphere

are amazed

and fall

down and

adore him.

23.

CHAP. 14.

He entereth

the xons.

The powers

of the zons

are amazed

and fall

down and

adore him.

24.

18 PISTIS SOPHIA

over against the other. And I entered into the

eons, shining most exceedingly, and there was

no measure for the light that was about me,

forty-and-nine times more than the light with

which I shone in the houses of the Fate.

“And all the angels of the sons and _ their

archangels and their rulers and their gods and

their lords and their authorities and their tyrants

and their powers and their light-sparks and their

light-givers and their unpaired and their in-

visibles and their forefathers and their triple-

powers saw me, shining most exceedingly, and

there was no measure for the light which was

about me. And they were thrown into agitation

the one over against the other and great fear

fell upon them, when they saw the great light

that was about me. And in their great agitation

and their great fear they withdrew as far as |

the region of the great invisible Forefather, and

of the three great triple-powers. And because of

the great fear of their agitation, the great

Forefather, he and the three triple-powers, kept

on running hither and thither in his region,

and they could not close all their regions because

of the great fear in which they were. And they

agitated all their sons together and all their

spheres and all tbeir orders, fearing and being

greatly agitated beeause of the great light which

was about me—not of the former quality that it

was about me when I was on the earth of man-

kind, when the light-vesture came over me,—

for the world could not bear the light such as it

was in its truth, else would the world at once

be destroyed and all upon it but the light

which was about me in the twelve sons was

eight-thousand-and-seven-hundred-myriad times

greater than that which was about me in the

world among you.

“Tt came to pass then, when all those who

are in the twelve zons saw the great light which

was about me, that they were all thrown into

agitation one over against the other, and ran

hither and thither in the eons. And all eons

and all heavens and their whole ordering were

agitated one over against the other | on account

of the great fear which was on them, for they

knew not the mystery which had taken place.

And Adamas, the great Tyrant, and all the

tyrants in all the eons began to fight in vain

against the light, and they knew not against

whom they fought, because they saw nothing

but the overmastering light.

“Tt came to pass then, when they fought against

the light, that they were weakened all together

one with another, were dashed down in the zons

and became as the inhabitants of the earth,

dead and without breath of life.

“And I took from all a third of their power,

that they should no more be active in their evil

doings, and that, if the men who are in the world,

invoke them in their mysteries—those which

the angels who transgressed have brought down,

that is their sorceries,—in order that, therefore,

if they invoke them in their evil doings, they

may not be able to accomplish them.

“And the Fate and the sphere over which

they rule, I have changed and brought it to pass

that they spend six months turned to the left

and accomplish their influences, and that six

months they face to the right and accomplish

CHAP. 15.

Adamas

and the

tyrants

fight

against the

light.

25.

He taketh

from them

a third of

their power.

He

changeth

the motion

of their

spheres.

26.

CHAP. 16.

CHAP. 17.

Mary

Magdalene

asketh and

receiveth

permission

to speak.

CHAP. 18.

27.

20 PISTIS SOPHIA

their influences. For by command of the First

Commandment and by command of the First

Mystery | Yew, the Overseer of the Light, had

set them facing the left at every time and accom-

plishing their influences and their deeds.

“Tt came to pass then, when I came into their

region, that they mutinied and fought against

the light. And I took the third of their power,

in order that they should not be able to accomplish

their evil deeds. And the Fate and the sphere,

over which they rule, I have changed, and set

them facing the left six months and accomplishing

their influences, and I have set them turned

another six months to the right and accomplishing

their influences.”

When then he had said this to his disciples,

he said unto them: “ Who hath ears to hear,

let him hear.”

It came to pass then, when Mary had heard

the Saviour say these words, that she gazed

fixedly into the air for the space of an hour.

She said: “ My Lord, give commandment unto me

to speak in openness.”

And Jesus, the compassionate, answered and

said unto Mary: “Mary, thou blessed one,

whom I will perfect in all mysteries of those of

the height, discourse in openness, thou, whose

heart is raised to the kingdom of heaven more

than all thy brethren.”

Then said Mary to the Saviour: “My Lord,

the word which thou hast spoken unto us: ‘ Who

| hath ears to hear, let him hear,’ thou sayest

in order that we may understand the word which

thouhast spoken. Hearken, therefore, my Lord,

that I may discourse in openness.

“The word which thou hast spoken: ‘T

have taken a third from the power of the rulers

of all the sons, and changed their Fate and their

sphere over which they rule, in order that, if the

race of men invoke them in the mysteries—

those which the angels who transgressed have

taught them for the accomplishing of their evil

and lawless deeds in the mystery of their sorcery,’

—in order then that they may no more from

this hour accomplish their lawless deeds, because

thou hast taken their power from them and from

their horoscope-casters and their consulters

and from those who declare to the men in the

world all things which shall come to pass, in order

that they should no more from this hour know

how to declare unto them any thing at all which

will come to pass (for thou hast changed their

spheres, and hast made them spend six months

turned to the left and accomplishing their in-

fluences, and another six months facing the right

and accomplishing their influences),—concerning

this word then, my Lord, the power which was

in the prophet Isaiah, hath spoken thus and

proclaimed aforetime in a _ spiritual — simili-

tude, discoursing on the ‘ Vision about Egypt’:

‘Where then, O Egypt, where are thy consulters

and horoscope-casters and those who cry | out

of the earth and those who cry out of their belly?

Let them then declare unto thee from now on the

deeds which the lord Sabaoth will do!’

“The power then which was in the prophet

Isaiah, prophesied before thou didst come,

that thou wouldst takeaway the power of the

rulers of the sons and wouldst change their

sphere and their Fate, in order that they might

Mary inter-

preteth the

discourse

from the

words of

Isaiah.

CHAP. 19.

20.

Jesus com-

mendeth

Mary. She

further

questioneth

him on the

changing of

the spheres.

CHAP. 20.

22 PISTIS SOPHIA

know nothing from now on. For this cause it

hath said also: ‘ Ye shall then know not of what

the lord Sabadth will do’; that is, none of the

rulers will know what thou wilt do from now on,

—for they are ‘Egypt’ because they are matter.

The power then which was in Isaiah, prophesied

concerning thee aforetime, saying: ‘From now

on ye shall then know not what the lord Sabaoth

will do.’ Because of the light-power which thou

didst teceive from Sabaoth, the Good, who is

in the region of the Right, and which is in thy

material body to-day, for this cause then,

my Lord Jesus, thou hast said unto us: ‘Who

hath ears to hear, let him hear,—in order that

thou mightest know whose heart is ardently raised

to the kingdom of heaven.”

It came to pass then, when Mary had finished

saying these words, that he said: “ Well said, Mary,

for thou art blessed before all women on the earth, |

because thou shalt be the fulness of all fulnesses

and the perfection of all perfections.”

Now when Mary had heard the Saviour speak

these words, she exulted greatly, and she came

before Jesus, fell down before him, adored

his feet and said unto him: “ My Lord, hearken

unto me, that I may question thee on this word,

before that thou discoursest with us about the

regions whither thou didst go.”

Jesus answered and said unto Mary: “ Dis-

course in openness and fear not; all things on

which thou questionest, I will reveal unto thee.”

She said: “ My Lord, will all the men who know

the mystery of the magic of all the rulers of all

the zons of the Fate and of those of the sphere,

in the way in which the angels who transgressed

have taught them, if they invoke them in their

mysteries, that is in their evil magic, to the

hindering of good deeds,—will they accomplish

them henceforth from now on or not?”

Jesus answered and said unto Mary: “ They Jesus ex-

will not accomplish them as they accomplished

them from the beginning, because I have taken

away a third of their power; but they will raise a

loan from those who know the mysteries of the

magic of the thirteenth zon. And if they invoke

the mysteries of the magic of those who are in the

thirteenth zon, | they will accomplish them

well and surely, because I have not taken away

power from that region, according to the command

of the First Mystery.”

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished

saying these words, that Mary continued again

and said: “ My Lord, will not then the horoscope-

casters and consulters from now on declare unto

men what will come to pass for them?”

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary:

“Tf the horoscope-casters find the Fate and the

sphere turned towards the left, according to their

first extension, their words will come to pass,

and they will say what is to take place. But

if they chance on the Fate or the sphere turned to

the right, they are bound to say nothing true,

for I have changed their influences and _ their

squares and their triangles and their octagons;

seeing that their influences from the beginning

onwards were continuously turned to the left and

their squares and their triangles and their

octagons. But now I have made them spend

six months turned to the left and six months

turned to the right. | He who then shall find their

plaineth

further the

conversion

of the

spheres.

CHAP. 21.

31.

32.

24 PISTIS SOPHIA

reckoning from the time when I changed them,

setting them so as to spend six months facing

towards their left. and six months facing their

right paths——he who then shall observe them

in this wise, | will know their influences surely

and will declare all things which they will do.

In like manner also the consulters, if they invoke

the names of the rulers and chance on them

facing the left, will tell [men] with accuracy all

things concerning which they shall ask their

decans. On the contrary, if the consulters invoke

their names when they face to the right, they

will not give ear unto them, because they are

facing in another form compared with their former

position in which Yew had established them;

seeing that other are their names when they are

turned to the left and other their names when

they are turned to the right. And if they invoke

them when they are turned to the right, they

will not tell them the truth, but they will con-

found them with confusion and threaten them

with threatening. Those then who do not know

their path, when they are turned to the right,

and their triangles and their squares and all

their figures, will find nothing true, but will be

confounded in great confusion and will find

themselves in great delusion, because I have

now changed the works which they effected

aforetime in their squares, when turned to the

left, and In their triangles and in their octagons,

in which they were busied continuously turned

to the left; and I have made them spend six

months forming all their configurations turned to

the right, in order that they may be confounded in

confusion in their whole range. | And moreover

I have made them spend six months turned to the

left and accomplishing the works of their influences

and all their configurations, in order that the rulers

who are in the zons and in their spheres and in

their heavens and in all their regions, may be

confounded in confusion and deluded in delusion,

so that they may not understand their own paths.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished CHapP. 22.

saying these words, while Philip sat and wrote all Phillip

the words that Jesus spake,—thereafter then a

it came to pass that Philip came forward, fell

down and adored the feet of Jesus, saying:

“My Lord and Saviour, grant me authority to

discourse before thee and to question thee on

this word, before thou discoursest with us con-

cerning the regions whither thou didst go because

of thy ministry.”

And the compassionate Saviour answered and

said unto Philip: “ Authority is given thee to

bring forward the word which thou willest.”

And Philip answered and said unto Jesus:

“My Lord, on account of what mystery hast

thou changed the binding of the rulers and their

eons and their Fate and their sphere and all

their regions, and made them confounded in

confusion on their path and deluded in their

course? Hast thou then done this unto them

for the salvation of the world or hast thou not?”

And Jesus answered and said unto Philip and to CHapP. 23.

all the disciples together: “I have | changed 33.

their path for the salvation of all souls. Amén, eres

amén, I say unto you: If I had not changed «ons was

their path, a host of souls would have been ae

destroyed, and they would have spent a long

time, if the rulers of the zons and the rulets of

CHAP. 26.

Mary ques-

tioneth him

again..

34.

CHAP. 25.

26 PISTIS SOPHIA

the Fate and of the sphere and of all their regions

and all their heavens and all their aeons had

not been brought to naught; and the souls

would have continued a long time here outside,

and the completion of the number of perfect

souls would have been delayed, which [souls]

shall be counted in the Inheritance of the Height

through the mysteries and shall be in the Treasury

of the Light. For this cause then I have changed

their path, that they might be deluded and _ fall

into agitation and yield up the power which is

in the matter of their world and which they

fashion into souls, in order that those who shall

be saved, might be quickly purified and raised

on high, they and the whole power, and that

those who shall not be saved, might be quickly

destroyed.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished

saying these words unto his disciples, that Mary,

the fair in her discourse and the blessed one,

came forward, fell at the feet of Jesus and said:

“My Lord, suffer me that I speak before thee,

and | be not wroth with me, if oft I give thee

trouble questioning thee.”

The Saviour, full of compassion, answered and

said unto Mary: “Speak the word which thou

willest, and I will reveal it to thee in all openness.”

Mary answered and said unto Jesus: “ My

Lord, in what way will the souls have delayed

themselves here outside, and in what type will

they be quickly purified?”

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary:

“Well said, Mary; thou questionest finely with

thy excellent question, and thou throwest light

on all things with surety and precision. Now,

therefore, from now on will I hide nothing from

you, but I will reveal unto you all things with

surety and openness. Hearken then, Mary, and

give ear, all ye disciples: Before I made pro-

clamation to all the rulers of the zons and to all

the rulers of the Fate and of the sphere, they were

all bound in their bonds and in their spheres

and in their seals, as Yew, the Overseer of the

Light, had bound them from the beginning;

and every one of them remained in his order,

and every one journeyed according to his course,

as Yew, the Overseer of the Light, had estab-

lished them. And when the time of the number

of Melchisedec, the great Receiver of the Light,

came, he was wont to come into the midst of the

eons and of all the rulers | who are bound in

the sphere and in the Fate, and he carried away

the purification of the light from all the rulers

of the zons and from all the rulers of the Fate

and from those of the sphere—for he carried

away then that which brings them into agitation

—and he set in motion the hastener who is over

them, and made them turn their circles swiftly,

and he [sc. the hastener] carried away their power

which was in them and the breath of their

mouth and the tears [44 waters] of their eyes

and the sweat of their bodies.

“And Melchisedec, the Receiver of the Light,

purifieth those powers and carrieth their light into

the Treasury of the Light, while the servitors of

all the rulers gather together all matter from them

all; and the servitors of all the rulers of the Fate

and the servitors of the sphere which is below

the «ons, take it and fashion it into souls of men

and cattle and reptiles and wild-beasts and birds,

The coming

of Melchise-

dec.

35.

Of the

fashioning

of the souls

of men.

36.

CHAP. 26.

28 PISTIS SOPHIA

and send them down into the world of mankind.

And further the receivers of the sun and the

receivers of the moon, if they look above and see

the configurations of the paths of the zons and the

configurations of the Fate and those of the

sphere, then they take from them the _light-

power; and the | receivers of the sun get it

ready and deposit it, until they hand it over to

the receivers of Melchisedec, the Light-purifier.

And their material refuse they bring to the

sphere which is below the zons, and fashion it

into [souls of] men, and fashion it also into souls

of reptiles and of cattle and of wild-beasts and of

birds, according to the circle of the rulers of that

sphere and according to all the configurations of

its revolution, and they cast them into this world

of mankind, and they become souls in this region,

as I have just said unto you.

“This then they accomplished continuously

before their power was diminished in them and

they waned and became exhausted, or powerless.

It came to pass then, when they became power-

less, that their power began to cease in them,

so that they became exhausted in their power,

and their light, which was in their region, ceased

and their kingdom was destroyed, and the uni-

verse became quickly raised up.

“Tt came to pass then, when they had perceived

this at the time, and when the number of the

cipher of Melchisedec, the Receiver [of the Light],

happened, then had he to come out again and

enter into the midst of the rulers of all the zons

and into the midst of all the rulers of the Fate

and of those of the sphere; and he threw them

into agitation, and made them quickly abandon

their circles. And forthwith they were con-

strained, and cast forth the power out of them-

selves, out of the breath of their mouth and

the | tears of their eyes and the sweat of their

bodies.

“And Melchisedec, the Receiver of the Light,

purifieth them, as he doth continually; he carrieth

their light into the Treasury of the Light. And

all the rulers of the zons and the rulers of the

Fate and those of the sphere turn to the

matter of their refuse; they devour it and do not

let it go and become souls in the world. They

devour then their matter, so that they may not

become powerless and exhausted and their power

cease in them and their kingdom become destroyed,

but in order that they may delay and linger a

long time until the completion of the number of

the perfect souls who shall be in the Treasury of

the Light.

“Tt came to pass then, when the rulers of the

eons and those of the Fate and those of the

sphere continued to carry out this type,—turning

on themselves, devouring the refuse of their

matter, and not allowing souls to be born into

the world of mankind, in order that they might

delay in being rulers, and that the powers

which are in their powers, that is the souls,

might spend a long time here outside,—they

then persisted doing this continually for two

circles.

“Tt came to pass then, when I wished to ascend

for the ministry for the sake of which I was

called | by command of the First Mystery, that

I came up into the midst of the tyrants of the

rulers of the twelve zons, with my light-vesture

37.

The rulers

devour their

matter so

that souls

may not be

fashioned.

CHAP. 27.

Of the

fashioning

of the souls

of men.

Amadas and

the tyrants

fight against

the light-

vesture.

Jesus tak-

eth from

them a

third of

their power

and chang-

eth their

course.

39.

30 PISTIS SOPHIA

about me, shining most exceedingly, and there was

no measure for the light which was about me.

“Tt came to pass then, when those tyrants saw

the great light which was about me, that the

great Adamas, the Tyrant, and all the tyrants

of the twelve zons, all together began to fight

against the light of my vesture, desiring to hold

it fast among them, in order to delay in their

tulership. This then they did, not knowing

against whom they fought.

“When then they mutinied and fought against

the light, thereon by command of the First

Mystery I changed the paths and the courses of

their sons and the paths of their Fate and of

their sphere. I made them face six months towards

the triangles on the left and towards the squares

and towards those in their aspect and towards

their octagons, just as they had formerly been.

But their manner of turning, or facing, I changed

to another order, and made them other six

months face towards the works of their in-

fluences in the squares on the right and in their

triangles and in those in their aspect and in their

octagons. And I made them to be confounded

in great confusion and deluded in great delusion |

—the rulers of the eons and all the rulers of

the Fate and those of the sphere; and I set them

in great agitation, and thence on they were no

longer able to turn towards the refuse of their

matter to devour it, in order that their regions

may continue to delay and they [themselves]

may spend a long time as rulers.

“But when I had taken away a third of their

power, I changed their spheres, so that they

spend a time facing to the left and another time

facing to the right. I have changed their whole

path and their whole course, and I have made the

path of their course to hurry, so that they may

be quickly purified and raised up quickly. And I

have shortened their circles, and made their path

more speedy, and it will be exceedingly hurried.

And they were thrown into confusion in their

path, and from then on were no more able to

devour the matter of the refuse of the purification

of their light. And moreover I have shortened

their times and their periods, so that the perfect

number of souls who shall receive the mysteries

matter. and be in the Treasury of the Light, shall be

quickly completed. For had I not changed

their courses, and had I not shortened their

periods, they would not have let any soul come

into the world, because of the matter of their

refuse | which they devoured, and they would

have destroyed many souls. For this cause I

said unto you afore time: ‘I have shortened the

times because of my elect; otherwise no soul

would have been able to be saved.’ And I have

shortened the times and the periods because of

the perfect number of. the souls who shall receive

the mysteries, that is to say, the ‘elect’; and

had I not shortened their periods, no material

soul would have been saved, but they would have

perished in the fire which is in the flesh of the

rulers. This then is the word on which thou dost

question me with precision.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished

speaking these words unto his disciples, that they

fell down all together, adored him and said to

him: “ Blessed are we before all men, for unto us

thou hast revealed these great exploits.”

They no

mote have

the power

of devour-

ing their

matter.

CHAP. 28.

The powers

adore the

light-ves-

ture.

41.

The tyrants

become as

the dead.

32 PISTIS SOPHIA

And Jesus continued again in his discourse and

said unto his disciples: “ Hearken concerning the

things which befell me among the rulers of the

twelve eons and all their rulers and their lords

and their authorities and their angels and their

archangels. When then they had seen the vesture

of light which was about me, they and their

unpaired, then every one of them saw the mystery

of his name, that it was on my | vesture of light,

which was about me. ‘They fell down all to-

gether, adored the vesture of light which was

about me, and cried out all together, saying:

‘How hath the lord of the universe passed

through us without our knowing it?? And they

all sang praises together to the interiors of the

interiors. And all their triple-powers and _ their

great forefathers and their ungenerated and their

self-generated and their generated and their gods

and their light-sparks and their light-bearers—in a

word all their great ones—saw the tyrants of

their region, that their power was diminished in

them. And they were in weakness and them-

selves fell into great and immeasurable fear. And

they gazed on the mystery of their name on my

vestute, and they had set out to come and adore

the mystery of their name which was on my

vesture, and they could not because of the great

light which was about me; but they adored a

little removed from me, and they adored the light

of my vesture and all cried out together, singing

praises to the interiors of the interiors.

“Tt came to pass then, when this befell among

the tyrants who are below these rulers, that they

all lost power and fell down to the ground in

their aeons and became as the dead _ world-

dwellers with no breath in them, as they | be-

came in the hour when I took from them their

power.

“Tt came to pass then thereafter, when I left

those eons, that everyone of all those who were

in the twelve eons, was bound to their order all

together, and they accomplished their works as

I have established them, so that they spend six

months turned to the left and accomplishing

their works in their squares and their triangles

and in those which are in their aspect, and that

further they spend another six months facing to

the right and towards their triangles and their

squares and those which are in their aspect.

Thus then will those who are in the Fate and in

the sphere travel.

“Tt came to pass then thereafter that I ascended CHAP. 29.

to the veils of the thirteenth zon. It came to Jesusen-

pass then, when I had arrived at their veils, that oie

they drew apart of their own accord and opened 25ar4..

themselves for me. I entered in into the thir- tsSophia

teenth zon and found Pistis Sophia below the

thirteenth zon all alone and no one of them with

her. And she sat in that region grieving and

mourning, because she had not been admitted

into the thirteenth eon, her higher region.

And she was moreover grieving because of the

torments which Self-willed, who is one of the

three triple-powers, had inflicted on her. But

this.—when I shall come to speak with you

respecting their expansion, | I will tell you the 43.

mystery, how this befell her.

“Tt came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia saw sophia and

me shining most exceedingly and with no measure Pile"

powers be-

for the light which was about me, that she was in Toke the

CHAP. 30.

Mary desir-

eth to hear

the story

of Sohpia..

44.

Sophia de-

sireth to

enter the

Light-word.

34 PISTIS SOPHIA

great agitation and gazed at the light of my

vestute. She saw the mystery of her name on

my vesture and the whole glory of its mystery,

for formerly she was in the region of the height,

in the thirteenth zon-——but she was wont to

sing praises to the higher light, which she had seen

in the veil of the Treasury of the Light.

“Tt came to pass then, when she persisted in

singing praises to the higher light, that all the

rulers who are with the two great triple-powers,

and her invisible who is paired with her, and the

other two-and-twenty invisible emanations gazed

[at the light ],—in as much as Pistis Sophia and

her pair, they and the other two-and-twenty

emanations make up four-and-twenty emanations,

which the great invisible. Forefather and the two

great triple-powers have emanated.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had said this

unto his disciples, that Mary came forward and

said: ““ My Lord, I have heard thee say aforetime:

‘Pistis Sophia is herself one of the four-and-

twenty emanations,—how then is she not in

their region? | But thou hast said: ‘I found

her below the thirteenth zon.’ ”

[THE STorRY OF PIsTIs SOPHIA]

And Jesus answered and said unto his disciples:

“Tt came to pass, when Pistis Sophia was in the

thirteenth zon, in the region of all her brethren

the invisibles, that is the four-and-twenty emana-

tions of the great Invisible,—it came to pass then

by command of the First Mystery that Pistis

Sophia gazed into the height. She saw the light

of the veil of the Treasury of the Light, and she

longed to reach to that region, and she could not

reach to that region. But she ceased to perform

the mystery of the thirteenth zon, and sang

praises to the light of the height, which she had

seen in the light of the veil of the Treasury of the

Light.

“Tt came to pass then, when she sang praises

to the region of the height, that all the rulers in

the twelve eons, who are below, hated her, because

she had ceased from their mysteries, and because

she had desired to go into the height and be above

them all. For this cause then they were enraged

against her and hated her, [as did] the great triple-

powered Self-willed, that is the third triple-power,

who is in the thirteenth zon, he who had become

disobedient, in as much as he had not emanated

the whole purification of his power in him, and

had not given the purification of his light at the

time when the rulers gave their purification, in

that he desired to rule over the whole thirteenth

zon | and those who are below it.

“Tt came to pass then, when the rulers of the

twelve zons were enraged against Pistis Sophia,

who is above them, and hated her exceedingly,

that the great triple-powered Self-willed, of whom I

have just now told you, joined himself to the

rulers of the twelve zons, and also was enraged

against Pistis Sophia and hated her exceedingly,

because she had thought to go to the light which

is higher than her. And he emanated out of

himself a great lion-faced power, and out of his

matter in him he emanated a host of other very

violent material emanations, and sent them into

the regions below, to the parts of the chaos, in

order that they might there lie in wait for Pistis

The rulers

hate her

for ceasing

in their

mystery.

45.

Self-willed

uniteth him-

self with

the rulers of

the twelve

zeons and

emanateth

a lion-faced

power to

plague

Sophia.

36 PISTIS SOPHIA

Sophia and take away her power out of her,

because she thought to go to the height which is

above them all, and moreover she had ceased to

perform their mystery, and lamented continu-

ously and sought after the light which she had

seen. And the rulers who abide, or persist, in

performing the mystery, hated her, and all the

guards who are at the gates of the eons, hated

her also.

“Tt came to pass then thereafter by command

of the First Commandment that the great triple-

powered Self-willed, who is one of the three |

46. triple-powers, pursued Sophia in the thirteenth

zon, in otder that she should look towards the

parts below, so that she might see in that region

his lion-faced light-power and long after it and

go to that region, so that her light might be taken

from her.

CHaP.31. “It came to pass then thereafter that she looked

Sophia below and saw his light-power in the parts below;

lionfeed and she knew not that it is that of the triple-

ae powered Self-willed, but she thought that it

the ere came out of the light which she had seen from the

: beginning in the height, which came out of the

veil of the Treasury of the Light. And she

thought to herself: I will go into that region

without my pair and take the light and thereout

fashion for myself light-zons, so that I may go

to the Light of lights, which is in the Height of

heights.

She de- “This then thinking, she went forth from her

scendet® © own tegion, the thirteenth won, and went down

wons and, to the twelve zons. The rulers of the zons

thechaos. pursued her and were enraged against her,

because she had thought of grandeur. And she

went forth also from the twelve eons, and came

into the regions of the chaos and drew nigh to

that lion-faced light-power to devour it. But all |

the material emanations of Self-willed surrounded

her, and the great lion-faced light-power devoured

all the light-powers in Sophia and cleaned out her

light and devoured it, and her matter was thrust

into the chaos; it became a lion-faced ruler in

the chaos, of which one half is fire and the other

darkness,—that is Yaldabaoth, of whom I have

spoken unto you many times. When then this

befell, Sophia became very greatly exhausted,

and that lion-faced light-power set to work to

take away from Sophia all her light-powers, and

all the material powers of Self-willed surrounded

Sophia at the same time and pressed her sore.

“And Pistis Sophia cried out most exceedingly,

she cried to the Light of lights which she had seen

from the beginning, in which she had had faith,

and uttered this repentance, saying thus:

““1.0 Light of lights, in whom I have had

faith from the beginning, hearken now then,

O Light, unto my repentance. Save me, O Light,

for evil thoughts have entered into me.

“2.1 gazed, O Light, into the lower parts and

saw there a light, thinking: I will go to that

region, | in order that I may take that light.

And I went and found myself in the darkness

which is in the chaos below, and I could no more

speed thence and go to my region,- for I was

sore pressed by all the emanations of Self-willed,

and the lion-faced power took away my light

in me. .

“*3, And I cried for help, but my voice hath

not reached out of the darkness. And I looked

CHAP. 32.

The first

repentance

of Sophia.

49.

38 PISTIS SOPHIA

unto the height, that the Light, in which I had had

faith, might help me.

“4. And when I looked unto the height, I saw

all the rulers of the zons, how in their numbers

they looked down on me and rejoiced over me,

though I had done them no ill; but they hated

me without a cause. And when the emanations

of Self-willed saw the rulers of the zons rejoicing

over me, they knew that the rulers of the sons

would not come to my aid; and those emanations

which sore pressed me with violence, took

courage, and the light which I had not taken

from them, they have taken from me.

“<5. Now, therefore, O Light of Truth, thou

knowest that I have done this in my innocence,

thinking that the lion-faced light-power belonged

to thee; and the sin which I have done is open

before thee.

“*6, Suffer me no mote to lack, O Lord, for

I have had faith in thy light from the beginning;

O Lord, O Light of the powers, suffer me no

more to lack my light.

“<7. For because of thy inducement and for

the sake of thy light am I fallen into this oppres-

sion, and shame hath covered me.

“<8. And because of | the illusion of thy light,

I am become a stranger to my brethren, the

invisibles, and to the great emanations of Barbélo.

“<9. This hath befallen me, O Light, because

I have been zealous for thy abode; and the wrath

of Self-willed is come upon me—of him who had

not hearkened unto thy command to emanate

from the emanation of his power—because I was

in his zon without performing his mystery.

“10, And all the rulers of the zons mocked me.

“11, And I was in that region, mourning and

seeking after the light which I had seen in the

height.

“*12. And the guards of the gates of the

zons seatched for me, and all who remain in

their mystery mocked me.

“* 13, But I looked up unto the height towards

thee and had faith in thee. Now, therefore, O

Light of lights, I am sore pressed in the darkness

of chaos. If now thou wilt come to save me,—

great is thy mercy,—then hear me in truth and

save me.

“*14. Save me out of the matter of this

darkness, that I may not be submerged therein,

that I may be saved from the emanations of god

Self-willed which press me sore, and from their

evil doings.

“*15, Let not this darkness submerge me,

and let not this lion-faced power entirely devour

the whole of my power, and | let not this chaos

shroud my power.

“*16. Hear me, O Light, for thy grace is

precious, and look down upon me according to

the great mercy of thy Light.

“17. Turn not thy face from me, for I am

exceedingly tormented.

“18. Haste thee, hearken unto me and save

my power.

“*19. Save me because of the rulers who hate

me, for thou knowest my sore oppression and my

torment and the torment of my power which

they have taken from me. ‘They who have set

me in all this evil are before thee; deal with them

according to thy good pleasure.

“20. My power looked forth from the midst

51.

40 PISTIS SOPHIA

of the chaos and from the midst of the darkness,

and I waited for my pair, that he should come and

fight for me, and he came not, and I looked that

he should come and lend me power, and I found

him not.

“*21. And when I sought the light, they gave

me darkness; and when I sought my power,

they gave me matter.

“© 22. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, may

the darkness and the matter which the emana-

tions of Self-willed have brought upon me, be

unto them for a snare, and may they be ensnared

therein, and recompense them and may they be

made to stumble and not come into the regign of

their Self-willed.

“°23. May they remain in the darkness and

not behold the light; may they behold the chaos

for ever, and let them not look unto the height.

“24. Bring upon them their revenge, and

may thy judgment lay hold upon them.

“*25. Let them not henceforth | come into

their region to their god Self-willed, and let not

his emanations henceforth come into their regions;

for their god is impious and self-willed, and he

thought that he had done this evil of himself,

not knowing that, had I not been brought low

according to thy command, he would not have

had any authority over me.

“26. But when thou hadst by thy command

brought me low, they pursued me the more, and

their emanations added pain to my humiliation.

“*27, And they have taken light-power from

me and fallen again to pressing me sore, in

order to take away all the light in me. Because

of this in which they have set me, let them not

ascend to the thirteenth zon, the region of

Righteousness.

“28. But let them not be reckoned in the

lot of those who purify themselves and_ the

light, and let them not be reckoned with those

who will quickly repent, that they may quickly

receive mysteries in the Light.

“<29. For they have taken my light from me,

and my power hath begun to cease in me and I

am destitute of my light.

“* 30. Now, therefore, O Light, which is in

thee and is with me, I sing praises to thy name,

O Light, in glory.

“* 31. May my song of praise please thee, O

Light, as an excellent mystery, which leadeth to

the gates of the Light, which they who shall

repent will utter, and the light of which will

purify them.

“© 32. Now, therefore, let | all matters rejoice; 52.

seek ye all the Light, that the power of the stars

which is in you, may live.

“© 33. For the Light hath heard the matters,

nor will it leave any without having purified them.

“34. Let the souls and the matters praise

the Lord of an zons, and [let] the matters and all

that is in them [praise him].

“© 35. For God shall save their soul from all

matters, and a city shall be prepared in the Light,

and all the souls who are saved, will dwell in that

city and will inherit it.

“© 36. And the soul of them who shall receive

mysteries will abide in that region, and they

who have received mysteries in its name will

abide therein.’ ”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had spoken CHap. 33.

53.

Mary inter-

preteth the

first repent-

ance from

Psalm Ixviii.

42 PISTIS SOPHIA

these words unto his disciples, that he said unto

them: “This is the song of praise which Pistis

Sophia uttered in her first repentance, repenting

of her sin, and reciting all which had befallen

her. Now, therefore: ‘Who hath ears to hear, let

him heat.’ ”

Mary again came forward and said: “My

Lord, my indweller of light hath ears, and I

hear with my light-power, and thy spirit which

is with me, hath sobered me. Hearken then that

I may speak concerning the repentance

which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, speaking of |

her sin and all that befell her. Thy light-power

hath prophesied thereof aforetime through the

prophet David in the sixty-eighth Psalm:

“<1, Save me, O God, for the waters are come

in even unto my soul.

“2.1 sank, or am submerged, in the slime of

the abyss, and power was not. I have gone

down into the depths of the sea; a tempest hath

submerged me.

“*3,1 have kept on crying; my throat is

gone, my eyes faded, waiting patiently for God.

“*A4 They who hate me without a cause

are more than the hairs of my head; mighty

are my foes, who violently pursued me. They re-

quired of me that which I took not from them.

“*5,.God, thou hast known my foolishness,

and my faults are not hid from thee.

“*6,Let not them that wait on thee, O

Lord, Lord of powers, be ashamed for my sake;

let not those who seek thee be ashamed for my

sake, O Lord, God of Israel, God of powers.

“<7. Ror for thy sake have I endured shame;

shame hath covered my face.

“*8.I am become a stranger to my brethren,

a stranger unto the sons of my mother.

“*9. For the zeal of thy house hath con-

sumed me; the revilings of them that revile

thee have fallen upon me.

“10.1 bowed my soul with fasting, and it

was turned to my reproach.

“11.1 put on sackcloth; I became unto

them a bye-word.

“12. They who sit at the gates, chattered at

me; and they who drink wine, harped about me.

“ “13. But I prayed with my soul unto thee, |

Lord; the time of thy well-liking is [now],

O God. In the fulness of thy grace give ear

unto my salvation in truth.

“<14, Save me out of this slime, that I sink

not therein; let me be saved from them that

hate me, and from the deep of waters.

“*15, Let not a water-flood submerge me,

let not the deep swallow me, let not a well close

its mouth above me.

“*16, Hear me, O Lord, for thy grace is good;

according to the fulness of thy compassion look

down upon me.

“17. Turn not thy face away from thy servant,

for I am oppressed.

“18. Hear me quickly, give heed to my soul

and deliver it.

“19. Save me because of my foes, for thou

knowest my disgrace, my shame and my dis-

honour; all my oppressors are before thee.

“*20. My heart awaiteth disgrace and misery;

I waited for him who should sorrow with me,

but I could not come at him, and for him who

should comfort me, and I found him not.

54.

55.

44 PISTIS SOPHIA

“21. They gave me gall for my meat; and

in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

“*22. Let their table be unto them for a

trap and for a snare and for a retribution and

for a stumbling-block.

“23. Mayest thou bend their backs at all

time.

“24. Pour out thy anger upon them, and let

the wrath of thy anger lay hold upon them.

“25. Let their encampment be desolate, let

there be no dweller in their habitations.

“<26. For they persecuted him whom thou

hast smitten, and added to the smart of their

woundines.

“27. They added iniquity to their iniquities;

let them not come into I thy righteousness.

“*28. Let them be wiped out of the book of

the living, and let them not be written in among

the righteous.

“*29.1 am a poor wretch who is heart-broken

too; it is the salvation of thy face which hath

taken me unto itself.

“© 30. I will praise the name of God in the ode,

and exalt it in the song of thanksgiving.

“* 31. This shall please God better than a

young bull which putteth forth horns and hoofs.

“*32. May the wretched see and make merry;

seek ye God, that your souls may live.

“© 33. For God hath heard the wretched and

despiseth not the prisoners.

“34. Let heaven and earth praise the Lord,

the sea and all that is therein.

“ «35. For God will save Zion, and the cities

of Judza will be built up, and they will dwell there

and inherit it.

“* 36. The seed of his servants shall possess

it, and they who love his name shall dwell

therein.’ ”

It came to pass then, when Mary had finished cHap. 34.

speaking these words unto Jesus in the midst of

the disciples, that she said unto him: “My Lord,

this is the solution of the mystery of the repen-

tance of Pistis Sophia.” |

It came to pass then, when Jesus had _ heard 56.

Mary speak these words, that he said unto

her: “Well said, Mary, blessed one, the fulness, or

all-blessed fulness, thou who shalt be sung of as

blessed in all generations.”

Jesus continued again in the discourse and said: CHAP. 35.

“Pistis Sophia again continued and _ still sang The second

praises in a second repentance, saying thus: of Sophia.

“<1. Light of lights, in whom I have had

faith, leave me not in the darkness until the end

of my time.

“*2.Help me and save me _ through thy

mysteries; incline thine ear unto me and save

me.

“* 3, May the power of thy light save me and

carry me to the higher Zons; for thou wilt save me

and lead me into the height of thy ons.

“4 Save me, O Light, from the hand of

this lion-faced power and from the hands of the

emanations of god Self-willed.

“<5, For it is thou, O Light, in whose light I

have had faith and in whose light I have trusted

from the beginning.

“*6, And I have had faith in it from the time

when it emanated me, and thou thyself didst

make me to emanate; and I have had faith

in thy light from the beginning.

57.

CHAP. 36.

46 PISTIS SOPHIA

“<7, And when I had faith in thee, the rulers

of the sons mocked at me, saying: She hath

ceased in her mystery. Thou art my saviour

and thou art my deliverer and thou art | my

mystery, O Light.

“*8.My mouth was filled with glorifying,

that I may tell of the mystery of thy grandeur

at all times.

“<9. Now, therefore, O Light, leave me not

in the chaos for the completion of my whole

time; forsake me not, O Light.

“10. For all the emanations of Self-willed

have taken from me my _ whole light-power

and have surrounded me. ‘They desired to take

away my whole light from me utterly and have

set a watch on my power,

“11. Saying one to another together: The

Light hath forsaken her, let us seize her and take

away the whole light in her.

“*12. Therefore then, O Light, cease not from

me; turn thee, O Light, and save me from the

hands of the merciless.

“13. May they who would take away my

power, fall down and become powerless. May

they who would take away my _light-power

from me, be entrapped in darkness and sink

into powerlessness.’

“This then is the second repentance which

Pistis Sophia hath uttered, singing praises to

the Light.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished

speaking these words unto his disciples, that he

said unto them: “Do ye understand in what

manner I discourse with you?”

And Peter started forward and said unto Jesus:

“My Lord, we will not endure this woman, Peter com-

plaineth of

for she taketh the opportumty from us and hath Marvy.

let none of us speak, but she discourseth many

times.”

And Jesus answered and said unto his disciples:

“Let him in whom the power of his spirit shall

seethe, so that he understandeth what I say, |

come forward and speak. But now, Peter, I 58.

see thy power in thee, that it understandeth

the solution of the mystery of the repentance

which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Now, there-

fore, Peter, speak the thought of her repentance

in the midst of thy brethren.”

And Peter answered and said unto Jesus: Peter inter-

“© Lord, give ear that I may speak the thought Pest

of her repentance, of which aforetime thy power Pentre

prophesied through the prophet David, uttering b«.

her repentance in the seventieth Psalm:

“*1.0 God, my God, I have trusted in thee,

let me no more be put to shame for ever.

“*2.Save me in thy righteousness and _ set

me free; incline thine ear unto me and save me.

“*3,Be unto me a strong God and a firm

place to save me; for thou art my strength and

my refuge.

““4.My God, save me from the hand of the

sinner and from the hand of the transgressor

and from the impious [one].

“*5, For thou art my endurance, O Lord,

thou art my hope from my youth up.

“6.1 have trusted myself to thee from my

mother’s womb; thou hast brought me out of

my mother’s womb. My remembrance is ever in

thee.

“7.1 have become as the crazy for many; |

59.

CHAP. 37.

Jesus pro-

miseth to

perfect the

disciples in

all things.

60.

48 PISTIS SOPHIA

thou art my help and my strength, thou art my

deliverer, O Lord.

“*8.My month was filled with glorifying,

that I may praise the glory of thy splendour the

whole day long.

“<9. Cast me not away in the time of age;

if my soul fades, forsake me not.

“10. For mine enemies have spoken evil

against me and they who lay in wait for my

soul, have taken counsel against my soul,

“*11. Saying together: God hathforsaken him;

pursue and seize him, for there is no saviour.

“* 12. God, give heed to my help.

“13. Let them be ashamed and destroyed

who calumniate my soul. Let them be enwrapped

in shame and disgrace who seek evil against me.’

“This then is the solution of the second re-

pentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered.”

The Saviour answered and said unto Peter:

“Finely, Peter; this is the solution of her

repentance. Blessed are ye before all men on

the earth, because I have revealed unto you

these mysteries. Amén, amen, I say unto you: |

I will perfect you in all fulness from the mysteries

of the interior to the mysteries of the. exterior

and fill you with the spirit, so that ye shall be

called ‘ spiritual, perfected in all fulness.’ And,

amén, amén, I say unto you: I will give unto

you all the mysteries of all the regions of my

Father and of all the regions of the First Mystery,

so that he whom ye shall admit on earth, shall

be admitted into the Light of the height; and

he whom ye shall expel on earth, shall be expelled

from the kingdom of my Father in the heaven.

But hearken, therefore, and give ear attentively

to all the repentances which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered. She continued again and uttered the

third repentance, saying:

“<1. O Light of powers, give heed and save me.

“© 2, May they who would take away my light,

lack and be in the darkness. May they who

would take away my power, turn into chaos and

be put to shame.

“*3,May they turn quickly to darkness,

who press me sore and say: We have become

lords over her.

“°4. May rather all those who seek the Light,

rejoice and exult, and they who desire thy mystery,

say ever: May the mystery be exalted.

“<5, Save me then now, O Light, for I lacked

my light, | which they have taken away, and I

needed my power, which they have taken from me.

Thou then, O Light, thou art my saviour, and

thou art my deliverer, O Light. Save me quickly

out of this chaos.’ ”

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished

speaking these words unto his disciples, saying:

“This is the third repentance of Pistis Sophia,”

that be said unto them: “Let him in whom a

sensitive spirit hath arisen, come forward and

speak the thought of the repentance which Pistis

Sophia hath uttered.”

It came to pass then, before Jesus had finished

speaking, that Martha came forward, fell down

at his feet, kissed them,. cried aloud and wept

with lamentation and in humbleness, — saying:

“My Lord, have mercy upon me and have com-

passion with me, and let me speak the solution

of the rfepentance which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered.”

The third

repentance

of Sophia.

CHAP. 38.

Martha

asketch and

receiveth

permission

to speak.

Martha in-

terpreteth

the third

repentance

from Psalm

lxix.

62.

CHAP. 39.

63.

50 PISTIS SOPHIA

And Jesus gave his hand unto Martha and said

unto her: “Blessed is every one who humbleth

himself, for on him they shall have mercy. Now,

therefore, Martha, art thou blessed. But pro-

claim then the solution of the thought of the

repentance of Pistis Sophia.”

And Martha answered and said unto Jesus in

the midst of the disciples: “Concerning the

repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered,

O | my Lord Jesus, of it thy light-power in David

prophesied aforetime in the sixty-ninth Psalm,

saying:

“*1.O Lord God, give heed to my help.

“*2.Let them be put to shame and con-

founded who seek after my soul.

“<3, May they turn straightway and be put

to shame, who say unto me: Ha, ha.

“4 May all who seek thee, be joyful and

exult because of thee, and they who love thy

salvation, say ever: May God be exalted.

“*5, But I am wretched, I am poor; O Lord,

help me. Thou art my helper and defence; O

Lord, delay not.’

“This then is the solution of the third repen-

tance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, singing

praises to the height.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard

Martha speak these words, that he said unto her:

“ Well said, Martha, and finely.”

And Jesus continued again in the discourse

and said unto his disciples: “ Pistis Sophia

again continued in the fourth repentance, reciting

it before she was oppressed a second time, in

otder that the lion-faced power and | all the

matetial emanations with it, which Self-willed

had sent into the chaos, might not take away her

total light in her. She uttered then this repen-

tance as follows:

“*1,.O Light, in whom I have trusted, give

ear to my repentance, and let my voice reach

unto thy dwelling-place.

“<2. Turn not away thy ligbt-image from me,

but have heed unto me, if they oppress me; and

save me quickly at the time when I shall cry unto

thee.

“*3,.For my time is vanished like a breath

and I am become matter.

““4.They have taken my light from me,

and my power is dried up. I have forgotten

my mystery which heretofore I was wont to

accomplish.

“*5. Because of the voice of the fear and the

power of Self-willed my power is vanished.

“*6,I am become as a demon apart, who

dwelleth in matter and light is not in him, and I

am become as a counterfeiting spirit, which is

in a material body and light-power is not in it.

“*7, And I am become as a decan who is

alone in the air.

“<8. The emanations of Self-willed have sore

oppressed me, and my pair hath said unto

himself:

“9 Instead of with light which was in her,

they have filled her with chaos. I have dev.oured

the sweat of my own matter and the anguish

of the tears from the matter of my eyes, so that

they who oppress me may not take the rest.

“10. All this hath befallen me, O Light,

by thy | commandment and thy command, and

it is thy commandment that I am here.

The fourth

repentance

of Sophia.

64.

65.

52 PISTIS SOPHIA

“11. Thy commandment hath brought me

down, and I am descended as a power of the

chaos, and my power is numbed in me.

“12. But thou, O Lord, art Light eternal,

and dost visit them who are for ever oppressed.

“* 13. Now, therefore, O Light, arise and seek

my power and the soul in me. Thy command-

ment is accomplished, which thou didst decree

for me in my affiictions. My time is come,

that thou shouldst seek my power and my soul,

and this is the time which thou didst decree

to seek me.

“14. For thy saviours have sought the power

which is in my soul, because the number is com-

pleted, and in order that also its matter may be

saved.

“15, And then at that time shall all the rulers

of the material zons be in fear of thy light, and

all the emanations of the thirteenth material

zon shall be in fear of the mystery of thy light,

so that the others may put on the purification of

their light.

“*16, For the Lord will seek the power of your

soul. He hath revealed his mystery,

“*17.So that he may regard the repentance

of them who are in the regions below; and he

hath not disregarded their repentance.

“18. This is then that mystery which is

become the type in respect of the race which

shall be born; and the race which shall be born

will sing praises to the height.

“19. For the Light hath looked down from

the height of its light. It will look down on | the

total matter,

“*20.To hear the sighing of those in chains,

to loose the power of the souls whose power is

bound,—

“*21.So that it may lay its name in the soul

and its mystery in the power.’ ”

It came to pass while Jesus spake these words CHAP. 40.

unto his disciples, saying unto them: “ This is Johnask-

eth and re-

the fourth repentance which Pistis Sophia hath ceiveth per-

uttered; now, therefore, let him who under- pene "

standeth, understand,’—it came to pass then,

when Jesus had spoken these words, that John

came forward, adored the breast of Jesus and

said unto him: “My Lord, give commandment

to me also, and grant me to speak the solution of

the fourth repentance which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered.”

Jesus said unto John: “I give thee command-

ment, and I grant thee to speak the solution

of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered.”

John answered and said: “My Lord and

Saviour, concerning this repentance which Pistis

Sophia hath uttered, thy light-power which was

in David, hath prophesied aforetime in the one-

hundred-and-first Psalm:

“1. Lord, give ear unto my _ supplication, John inter-

and let my voice reach unto thee. ae

“*2. Turn not away thy face from me; incline fom Ps!m

thine ear unto me in the day when I am oppressed;

quickly give ear to me on the day when [I shall

cry unto thee.

“*3,For | my days are vanished as smoke, 66.

and my bones are parched as stone.

“*4.T am scorched as the grass, and my

heart is dried up; for I have forgotten to eat my

bread.

54 PISTIS SOPHIA

“<5, From the voice of my groaning my bones

cleaved to my flesh.

“*6.I am become as a pelican in the desert;

I am become as a screech-ow] in the house.

“<7,.1 have passed the night watching; I

am become as a sparrow alone on the roof.

“<8. My enemies have reviled me all the day

long, and they who honour me, have injured me.

“<9. Por I have eaten ashes instead of my

bread and mixed my drink with tears,

“*10. Because of thy wrath and thy rage;

for thou hast lifted me up and cast me down.

“*11. My days have declined as a shadow, and

I am dried up as the grass,

“12. But thou, O Lord, thou endurest for

ever, and thy remembrance unto the generation of

generation|s].

“13, Arise and have mercy upon Zion, for

the time is come to have mercy upon her; the

proper time is come.

“<14. Thy servants have longed for her stones,

and will take pity on her land.

“*15. And the nations will have fear of the

name of the Lord, and the kings of the earth have

fear of thy sovereignty.

“*16. For the Lord will build up Zion and

reveal himself in his sovereignty.

“*17. He hath regarded the prayer of the

humble and hath not despised their supplication.

“*18. This shall be recorded for another

generation, and the people who shall be created

will praise the Lord.

“*19. Because he hath looked down on his

holy height; the Lord hath looked down from the

heaven on the earth,.

“20. To hear the sighing | of those in chains, 67.

to loose the sons of those who are slain,

“*21.To proclaim the name of the Lord in

Zion and his praise in Jerusalem.’

“This, my Lord, is the solution of the mystery

of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered.”

It came to pass then, when John had finished cHap. 41.

speaking these words to Jesus in the midst of his Jesus com

disciples, that he said unto him: “ Well said, John.

John, the Virgin, who shalt rule in the kingdom

of the Light.”

And Jesus continued again in the discourse and ‘The emana-

said unto his disciples: “It came to pass again ae

thus: The emanations of Self-willed again op- ae ag

pressed Pistis Sophia in the chaos and desired to Enron ee

take from her her whole light; and not yet was”

her commandment accomplished, to lead her out of

the chaos, and not yet had the command reached

me through the First Mystery, to save her out

of the chaos. It came to pass then, when all

the material emanations of Self-willed oppressed

her, that she cried out and uttered the fifth re-

pentance, saying:

“<1. Light of my salvation, I sing praise The fifth

unto thee in the region of the height and again Ofeoohia,

in the chaos.

“2.1 sing praise unto thee in my hymn with

which I sang praise in the height and with which

I sang praise unto thee when I was in the chaos.

Let it come into thy presence, and give heed, O

Light, to my repentance.

“<3. For my power is filled up with | darkness, 6s.

and my light hath gone down into the chaos.

““4.T am myself become as the rulers of the

69.

56 PISTIS SOPHIA

chaos, who ate gone into the darknesses below;

I am become as a material body, which hath no

one in the height who will save it.

“*5.IT am become also as matters from which

their power hath been taken, when they are cast

down into the chaos,—| matters] which thou hast

not saved, and they are condemned utterly by thy

commandment.

“*6, Now, therefore, have they put me into

the darkness below,—in darknesses and matters

which are dead and in them [is] no power.

“*7.Thou hast brought thy commandment

upon me and all things which thou hast decreed.

“*8, And thy spirit hath withdrawn and

abandoned me. And moreover by thy com-

mandment the emanations of my «on have not

helped me and have hated me and_ sepat-

ated themselves from me, and yet am I not

utterly destroyed.

“<9, And my light is diminished in me, and I

have cried up to the light with all the light in me,

and I have stretched forth my hands unto thee.

“*10. Now, therefore, O Light, wilt thou not

accomplish thy commandment in the chaos,

and will not the deliverers, who come according

to thy commandment, arise in the darkness and

come and be disciples for thee?

“11, Will they not utter the mystery of thy

name in the chaos?

“12. Or will they not rather utter thy name

in a matter of the chaos, in which thou wilt not

[thyself] purify?

“13. But I have sung praises unto thee, O

Light, and my repentance will reach unto thee |

in the height.

FIRST BOOK 5:7

“*14, Let thy light come upon me,

“*15. For they have taken my light, and I

am in pain on account of the Light from the

time when I was emanated. And when I had

looked into the height to the Light, then I looked

down below at the light-power in the chaos; I

rose up and went down.

“*16. Thy commandment came upon me,

and the terrors, which thou didst decree for me,

have brought me into delusion.

“*17, And they have surrounded me, in

numbers as water, they have laid hold on me

together all my time.

“18. And by thy commandment thou hast

not suffered my fellow-emanations to help me,

nor hast thou suffered my pair to save me out

of my afflictions.’

“This then is the fifth repentance which Pistis

Sophia hath uttered in the chaos, when all the

material emanations of Self-willed had continued

and oppressed her.”

When then Jesus had spoken these words

unto his disciples, he said unto them: “ Who

hath ears to hear, let him hear; and let him

whose spirit seetheth up in him, come forward

and speak the solution of the thought of the fifth

repentance of Pistis Sophia.”

And when Jesus had finished saying these

words, Philip started forward, held up and laid

down the book in his hand,—for he is the scribe

of all the discourses which Jesus spake, and of

all of that which he did,—Philip then | came for-

ward and said unto him: “ My Lord, surely then

it is not on me alone that thou hast enjoined

to take care for the world and write down all

CHAP. 42.

Philip the

sctibe com-

plaineth.

Jesus ex-

plaineth

that the

appointed

scribes are

Philip and

Thomas

and Mat-

thew.

CHAP. 43.

71,

Mary inter-

preteth the

words of

Jesus con-

cerning the

three wit-

nesses.

58 PISTIS SOPHIA

the discourses which we shall speak and [all we

shall] do? And thou hast not suffered me to

come forward to speak the solution of the mysteries

of the repentance of Pistis Sophia. For my

spirit hath oft times seethed in me and been un-

loosed and constrained me to come forward and

speak the solution of the repentance of Pistis

Sophia; and I could not come forward because

Iam the scribe of all the discourses.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard

Philip, that he said unto him: “ Hearken,

Philip, blessed one, that I may discourse with

thee; for it is thou and Thomas and Matthew on

whom it is enjoined by the First Mystery to write

all the discourses which I shall speak and [all

which I shall] do, and all things which ye shall

see. But as for thee, the number of the dis-

courses which thou hast to write, is so far not yet

completed. When it is then completed, thou

att to come forward and proclaim what pleaseth

thee. Now, therefore, ye three have to write

down all the discourses which I shall speak

and [all things which I shall] do and which ye

shall see, in order that ye may bear witness to

all things of the kingdom of heaven.”

When then Jesus had said this, he said unto

his disciples: “Who hath ears to hear, let him

hear.”’ |

Mary started forward again, stepped into the

midst, placed herself by Philip and said unto

Jesus: “My Lord, my in-dweller of light hath

ears, and I am ready to hear with my power,

and I have understood the word which thou

hast spoken. Now, therefore, my Lord, hearken

that I may discourse in openness, thou who hast

said unto us: ‘Who hath ears to hear, let him

heat.’

“Concerning the word which thou hast

spoken unto Philip: ‘It is thou and Thomas

and Matthew on whom it hath been enjoined—

to you three by the First Mystery, to write all

the discourses of the kingdom of the Light and

thereto to bear witness’; hearken, therefore,

that I may proclaim the solution of this word.

This is what thy light-power prophesied aforetime

through Moses: ‘ By two or three witnesses shall

every matter be _ established.’ The three

witnesses are Philip and Thomas and Matthew.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard philip is

this word, that he said: “Well said, Mary, this jernission

is the solution of the word. Now, therefore, do sp:

thou, Philip, come forward and proclaim the

solution of the fifth repentance of Pistis Sophia,

and thereafter take thy seat and write all the

discourses which I shall speak, until the number

of thy portion which thou hast to write of the

words of the kingdom of the Light is completed.

Then shalt thou come forward and speak what

thy spirit shall understand. But do thou then |

now proclaim the solution of the fifth repentance 72.

of Pistis Sophia.”

And Philip answered and said unto Jesus:

“My Lord, hearken that I may speak the solution

of her repentance. For thy power hath pro-

phesied aforetime concerning it through David

in the eighty-seventh Psalm, saying:

“1. Lord, God of my salvation, by day and philip in-

; ; t teth

by night have I cried unto thee. asa ees

els . ae 1 pentance

2. Let my weeping come before thee; incline penwire

thine ear to my supplication, O Lord. bexxvii,

73.

60 PISTIS SOPHIA

“*3, For my soul is full of evil, my life hath

drawn nigh to the world below.

“*A'T am counted among them who _ have

gone down into the pit; I am become as a man

who hath no helper..

“<5. The free among the dead are as the slain

who are thrown away and sleep in tombs, whom

thou no more rememberest, and they are destroyed

through thy hands.

“*6, They have set me in a pit below, in dark-

ness and shadow of death.

“<7. Thy wrath hath settled down upon me

and all thy cares have come upon me. (Selah.)

“<8. Thou hast put away mine acquaintances

far from me; they have made me an abomi-

nation for them. They have abandoned me,

and I cannot go forth.

“*9. My eye hath become dim in my misery;

I have cried unto thee, O Lord, the whole day and

have stretched forth my hands unto thee.

“10. Wilt thou not surely work thy wonders

on the dead? Will not surely the physicians arise

and confess thee?

“11. Will they not surely proclaim thy name

in the | tombs,

“12. And thy righteousness in a land which

thou hast forgotten?

“*13, But I have cried unto thee, O Lord, and

my prayer shall reach thee early in the morning.

“*14. Turn not thy face away from me.

“*15, For I am miserable, I am in sorrow

from my youth up. And when I had exalted

myself, I humbled myself and arose.

““16. Thy angers are come upon me and thy

terrors have brought me into delusion.

“17. They have surrounded me as_ water;

they have seized upon me the whole day long.

“<18. My fellows hast thou kept far from me

and my acquaintances from my misery.’

“This is then the solution of the mystery of

the fifth repentance which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered, when she was oppressed in the chaos.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard cuap. 44.

Philip speak these words, that he said: “Well Philip's |

said, Philip, well-beloved. Now, therefore, come, and con-

take thy seat and write thy portion of all the oe

discourses which I shall speak, and [of all things

which I shall] do, and of all that thou shalt see.”

And forthwith Philip sat down and wrote.

It came to pass thereafter that Jesus continued

again in the discourse and said unto his disciples:

“Then did Pistis Sophia cry to the Light. It

forgave her sin, in that she had left her region

and gone down into the darkness. She uttered

the sixth repentance, saying thus:

“1.1 have sung praises | unto thee, O Light, 74.

in the darkness below. pea

“<2. Hearken unto my repentance, and may gi Sophie.

thy light give heed to the voice of my supplication.

“*3,O0 Light, if thou thinkest on my sin, I

shall not be able to stand before thee, and thou

wilt abandon me,

“*4, Por thou, O Light, art my saviour;

because of the light of thy name I have had faith

in thee, O Light.

“*5.And my power hath had faith in thy

mystery; and moreover my power hath trusted

in the Light when it was among those of the

height; and it hath trusted in it when it was in

the chaos below.

CHAP. 45.

75.

Andrew in-

terpreteth

the sixth

reprentance

from Psalm

CXxix.

62 PISTIS SOPHIA

“6, Let all the powers in me trust in the

Light when I am in the darkness below, and may

they again trust in the Light if they come into

the region of the height.

“7, Ror it is [the Light] which hath com-

passion on us and delivereth us; and a great

saving mystery is in it.

“8, And it will save all powers out of the

chaos because of my transgression. For I have

left my region and am come down into the chaos.’

“Now, therefore, whose mind is exalted, let

him understand.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished

speaking these words unto his disciples, that he

said unto them: “Understand ye in what

manner I discourse with your”

Andrew came forward and said: “My Lord,

concerning the solution of the sixth repentance

of Pistis Sophia, thy light-power prophesied

aforetime through David in the one-hundred-

and-twenty-ninth Psalm, saying: |

““1, Out of the depths I have cried unto thee,

O Lord.

“<2. Hearken unto my voice; let thine ears

give heed to the voice of my supplication.

“*3,O0 Lord, if thou heedest my iniquities,

who will be able to pass [the test]?

“*4,Por pardon is in thy hands; for the sake

of thy name have I waited for thee, O Lord.

“<5, My soul hath waited for thy word.

“*6, My soul hath hoped in the Lord from the

morning until the evening. Let Israel hope in

the Lord from the morning until the evening.

“<7, Por grace standeth by the Lord and with

him is great redemption.

“*8, And he will deliver Israel from all his

iniquities.’ ”

Jesus said unto him: “Well said, Andrew, Jesus com-

blessed one. ‘This is the solution of her repen- ees

Andrew.

tance. Amén, amén, I say unto you: I will Hepromis

ce Z ‘ : eth that the

perfect you in all mysteries of the Light and all tpn

sna iC.

gnoses from the interiors of the interiors to the judged and

exteriors of the exteriors, from the Ineffable down ree

to the darkness of darkness, from the Light of

lights down to the .... of matter, from all the

gods down to the demons, from all the lords down

to the decans, from all the authorities down to

the servitors, from the creation of men down to

[that] of the wild-beasts, of the cattle and of the

reptiles, in order ,that ye may be called perfect,

perfected in | all fulness. Amén, amen, I say 75.

unto you: In the region where I shall be in the

kingdom of my Father, ye will also be with me.

And when the perfect number is completed, so

that the Mixture shall he dissolved, I will give

commandment that they bring all tyrant gods,

who have not given up the purification of their

light, and will give commandment to the wise

fire, over which the perfect pass, to eat into those

tyrants, until they give up the last purification

of theit light.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished Mary inter-

speaking these words unto his disciples, that he P's '°

said unto them: “ Understand ye in what manner Jes:

I speak with you?”

Mary said: “Yea, Lord, I have understood

the word which thou hast spoken. Concerning

then the word which thou hast said: At the

dissolution of the whole Mixture thou shalt take

thy seat on a light-power and thy disciples,

77.

CHAP. 46.

The repent-

ance of

Sophia is

not yet ac-

cepted. She

is mocked

by the zons.

The seventh

repentance

of Sophia.

64 PISTIS SOPHIA

that is ourselves, shall sit on the right of thee, and

thou shalt judge the tyrant gods, who have not

given up the purification of their light, and the

wise fire will bite into them, until they give up

the last light in them,—concerning this word then

thy light-power prophesied aforetime through

David, in the eighty-first Psalm, saying:

“God shall sit in the assembly (synagogue) |

of the gods and try the gods.’ ”

Jesus said unto her: “ Well said, Mary.”

Jesus continued again in the discourse and

said unto his disciples: “It came to pass, when

Pistis Sophia had finished uttering the sixth

repentance for the forgiveness of her trans-

gression, that she turned again to the height, to

see if her sins were forgiven her, and to see

whether they would lead her up out of the chaos.

But by commandment of the First Mystery not

yet was she hearkened to, so that her sin should be

forgiven and she should be led up out of the chaos.

When then she had turned to the height to see

whether her repentance were accepted from her,

she saw all the rulers of the twelve zons mocking at

her and rejoicing over her because her repentance

was not accepted from her. When then she saw

that they mocked at her, she grieved exceedingly

and lifted up her voice to the height in her

seventh repentance, saying:

“*1.O Light, I have lifted up my power unto

thee, my Light.

“*2.On thee have I had faith. Let me not

be scorned; let not the rulers of the twelve

eons, who hate me, rejoice over me.

“*3. For all who have faith in thee shall not

be put to shame. Let them who have taken

away my power, remain in darkness; and let

them not get from it any profit, but let it be taken

away from them. |

“*4-O Light, show me thy ways, and I shall

be saved in them; and show me thy paths,

whereby I shall be saved out of the chaos.

“*5, And guide me in thy light, and let me

know, O Light, that thou art my saviour. On

thee will I trust the whole of my time.

“*6, Give heed that thou save me, O Light,

for thy mercy endureth for ever.

“*7, As to my transgression, which I have

committed from the beginning in my ignorance,

put it not to my account, O Light, but rather

save me through thy great mystery of the for-

giveness of sins because of thy goodness, O Light.

“*8. For good and sincere is the Light. For

this cause will it grant me my way, to be saved

out of my transgression;

“<9. And for my powers, which are diminished

through the fear of the material emanations of

Self-willed, will it draw near after its command-

ment, and will teach my powers, which are

diminished because of the merciless, its gnosis.

“10. For all gnoses of the Light are saving

means and are mysteries for all who seek the

regions of its Inheritance and its mysteries.

“*11. For the sake of the mystery of thy name,

O Light, forgive my transgression, for it is great.

“*12.To everyone who trusteth in the Light

it will give the mystery which suiteth him;

“13, And his soul will abide in the regions of

the Light and his power will inherit | the Trea-

sury of the Light.

“14. The Light giveth power to them who

78.

79.

66 PISTIS SOPHIA

have faith in it; and the name of its mystery

belongeth to those who trust in it. And it will

show them the region of the Inheritance, which

is in the Treasury of the Light.

“15, But I have ever had faith in the Light,

for it will save my feet from the bonds of the

darkness.

“*16. Give heed unto me, O Light, and save

me, for they have taken away my name from me

in the chaos.

““17. Because of all the emanations my

afflictions and my oppression have become exceed-

ingly manifold. Save me out of my transgression

and this darkness.

“18. And look upon the grief of my oppres-

sion and forgive my transgression.

“19. Give heed to the rulers of the twelve

zeons, who have hated me through jealousy.

“*20. Watch over my power and save me,

and let me not remain in this darkness, for I have

had faith in thee.

“21. And they have made of me a great fool

for having had faith in thee, O Light.

“© 22. Now, therefore, O Light, save my powers

from the emanations of Self-willed, by whom I am

oppressed.’

“Now, therefore, who is sober, let him be

sober.”

When then Jesus had spoken this unto his

disciples, Thomas came forward and said: “ My

Lord, I am sober, I am plentifully sober, and

my spirit is ready in me, and I rejoice exceedingly

that thou hast revealed these words unto us.

But indeed I have borne with my brethren until

now, so that I should not anger them; nay

rather I have borne with everyone that he should

come before thee and speak | the solution of the

repentance of Pistis Sophia. Now, therefore,

my Lord, concerning the solution of the seventh

repentance of Pistis Sophia thy light-power hath

prophesied. through the prophet David in the

twenty-fourth Psalm, thus:

“*1.O0 Lord, unto thee have I lifted up my

soul, O my God.

“*2.1 have abandoned myself unto thee;

let me not be put to shame and let not mine

enemies mock at me.

“3, For all who wait upon thee shall not be

put to shame; let them be put to shame who do

iniquity without a cause.

“*4_O Lord, show me thy ways and teach me

thy paths.

“*5.Lead me in the way of thy truth and

teach me, for thou art my God and my saviour;

on thee will I wait all the day long.

“*6. Call to remembrance thy mercies, O

Lord, and the favours of thy grace, for they are

from eternity.

“7, Remember not the sins of my youth and

those of my ignorance. Remember me according

to the fulness of thy mercy because of thy good-

ness, O Lord.

“<8. The Lord is gracious and sincere; there-

fore will he instruct sinners in the way.

“<9. He will guide the tender-hearted | in the

judgment and will teach the tender-hearted his

ways.

“*10. All the ways of the Lord are grace and

truth for them who seek his righteousness and

his testimonies.

Thomas in-

terpreteth

the seventh

repentance

from Psalm

Xxiv.

82.

Jesus.com-

mendeth

Thomas.

68 PISTIS SOPHIA

“11. For thy name’s sake, O Lord, forgive

me my sin, [for] it is exceedingly great.

“12. Who is the man who feareth the Lord?

For him will he establish laws in the way which

he hath chosen.

“* 13. His soul will abide in good things and

his seed will inherit the land.

“14. The Lord is the strength of them who

fear him; and the name of the Lord belongeth

to them who fear him, to make known unto them

his covenant.

“15. Mine eyes are raised ever unto the Lord,

for he will draw my feet out of the snare.

“*16. Look down upon me and be gracious

unto me, for I am an only-begotten; I am

wretched.

““17. The affiictions of my heart have in-

creased; bring me out of my necessities.

“<18. Look upon my abasement and my woe,

and forgive me all my sins.

“19. Look upon mine enemies, how they have

increased themselves and hated me with unjust

hatred.

“<20. Preserve my soul and save me; let me

not | be put to shame, for I have hoped on

thee.

“*21.The simple and sincere have joined

themselves to me, for I have waited on thee,

O Lord.

“¢92.0O God, deliver Israel from all his

afflictions.’ ”’

And when Jesus had heard the words of Thomas,

he said. unto him: “ Well said, Thomas, and

finely. This is the solution of the seventh repen-

tance of Pistis Sophia. Amen, amen, I say unto

you: All generations of the world shall bless

you on earth, because I have revealed this unto

you and ye have received of my spirit and

have become understanding and spiritual, under-

standing what I say. And hereafter will I fill

you full with the whole light and the whole

power of the spirit, so that ye may understand

from now on all which shall be said unto you and

which ye shall see. Yet a little while and I will

speak with you concerning the height without

within and within without.”

Jesus continued again in the discourse and said CHAP. 47.

unto his disciples: “It came to pass then, when roo

Pistis Sophia had uttered the seventh repentance to toa less

in the chaos, that the commandment through carne

the First Mystery had not come to me | to save Wtnoutthe

command-

her and lead her up out of the chaos. Neverthe- oa

less of myself out of compassion without com- tery.

mandment I led her into a somewhat spacious **

region in the chaos. And when the material

emanations of Self-willed had noticed that she

had been led into a somewhat spacious region in

the chaos, they ceased a little to oppress her, for

they thought that she would be led up out of the

chaos altogether. When this then took place,

Pistis Sophia did not know that I was her helper;

nor did she know me at all, but she continued

and persisted withal singing praises to the Light of

the Treasury, which she had seen aforetime and

on which she had had faith, and she thought that

it [sc. the Light] also was her helper and it was

the same to which she had sung praises, thinking

it was the Light in truth. But as indeed she had

had faith in the Light which belongeth to the

Treasury in truth, therefore will she be led up out

The emana-

tions of

Self-willed

cease fora

time to

oppress

Sophia.

84.

The eighth

repentance

of Sophia.

70 PISTIS SOPHIA

of the chaos and her repentance will be accepted

from her. But the commandment of the First

Mystery was not yet accomplished to accept her

repentance from her. But hearken now in order

that I may tell you all things which befell

Pistis Sophia.

“Tt came to pass, when I had led her unto a

somewhat spacious region in the chaos, that the

emanations of Self-willed ceased entirely to

oppress her, thinking that she would be led up

out of the chaos altogether. It came to pass

then, when | the emanations of Self-willed had

noticed that Pistis Sophia had not been led up out

the chaos, that they turned about again all to-

gether, oppressing her vehemently. Because of

this then she uttered the eighth repentance, because

they had not ceased to oppress her, and had turned

about to oppress her to the utmost. She uttered

this repentance, saying thus:

“*1,On thee, O Light, have I hoped. Leave

me not in the chaos; deliver me and save me

according to thy gnosis.

“*2.Gitve heed unto me and save me. Be

unto me a saviour, O Light, and save me and lead

me unto thy light.

“<3, For thou art my saviour and wilt lead me

unto thee. And because of the mystery of thy

name lead me and give me thy mystery.

“4. And thou wilt save me from this lion-

faced power, which they have laid as a snare for

me, for thou art my saviour.

“*5, And in thy hands will I lay the purifi-

cation of my light; thou hast saved me, O Light,

according to thy gnosis.

“*6. Thou art become wroth with them who

keep watch over me and will not be able to lay

hold of me utterly. But I have had faith in the

Light.

“*7,1 will rejoice and will sing praises that

thou hast had mercy upon me and hast heeded

and saved me from the oppression in which I

was. And thou wilt set free my power out of

the chaos.

“*8, And thou hast not left me in the hand of

the lion-faced power; but thou hast led me into

a region which is not oppressed.’ ”

When then Jesus had said this unto his dis- CHAP. 48.

ciples, he answered again and said unto them: [h< mane

“Tt came to pass then, when the lion-faced Self-willed

power had noticed that Pistis Sophia had not shin =

been led up altogether out of the chaos, | that it 3.

came again with all the other material emanations

of Self-willed, and they oppressed Pistis Sophia

again. It came to pass then, when they oppressed

her, that she cried out in the same repentance,

saying:

“<9, Have mercy upon me, O Light, for they she con-

have oppressed me again. Because of thy com- ee

mandment, the light in me is distracted and my

power and my understanding.

“10. My power hath begun to wane whiles

I am in these affiictions, and the number of my

time whiles I am in the chaos. My light is

diminished, for they have taken away my power

from me, and all the powers in me are tossed

about.

“11.1 am become powerless in the presence

of all the rulers of the eons, who hate me, and

in the presence of the four-and-twenty emanations,

in whose region I was. And my brother, my

86.

CHAP. 49.

72 PISTIS SOPHIA

pair, was afraid to help me, because of that in

which they have set me.

“12. And all the rulers of the height have

counted me as matter in which is no light. I am

become as a material power which hath fallen out

of the rulers,

“13. And all who are in the eons. said:

She hath become chaos. And thereafter all the

pitiless powers encompassed me together and

proposed to take away the whole light in me.

“*14, But I have trusted in thee, O Light,

and said: Thou art my saviour.

“15. And my commandment, which thou hast

decreed for me, is in thy hands. Save me out of

the hands of the emanations of Self-willed, which

oppress me and persecute me.

“16. Send thy light over me, for I am as

naught before thee, | and save me according to

thy compassion.

““17, Let me not be despised, for I have

sung praises unto thee, O Light. Let chaos cover

the emanations of Self-willed, let them be led

down into the darkness.

“*18. Let the mouth of them be shut up, who

would devour me with guile, who say: Let us

take the whole light in her,—although I have

done them no ill’ ”

And when Jesus had spoken this, Matthew came

forward and said: “My Lord, thy spirit hath

stirred me and thy light hath made me sober to

proclaim this eighth repentance of Pistis Sophia.

For thy power hath prophesied thereof afore-

time through David in the thirtieth Psalm,

saying :

“*1,On thee, O Lord, have I hoped. Let

me never be put to shame; save me according Matthew in-

: terpreteth

to thy righteousness. eae

2. Ineline thie. “Gar sinto:» me, - “Save. mie: Pere

quickly. Be thou unto me a protecting God and »«.

a house of refuge to save me.

“<3, For thou art my support and my refuge;

for thy name’s sake thou wilt guide me and

feed me.

“*4. And thou wilt draw me out of this snare,

which they have laid privily for me; for thou

art my protection.

“5. Into thy hands I will render my spirit;

| thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, God of Truth. 87.

“*6. Thou hast hated them who hold to vain

emptiness; but I have trusted.

“7, And I shall rejoice because of my Lord

and make merry over thy grace. For thou hast

looked down upon my humbleness and saved my

soul out of my necessities.

“<8. And thou hast not shut me up in the

hands of my foes; thou hast set my feet on a

broad space.

“<9. Be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am

afflicted; my eye is distracted in the wrath and

my soul and my body.

“10. For my years have wasted away in sad-

ness and my life is wasted in sighing. My power

is enfeebled in misery and my bones are distracted.

“*11.1 am become a mockery for all my foes

and my neighbours. | I am become a fright ss.

for my acquaintances, and they who saw me, are

fled away from me.

““12.1 am forgotten in their heart as a corpse,

and I have become as a ruined vessel.

“13, For I have heard the scorn of many who

CHAP. 50.

Jesus com-

mendeth

Matthew

and pro-

miseth his

disciples that

they shall

sit on

thrones with

him.

89.

Mary inter-

preteth the

words of

Jesus.

74 PISTIS SOPHIA

encompass me round about. Massing themselves

together against me, they took counsel to take

away my soul from me.

“14, But I have trusted in thee, O Lord. I

said: Thou art my God.

“15. My lots are in thy hands. Save me

from the hand of my foes and free me from my

persecutors.

“*16, Reveal thy face over thy slave, and free

me according to thy grace, O Lord.

“17, Let me not be put to shame, for I have

cried unto thee. Let the impious be put to

shame and turn towards hell.

“18. Let the crafty lips be struck dumb,

which allege iniquity against the righteous in

pride and scorn.’ ”

And when Jesus had heard these words, he

said: “Finely [said] Matthew. Now, therefore,

amén, I say unto | you: When the perfect number

is completed and the universe is raised hence,

I will take my seat in the Treasury of the Light,

and ye yourselves will sit on twelve light-powers,

until we have restored all the orders of the twelve

saviours to the region of the inheritances of every

one of them.”

And when he had said this, he said: “‘ Under-

stand ye what I say?”

Mary came forward and said: “O Lord,

concerning this matter thou hast said to us

aforetime in similitude: “Ye have awaited with

me in the trials, and I will bequeath unto you a

kingdom, as my Father hath bequeathed it unto

me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in

my kingdom; and ye shall sit on twelve thrones

and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.’ ”

He said unto her: “ Well said, Mary.”

Jesus continued again and said unto his dis-

ciples: “It came to pass then thereafter, when

the emanations of Self-willed oppressed Pistis

Sophia in the chaos, that she uttered the ninth

repentance, saying:

““1.0O Light, smite down them who have The ninth

taken away my power from me, and take away soni 2

the power from them who have taken away mine

from me.

“*2.For I am thy power and thy light.

| Come and save me. 90.

“<3, Let great darkness cover my oppressors.

Say unto my power: I am he who will save

thee.

“4 Let all those who would take away my

light from me utterly, lack their power. Let

them face about unto the chaos and become

powerless, who would take away my light from

me utterly.

“<5, Let their power be as dust, and let Yew,

thy angel, smite them.

“6. And if they would go into the height,

let darkness seize upon them and let them slip

down and turn to the chaos. And let thy angel

Yew pursue them and cast them down into the

darkness below.

“<7. For they have set a lion-faced power as

a trap for me, although I have done them no ill,

from which its light will be taken; and they have

oppressed the power in me, which they will not

be able to take away.

“<8. Now, therefore, O Light, take away the

purification from the lion-faced power without its

knowing it,—the thought which Self-willed hath

91.

76 PISTIS SOPHIA

thought, to take away my light; take away his

own and let the light be taken away from the

lion-faced power, which set the trap for me.

“<9. But my power will exult in the Light

and rejoice that he will save it.

“*10. And all the portions of my power shall

say: There is no saviour but thee. For thou

wilt save me out of the hand of the lion-faced

power, which hath taken away my power from

me, and thou savest me out of the hands of them

who have taken away my power and my light

from me.

““11. For they have risen up against me,

lying against me and saying | that I know the

mystery of the Light which is In the height,

[the Light] in which I have had faith. And they

have constrained me, [saying:] Tell unto us the

mystery of the Light in the height—that which

I know not.

“12. And they have requited me with all

this ill because I have had faith in the Light of

the height; and they have made my power

lightless.

“13, But when they constrained me, I sat in

the darkness, my soul bowed down in mourning.

“14, And do thou, O Light—for that reason

sing I praise to thee—save me. I know that thou

wilt save me because I fulfilled thy will ever

since I was in my zon. I fulfilled thy will, as

the invisibles who are in my region, and as my

pair. And I mourned, looking unceasingly and

searching for the Light.

“*15. Now, therefore, have all the emanations

of Self-willed surrounded me and rejoiced over

me and sore oppressed me without my knowing

[them]. And they have fled away and ceased

from me but have had no pity upon me.

“16. They have returned again and made

trial of me and they have oppressed me in great

oppression and ground their teeth against me,

desiring to take away my light from me utterly.

“* 17, How long, therefore, O Light, dost thou

suffer them, that they oppress me? Save my

power from their evil thoughts and save me from

the hand of the lion-faced power; for I alone

of the invisibles am in this region.

“18. I will sing praises unto thee, O Light,

| in the midst of all who are gathered together

against me, and I will cry unto thee in the midst

of all who oppress me.

“19. Now, therefore, O Light, let not them

who hate me and desire to take away my power

from me, rejoice over me—who hate me and flash

their eyes against me, though I have not done

anything unto them.

“*20. For indeed they have fawned upon me

with sweet words, asking me concerning the

mysteries of the Light which I know not, and have

craftily spoken against me and been enraged

against me, because I have had fajth in the

Light in the height.

“21. They have opened their chops against

me and said: Well indeed, we will take from her

her light.

“*22. Now, therefore, O Light, thou hast

known their guile; suffer them not and let

not thy help be far from me.

“23. Quickly, O Light, vindicate and avenge

me,

“*24. And give judgment on me _ according

93.

CHAP. 51.

James in-

terpreteth

the ninth

repentance

from Psalm

XXxiv.

78 PISTIS SOPHIA

to thy goodness. Now, therefore, O Light of

lights, let them not take away my light from me,

“*25. And let them not say in their heart:

Our power is glutted with her light. And let

them not say: We have consumed her power.

“26. But rather let darkness come upon

them, and let those who long to take away my

light from me, become powerless, and let them

be clothed with chaos and darkness, who say

there: We will take away her light and her

power.

“*27. Now, therefore, save me that I may

rejoice, for I long for the thirteenth zon, the

region of Righteousness, and | I shall say ever-

more: May the light of thy angel Yew shine

more and more.

“28. And my tongue will sing praises to

thee in thy gnosis my whole time in the thirteenth

aon.” ”

It came to pass, when Jesus had finished saying

these words unto his disciples, that he said unto

them: “Who is sober among you, let him pro-

claim their solution.”

James came forward, kissed the breast of Jesus

and said: “My Lord, thy spirit hath sobered

me, and I am ready to proclaim their solution.

Concerning them indeed thy power hath pro-

phesied aforetime through David in the thirty-

fourth Psalm, saying thus concerning the ninth

repentance of Pistis Sophia:

“*1, Give sentence, O Lord, on them who do

me injustice, and fight against them who fight

against me.

“*2.Lay hand on weapon and shield and

stand up to help me.

“<3. Draw forth a sword and conceal it [sz]

from my oppressors. Say unto my soul: I am

thy salvation.

“*4, Let them be put to shame and abashed

who strive after my soul; let them fall back

and be put to shame who imagine evil against

me.

“<5, Let them be as chaff | before the wind,

and let the angel of the Lord pursue after them.

“*6, Let their way be darkness and slippery,

and let the angel of the Lord oppress them.

“<7, Por without cause have they hid a snare

for me for their own spoiling, and they have

mocked at my soul in vain.

“<8, Let a snare come upon them which they

know not, and let the net which they have hid

for me, catch them, and let them fall into this

snare.

“<9. But my soul will exult in the Lord and

rejoice in its salvation.

“10. All my bones shall say: O Lord, who

can be like unto thee?—thou who settest free

the wretched from the hand | of him who is

stronger than him; and thou savest a wretched

and poor [one] from the hands of them who

spoil him.

“<11. Unjust witnesses came forward and have

asked me that which I knew not.

“*12. They have requited me evil for good

and childlessness for my soul.

“*13. But when they molested me, I clothed

me in a sack and humbled my soul with fasting,

and my prayer will return into my breast.

“*14.I was pleasing unto thee, as unto my

neighbour and as unto my brother; and I

96.

97.

80 PISTIS SOPHIA

humbled myself as one in mourning and as one

who is sad.

“15, They have rejoiced over me, and they

are put to shame. Scourges have gathered

themselves together against me and I knew not;

they were cut off and were troubled.

“16. They have brought me to trial and

mocked me with mocking; they have ground |

their teeth against me.

“*17.,O Lord, when wilt thou look upon me?

Restore again my soul from their evil works and

save my only one from the hands of the lions.

“18.1 will confess to thee, O Lord, in the

great assembly, and I will sing praises to thee

in the midst of a countless people.

“19. Let not them who unjustly treat me

as a foe, rejoice over me, who hate me without

a caqse and wink with their eyes.

“20. For indeed they discourse with me with

wotds of peace, though they plot wrath with craft.

“21. They opened their chops wide against

me and said: Well indeed, our eyes have filled

our sight with him.

“*22. Thou hast seen, O Lord. Keep not

silence, O Lord, withdraw not thyself from me.

“© 23. Arise, O Lord, | and give heed to my

vindication, give heed to my vengeance, my God

and my Lord.

“<24. Judge me, O Lord, according to thy

justice; let them not rejoice over me, my God.

“*25. And let them not say: Well done, our

soul. Let them not say: We have consumed

him.

“*26. Let them be put to shame and _ be

scorned, who rejoice at my mischance. Let

them be clothed with shame and disgrace who

speak boastingly against me.

“27. Let them who desire my justification,

exult and rejoice and let them who desire the

peace of his slave, say: May the Lord be great

and arise.

“28. My tongue will exult over thy justi-

fication and over thy honour all the day long.’”’ |

When James then had said this, Jesus said unto 98.

him: “Well said, finely, James. This is the CHAP. 52.

solution of thecinth repentance of Pistis Sophia. Dart

Amén, amén I say unto you: Ye shall be the Jemesand

romiseth

first in the kingdom of heaven before all invisibles Hei

and all gods and rulers who are in the thirteenth thediecicles

eon and in the twelfth zon; and not only ye,

but also everyone who shall accomplish my

mysteries.”

And when he had said this, he said unto them:

“Understand ye in what manner I discourse

with your”

Mary started forward again and Said: “ Yea, Mary inter-

O Lord, this is what thou didst say unto us afore- bor

‘The last shall be first and the first shall /*°*

be last.’ The first then, who were created before

us, ate the invisibles, for indeed they arose before

mankind, they and the gods and the tulers;

and the men who shall receive mysteries, will

be first into the -kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus said unto her: “ Well said, Mary.”

Jesus continued again and said unto his dis- The repent-

ance of

ciples: “It came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia sophia is

had proclaimed the ninth repentance, that the oe

lion-faced power oppressed her again, desiring ae

to take away all powers from her. She cried out

again to the Light, saying: |

99.

100.

82 PISTIS SOPHIA

“*O Light, in whom I have had faith from the

beginning, for whose sake I have endured these

great pains, help me.’

“And in that hour her repentance was

accepted from her. The First Mystery hearkened

unto her, and I was sent off at his command.

I came to help her, and led her up out. of the

chaos, because she had repented, and also because

she had had faith in the Light and had endured

these great pains and these great perils. She

had been deluded through the god-like Self-

willed, and had not been deluded through any-

thing else, save through a light-power, because

of its resemblance to the Light in which she had

had faith. For this cause then was I sent forth

at the command of the First Mystery to help her

secretly. I did not however yet go to the region

of the zons at all; but I passed down through

the midst out of them, without any single power

knowing it, either those of the interior of the in-

terior or those of the exterior of the exterior,

save only the First Mystery.

“Tt came to pass then, when I came into the

chaos to help her, that she saw me, that I was

understanding and shone exceedingly and was

full of compassion for her. For I was not self-

willed as the lion-faced power, which had taken

away the light-power from Sophia, and had also

oppressed her in order to take a way from her the

whole light in her. Sophia then saw me, that

I shone ten-thousand times more than the lion-

faced power, | and that I was full of compassion

for her. And she knew that I came out of the

Height of heights, in whose light she had had

faith from the beginning. Pistis Sophia then

took courage and uttered the tenth repentance,

saying:

“*1.1 have cried unto thee, O Light of lights, The tenth

in my oppression and thou hasthearkened unto me. (fscphia

“*2.O Light, save my power from unjust and

lawless lips and from crafty traps.

“*3.The light which was being taken from

me in crafty snaring, will not be brought unto

thee.

“* 4. For the traps of Self-willed and the nooses

of the merciless [one] are spread out.

“<5, Woe unto me, that my dwelling was far

off, and I was in the dwellings of the chaos.

“6, My power was in regions which are not

mine.

“<7. And I entreated those merciless [ones];

and when I entreated them, they fought against

me without a cause.’ ”

When then Jesus had said this unto his dis- CHAP. 53.

ciples, he said unto them: “Now, therefore, let

him whom his spirit stirreth, come forward and

speak the solution of the tenth repentance of

Pistis Sophia.”

Peter answered and said: “ O Lord, concerning

this thy light-power prophesied aforetime through

David in the one-hundred-and-nineteenth Psalm,

saying:

“*1.1 cried unto thee, O Lord, in my opptes- Peter inter-

: preteth the

sion, and thou hearkenest unto me. tenth de:

“*2.O0 Lord, save | my soul from unjust pentance

lips and from crafty tongues. cxix,

“<3. What will be given unto thee or what

will be added unto thee with a crafty tongue?

“4. The arrows of the strong [one] are made

sharp with the coal of the desert.

Jesus com-

mendeth

Peter.

CHAP. 54.

The

eleventh re-

pentance

of Sophia.

102.

84 PISTIS SOPHIA

“*5,Woe unto me, that my dwelling is far

off, and I dwelt in the tents of Kedar.

“*6, My soul hath dwelt in many regions as

a guest.

“<7. 7 was peaceful with them who hate peace;

if I spake unto them, they fought against me

without a cause.’

“This is now, therefore, O Lord, the solution

of the tenth repentance of Pistis Sophia, which

she hath uttered when the material emanations

of Self-willed oppressed her, they and his lion-

faced power, and when they oppressed her

exceedingly.”

Jesus said unto him: “Well said, Peter,

and finely. This is the solution of the tenth

repentance of Pistis Sophia.”

Jesus continued again in the discourse and

said unto his disciples: “It came to pass then,

when this lion-faced power saw me, how I drew

nigh unto Pistis Sophia, shining very exceedingly,

that it grew still more furious and emanated

from itself a multitude of exceedingly violent

emanations. When this then befell, Pistis Sophia

uttered the eleventh repentance, saying:

“1. Why hath the mighty power raised itself

in evil?

“*2.Its plotting taketh away the light from

me all the time, and as sharp iron have they

taken away power | from me.

“* 3.1 chose to descend into the chaos rather

than to abide in the thirteenth zon, the region

of Righteousness.

““4-And they desired to lead me craftily,

in order to consume my whole light.

“5. For this cause then will the Light take

away their whole light, and also their whole matter

will be made naught. And it will take away their

light and not suffer them to abide in the thir-

teenth zon, their dwelling-place, and will not have

their name in the region of those who shall live.

“*6. And the four-and-twenty emanations

will see what hath befallen thee, O lion-faced

power, and will be afraid and not be dis-

obedient, but give the purification of their light.

“<7, And they will see thee and will rejoice

over thee and say: Lo, an emanation which hath

not given the purification of its light, so that it

may be saved, but boasted itself in the abun-

dance of the light of its power, because it did not

emanate from the power in it, and hath said:

I will take away the light from Pistis Sophia,

which will now be taken from it.’

“Now, therefore, let him in whom his power

is raised, come forward and proclaim the solution

of the eleventh repentance of Pistis Sophia.”

Then Salome came forward and said: “My

Lord, concerning this thy light-power prophesied

aforetime through David in the fifty-first Psalm,

saying:

“*1, Why doth the mighty [one] boast him-

self in | his wickedness?

“<2.Thy tongue hath studied unrighteous-

ness all the day long; as a sharp razor hast thou

practised craft.

“* 3. Thou lovedst wickedness more than good-

ness; thou lovedst to speak unrighteousness

more than righteousness.

“4. Thou lovedst all words of submerging

and a crafty tongue.

“5, Wherefor will God bring thee to naught

103.

Salome in-

terpreteth

the repent-

ance from

Psalm li.

104.

Jesus com-

mendeth

Salome.

CHAP. 55.

Self-willed

aideth his

emanations

and they

again op-

press Sophia.

105.

86 PISTIS SOPHIA

utterly, and will uproot thee and drag thee out

from thy dwelling-place, and will root out thy

root and cast it away from the living. (Selah.)

“6. The righteous will see and be afraid,

and they will mock at him and say:

“<7, Lo, a man who made not God for his

helper, but trusted to his great riches and was

mighty in his vanity.

“*8, But I am as a | fruit-bearing olive-tree

in the house of God. I have trusted in the grace

of God from all eternity.

“*9 And I will confess unto thee, for thou

hast dealt faithfully with me; and I will wait

on thy name, for it is auspicious in the presence

of thy holy [ones].’

“This then is now, therefore, my Lord, the

solution of the eleventh repentance of Pistis

Sophia. While thy light-power hath roused me,

I have spoken it according to thy desire.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard

these words which Salome spake, that he said:

“Well said, Salome. Amen, amen, I say unto

you: I will perfect you in all mysteries of the

kingdom of the Light.”

And Jesus continued again in the discourse

and said unto his disciples: “It came to pass

then thereafter, that I drew near unto the chaos,

shining very exceedingly, to take away the light

from that lion-faced power. As I shone exceed-

ingly, it was in fear and cried out to its self-

willed god, that he should help it. And _ forth-

with the self-willed god looked out of the thirteenth

zon, and looked down into the chaos, exceedingly

wrathful | and desiring to help his lion-faced

power. And forthwith the lion-faced power, it

and all its emanations, surrounded Pistis Sophia,

desiring to take away the whole light in Sophia.

It came to pass then, when they oppressed Sophia,

that she cried to the height, crying unto me

that I should help her. It came to pass then,

when she looked to the height, that she saw Self-

willed exceedingly wrathful, and she was in fear,

and uttered the twelfth repentance because of

Self-willed and his emanations. She cried on

high unto me, saying:

“<1. O Light, forget not my praise-singing. The twelfth

“<2. For Self-willed and his _ lion-faced OfSophia,

have opened their chops against me and have

acted craftily against me.

“<3. They have surrounded me, desiring to

take away my power, and have hated me, because

I have sung praises unto thee.

““4. Instead of loving me they slandered me.

But I sang praises.

“<5. They plotted a plot to take away my

power, because I have sung to thee praises, O

Light; and hated me, because I have loved thee.

“*6, Let the darkness come over Self-willed,

and let the ruler of the outermost darkness

abide at his right hand.

“<7, And when thou passest sentence, take

from him his. power; and the deed which he

hath plotted, to take from me my light,—mayest

thou take his from him.

“<8, And may all his powers of his light in him

finish, and let | another of the three triple- 106.

powers receive his sovereignty.

“*9. May all the powers of his emanations

be lightless and may his matter be without any

light in it.

107.

88 PISTIS SOPHIA

“<10. May his emanations remain in the chaos

and not dare to go to their region. May their

light in them die away and let them not go to

the thirteenth zon, their region.

“11. May the Receiver, the Purifier of the

lights, purify all the lights which are in Self-

willed, and take them from them.

“12. May the rulers of the lower darkness

tule over his emanations, and let no one give them

shelter in his region; and let no one hearken to

the power of his emanations in the chaos.

“*13. Let them take away the light in his

emanations and blot out their name from the

thirteenth zon, yea rather take his name for ever

out of that region.

“14, And on the lion-faced power let them

bring the sin of him who emanated it, before

the Light, and not wipe out the iniquity of the

matter which hath brought him [se Self-willed]

forth.

“15. And may their sin be altogether before

the Light eternally, and may they let them not

look beyond [the chaos] and take their names out

of all regions;

“*16. Because they have not spared me and

have oppressed him whose light and | whose

power they have taken away, and also conformably

with those who set me therein, they desired to

take away my whole light from me.

““17. They loved to descend to the chaos;

so let them abide therein, and they shall not be

brought up [therefrom] from now on. They

desired not the region of Righteousness for dwell-

ing-place, and they shall not be taken thither

from now on.

““18. He put on darkness as a garment, and it

entered into him as water, and it entered in into

all his powers as oil.

“19. Let him wrap himself into the chaos

as into a garment, and gird himself with the

darkness as with a leathern girdle for ever.

“20. Let this befall them who have brought

this upon me for the Light’s sake and have said:

Let us take away her whole power.

“21. But do thou, O Light, have mercy upon

me for the sake of the mystery of thy name, and

save me in the goodness of thy grace.

“°22.For they have taken away my light

and my power; and my power hath inwardly

tottered, and I could not stand upright in their

midst.

“*23,1 am become as matter which is fallen;

I am tossed hither and thither as a demon in the

air.

“*24. My power hath perished, because I

possess no mystery; and my matter hath become

dwindled because of my light, for they have taken

it away.

“25. And they mocked me; they looked at

me, nodding at me.

“© 26. Help me according to thy mercy.’ |

“Now, therefore, let him whose spirit is ready, 10s.

come, forwatd and utter the solution of the

twelfth repentance of Pistis Sophia.”

And Andrew came forward and said: “ My cHap. 56.

Lord and Saviour, thy light-power hath pro-

phesied aforetime through David concerning

this repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered,

and said in the one-hundred-and-eighth Psalm:

“<1. God, keep not silent at my praise-singing.

Andrew in-

terpreteth

the twelfth

repentance

from Psalm

cviil.

109.

90 PISTIS SOPHIA

“*2.For the mouths of the sinner and crafty

have opened their chops against me and with

crafty deceitful tongue have talked behind me.

“<3. And they have surrounded me_ with

words of hate and have fought against me with-

out a cause.

“A Instead of loving me they have slandered

me. But I prayed.

“<5. They showed evil against me for good

and hate for my love.

“*6,Set a sinner over him, and let the

slanderer stand at his right hand.

“<7, When sentence is passed upon him,

may he go forth condemned and his prayer become

sin.

“<8. May his days be shortened and another

receive his overseership.

“*9.May his children become orphans and

his wife a widow.

“<10. May his children be carried away and

be driven forth and beg; may they be thrown

out of their houses.

“11. May the money-lender sift out all that

he hath, | and may strangers plunder all his

best efforts.

“12. Let there be no man to back him, and

no one to take pity on his orphans.

“*13. May his children be exterminated and

his name blotted out in a single generation.

“<14. Let the sin of his fathers be remembered

before the Lord, and the sin of his mother be not

blotted out.

“15, Let them be ever present to the Lord

and his memory be rooted out from the earth;

“16. In that he hath not thought of using

mercy and hath persecuted a poor and wretched

man and hath persecuted a sorry creature to

slay him.

““17, He loved cursing,-and it shall come

unto him. He desired not blessing,—it shall

stay far from him.

“*18. He clothed himself with cursing as with

a vesture, and it entered into his bowels as water,

and it was as oil in his bones.

“<19. May it be for him as a garment in which

he shall be wrapped, and as a girdle with which

he shall ever be girded.

“20. This is the work of them who slander

[me] before the Lord, and speak unlawfully

against my soul.

“21. But do thou, O Lord God, be gracious

unto me; for thy name's sake save me.

“22. For I am poor and I am _ wretched;

my heart is tumult within me. |

“*23.1 am carried away in the midst as a 10.

shadow which hath sunk down, and I am shaken

out as grass-hoppers.

“<24. My knees have become weak from fast-

ing, and my flesh is altered from [lack of] oil.

“*25,. But I have become a mock unto them;

they saw me and wagged their heads.

“* 26. Help, O Lord God, and save me accord-

ing to thy grace.

“*27. May they .know that this is thy hand,

and that thou, O Lord, hast fashioned them.’

“This is then the solution of the twelfth

repentance which Pistis Sophia uttered, when

she was in the chaos.”

And Jesus continued again in the discourse CHAP. 57.

and said unto his disciples: “It came to pass

The thir-

teenth re-

pentence of

Sophia.

111.

92 PISTIS SOPHIA

again thereafter that Pistis Sophia cried unto me,

saying:

“*Q Light of lights, I have transgressed in

the twelve eons, and have descended from

them; wherefor have I uttered the twelve

repentances, [one] for each zon. Now, therefore,

O Light of lights, forgive me my transgression,

for it is exceedingly great, because I have aban-

doned the regions of the height and have come to

dwell in the regions of the chaos.’

“When then Pistis Sophia had said this, she

continued again in the thirteenth repentance,

saying:

““1,Hearken unto me singing praises unto

thee, O Light of lights. Hearken unto me

uttering the repentance for the thirteenth zon,

the region out of which I have come down, in

order that the thirteenth repentance of the thir-

teenth zon may be accomplished,—those [eons] |

which I have overstepped and out of which I

have come down.

“2. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, hearken

unto me singing praises unto thee in the thirteenth

zon, my region out of which I have come down.

“*3,Save me, O Light, in thy great mystery

and forgive my transgression in thy forgive-

ness.

“*4 And give unto me the baptism and for-

give my sins and purify me from my transgression.

“*5. And my transgression is the lion-faced

power, which will never be hidden from thee;

for because of it have I gone down.

“*6, And I alone among the invisibles, in

whose regions I was, have transgressed, and have

gone down into the chaos. Moreover I have

transeressed, that thy commandment may be

accomplished.’

“This then Pistis Sophia said. Now, there-

fore, let him whom his spirit urgeth to understand

her words, come forward and proclaim her

thought.”

Martha came forward and said: “My Lord,

my spirit urgeth me to proclaim the solution

of that which Pistis Sophia hath spoken; thy

power hath prophesied afore time concerning it

through David in the fiftieth Psalm, saying thus:

“1, Be gracious unto me, O God, according Martha in-

to thy | great grace; according to the fulness Pee"

of thy mercy blot out my sin. aie

“<2. Wash me throughly from my iniquity. pom vale

“* 3, And may my sin be ever present to thee, 112.

“*4 That thou mayest be justified in thy

words and prevail whep thou judgest me.

“This is then the solution of the words which

Pistis Sophia hath uttered.”

Jesus said unto her: “Well said, finely,

Martha, blessed [one].”

And Jesus continued again in the discourse and CHAP. 58.

said unto his disciples: “It came to pass then, Jesus

when Pistis Sophia had said these words, that the fortha

time was fulfilled that she should be led out of nj"

the chaos. And of myself, without the First SP

Mystery, I despatched out of myself a light-

power, and I sent it down to the chaos, so that

it might lead Pistis Sophia forth from the deep

regions of the chaos, and lead [her] to the higher

regions of the chaos, until the command should

come from the First Mystery that she should be

led entirely forth out of the chaos. And my light-

power led Pistis Sophia up to the higher regions

94 PISTIS SOPHIA

of the chaos. It came to pass then, when the

emanations of Self-willed had noticed that Pistis

Sophia was led forth into the higher regions of

the chaos, that they also sped after her upwards,

desiring to bring her again into the lower regions

of the chaos. And my light-power, which I had

sent to lead up Sophia out of the chaos, shone

exceedingly. It came to pass then, when the

113. emanations of Self-willed pursued Sophia, | when

she had been led into the higher regions of the

chaos, that she again sang praises and cried out

unto me, saying:

Sophia “* 1,1 will sing praises unto thee, O Light, for I

eee desired to come unto thee. I will sing thee praises,

praise. OQ Light, for thou art my deliverer.

«<2, Leave me not in the chaos. Save me,

O Light of the Height, for it is thou that I

have praised.

“<3. Thou has sent me thy light through

thyself and hast saved me. Thou hast led me to

the higher regions of the chaos.

“4 May the emanations of Self-willed which

pursue me, sink down into the lower regions of

the chaos, and let them not come to the higher

regions to see me.

“*5,And may great darkness cover them

and darker gloom come over them. And let

them not see me in the light of thy power, which

thou hast sent unto me to save me, so that they

may not again get dominion over me.

“6, And let not their resolution which they

have formed, to take away my power, take effect

for them. And as they have spoken against me,

to take from me my light, take rather from them

theirs instead of mine.

“<7, And they have proposed to take away

my whole light and have not been able to take it,

for thy light-power was with me.

“<8. Because they have taken counsel with-

out thy commandment, O Light, therefore have

they not been able to take away my light.

“<9. Because I | have had faith in the Light,

I shall not be afraid; and the Light is my de-

liverer and I shall not fear.’

“Now, therefore, let him whose power is

exalted, speak the solution of the words which

Pistis Sophia nath uttered.”

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished

speaking these words unto his disciples, that

Salome came forward and said: “My Lord,

my power constraineth me to speak the solution

of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered.

Thy power hath prophesied aforetime through

Solomon, saying:

“1.1 will give thanks unto thee, O Lord,

for thou art my God.

“«<*2. Abandon me not, O Lord, for thou art

my hope.

“<3. Thou hast given me thy vindication for

naught, and I am saved through thee.

naught, and I am saved through thee..

“*4'Let them who pursue me, fall down and

let them not see me.

“*5, May a smoke-cloud cover their eyes and

an ait-mist darken them, and let them not see

the day, so that they may not seize me.

“6, May their resolution be impotent, and

may what they concoct come upon them.

“* 7. They have devised a resolution, and it hath

not taken effect for them.

“<8, And they are vanquished, although they

Salome in-

terpreteth

the song of

Sophia

from the

Odes of

Solomon.

115.

CHAP. 59.

The power

sent by

Jesus form-

eth a light-

wreath on

Sophia”

head.

96 PISTIS SOPHIA

be mighty, and what they have wickedly pre-

pared is fallen upon them.

“<9. My hope is in the Lord, and I shall not

be afraid, for thou art my God; my Saviour.’ ”

It came to pass then, when Salome had finished

saying these words, that Jesus said unto her:

“Well said, | Salome; and finely. This is the

solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered.”

And Jesus continued again in the discourse

and said unto his disciples: “It came to pass

then, when Pistis Sophia had finished saying

these words in the chaos, that I made the light-

power, which I had sent to save her, become a

light-wreath on her head, so that from now on

the emanations of Self-willed could not have

dominion over her. And when it had become

a light-wreath round her head, all the evil matters

in her were shaken and all were purified in her.

They perished and remained in the chaos, while

the emanations of Self-willed gazed upon them

and rejoiced. And the purification of the pure

light which was in Pistis Sophia, gave power to

the light of my light-power, which had become a

wreath round her head.

“Tt came to pass then moreover, when it

surrounded the pure light in Sophia, and her

pure light did not depart from the wreath of

the power of the light-flame, so that the emana-

tions of Self-willed should not rob it from it,—

when then this befell her, the pure light-power

in Sophia began to sing praises. And she praised

my light-power, which was a wreath round her

head, and she sang praises, saying:

“<1. The Light hath become a wreath round my

head; and I shall not depart from it, so that the

emanations of Self-willed may not rob it from me.

“<2. And though all the matters be shaken, |

yet shall I not be shaken.

“*3, And though all my matters perish and

remain in the chaos,—those which the emanations

of Self-willed see,—yet shall I not perish.

““4.For the Light is with me, and I myself

am with the Light.’

“These words then Pistis Sophia uttered.

Now, therefore, let him who understandeth the

thought of these words, come forward and pro-

claim their solution.”

Then Mary, the mother of Jesus, came forward

and said: “ My son according to the world, my

God and Saviour according to the height, bid

me proclaim the solution of the words which

Pistis Sophia hath uttered.”

And Jesus answered and said: “Thou also,

Mary, hast recetved form which is in Barbelo,

according to matter, and hast received likeness

which is in the Virgin of Light, according to light,

thou and the other Mary, the blessed one; and

on thy account the darkness hath arisen, and

moreover out of thee did come forth the material

body in which I am, which I have purified and

refined,—now, therefore, I bid thee proclaim the

solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered.”

And Mary, the mother of Jesus, answered and

said: “My Lord, thy light-power hath pro-

phesied afore time concerning these words through

Solomon in the nineteenth Ode and said:

“1. The Lord is on my head as a wreath,

and I shall not depart from him.

Sophia

uttereth an-

other song

of praise.

116.

Mary, his

mother,

asketh and

receiveth

permission

to speak.

98 PISTIS SOPHIA

117. “*2. The wreath in truth | is woven for me;

Mary, bis _ and it hath caused thy twigs to sprout in me.

mother, in- eet : .

terpreteth “<3 For it is not like unto a wreath withered

the song of

Sophia from that sprouteth not. But thou art alive on my

to Roo. Head and thou hast sprouted upon me.

ae “<4. Thy fruits are full and perfect, filled with

thy salvation.’ ”

Jesuscom- It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard

mendeth bs his mother Maty say these words, that he said

unto her: “Well said, finely. Amen, amén, I

say unto thee: They shall proclaim thee blessed

from one end of the earth to the other; for the

pledge of the First Mystery hath taken up its

abode with thee, and through that pledge shall

all from the earth and all from the height be saved,

and that pledge is the beginning and the end.”

CHAP.60. And Jesus continued again in the discourse

Thecom and said unto his disciples: “It came to pass

of the First When Pistis Sophia had uttered the thirteenth

Pee. repentance,—in that hour was fulfilled the com-

Sat en. mandment of all the tribulations which were de-

trely out creed for Pistis Sophia for the fulfilment of the

of the chaos. ~ eo

First Mystery, which was from the beginning, and

the time had come to save her out of the chaos and

lead her out from all the darknesses. For her

repentance was accepted from her through the

First Mystery; and that mystery sent me a

ereat light-power out of the height, that I might

118. help Pistis Sophia | and lead her up out of the

The First Chaos. So I looked towards the eons into the

oe height and saw that light-power which the First

jorth two Mystery had sent me, that I might save Pistis

ight-powers :

tohelp = Sophia out of the chaos. It came to pass, there-

Sphia. : :

fore, when I had seen it, coming forth from the

eons and hastening down to me,—I was above

the chaos,—that another light-power went forth

out of me, that it too might help Pistis Sophia.

And the light-power which had come from the

height through the First Mystery, came down

upon the light-power which had gone out of me;

and they met together and became a great stream

of light.”

When then Jesus had said this unto his disciples,

he said: “Understand ye in what manner I

discourse with your”

Mary started forward again and said: “My

Lord, I understand what thou sayest. Concerning

the solution of this word thy light-power hath

prophesied aforetime through David in the eighty-

fourth psalm, saying:

“*10. Grace and truth met together, and

righteousness and peace kissed each other.

“11. Truth sprouted forth out of the earth,

and righteousness looked down from heaven.’

““Grace’ then is the light-power which hath

come down through the First Mystery; for the

First Mystery hath hearkened unto Pistis Sophia

and hath had | mercy on her in all her tribulations.

‘Truth’ on the other hand is the power which

hath gone forth out of thee, for that thou hast

fulfilled the truth, in order to save her out of the

chaos. And ‘righteousness’ again is the power

which hath come forth through the First Mystery,

which will guide Pistis Sophia. And ‘ peace’

again is the power which hath gone forth out of

thee, so that it should enter into the emanations

of Self-willed and take from them the lights

which they have taken away from Pistis Sophia,—

that is, so that thou mayest gather them together

into Pistis Sophia and make them at peace with

Mary Mag-

dalene inter-

preteth the

mystery from

Psalm Ixxxiv.

119.

CHAP. 61.

120.

Marty, the

mother,

further in-

terpreteth

the scrip-

ture.

100 PISTIS SOPHIA

her power. ‘Truth’ on the other hand is the

power which went forth out of thee. when thou

wast in the lower regions of the chaos. For this

cause thy power hath said through David: ‘

Truth sprouted out of the earth, because

thou wert in the lower regions of the chaos.

‘Righteousness’ on the other hand which hath

‘looked down from heaven,—it is the power which

hath come down from the height through the

First Mystery and hath entered into Pistis

Sophia.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard

these words, that he said: “Well said, Mary,

blessed one, who shalt inherit the whole Light-

kingdom.”

Thereon Mary, the mother of Jesus, also came

forward and said: “My Lord and my Saviour,

give commandment unto me also that I repeat

this word.”

Jesus said: “Whose spirit is understanding,

him I do not prevent, but I urge him on still

more to speak the thought which hath moved

him. | Now, therefore, Mary, my mother accord-

ing to matter, thou in whom I have sojourned,

I bid thee that thou also speak the thought of

the discourse.”

And Mary answered and said: “My Lord,

concerning the word which thy power hath

prophesied through David: ‘Grace and_ truth

met together, righteousness and peace kissed

each other. Truth sprouted forth out of the

earth, and righteousness looked down from

heaven,—thus hath thy power prophesied this

word aforetime about thee.

“When thou wert little, before the spirit had

come upon thee, whilst thou wert in a vineyard The story

with Joseph, the spirit came out of the height as

and came to me in my house, like unto thee; ‘P"*

and I had not known him, but I thought that

thou wast he. And the spirit said unto me:

“Where is Jesus, my brother, that I meet with

him?’ And when he had said this unto me,

I was at a loss and thought it was a phantom to

try me. So I seized him and bound him to the

foot of the bed in my house, until I went forth

to you, to thee and Joseph in the field, and I

found you on the vineyard, Joseph propping

up the vineyard. It came to pass, therefore,

when thou didst hear me speak the word unto

Joseph, that thou didst understand the word,

wert joyful and saidest: ‘Where is he, that I

may see him; else I await him in this place.’

And it came to pass, when Joseph had heard

thee say these words, that he was startled. And

we went down | together, entered the house and 121.

found the spirit bound to the bed. And we

looked on thee and him and found thee like unto

him. And he who was bound to the bed was

unloosed; he took thee in his arms and kissed

thee, and thou also didst kiss him. Ye became

one.

“This then is the word and its solution.

‘Grace’ is the spirit which hath come down out

of the height through the First Mystery, for it

hath had mercy on the race of men and sent its

spirit that he should forgive the sins of the whole

world, and they should receive the mysteries

and inherit the Light-kingdom. ‘Truth’ on

the other hand is the power which hath sojourned

with me. When it had come forth out of Barbelo,

Of the spir-

itual and

material

bodies of

Jesus.

122.

CHAP. 62.

102 PISTIS SOPHIA

it became material body for thee, and hath made

proclamation concerning the region of Truth.

‘Righteousness’ is thy spirit, who hath brought

the mysteries out of the height to give them to

the race of men. ‘Peace’ on the other hand

is the power which hath sojourned in thy material

body according to the world, which hath baptized

the race of men, until it should make it stranger

unto sin and make it at peace with thy spirit, so

that they may be at peace with the emanations

of the Light; that is, “Grace and truth kissed each

other.’ As it saith: ‘Truth sprouted forth out

of the earth,—‘truth’ is thy material body |

which sprouted forth out of me according to the

world of men, and hath made proclamation con-

cerning the region of Truth. And again as it

saith: ‘ Righteousness [looked down] from heaven’

—‘ righteousness’ is the power which looked out

of the height, which will give the mysteries of

the Light to the race of men, so that they will

become righteous and good, and inherit the Light-

kingdom.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard

these words which his mother Mary spake, that

he said: “ Well said, finely, Mary.”

The other Mary came forward and said: “ My

Lord, bear with me and be not wroth with me.

Yea, from the moment when thy mother spake

with thee concerning the solution of these words,

my power disquieted me to come forward and like-

wise to speak the solution of these words.”

Jesus said unto her: “I bid thee speak their

solution.”

Mary said: “My Lord, ‘Grace and truth

met together, —‘ grace’ then is the spirit who hath

come upon thee, when thou didst receive the

baptism from John. ‘Grace’ then is the godly

spirit who hath come upon thee; he hath had

mercy on the race of men, hath come down and

hath met with the power of Sabaoth, the Good,

which is in thee and which hath made proclama-

tion concerning the regions of Truth. It hath

said again: ‘Righteousness and peace kissed

each other,—‘ righteousness’ then is the spirit

of the Light, which did come upon thee and

hath brought the mysteries of the height, | to

give them unto the race of men. ‘Peace’ on

the other hand is the power of Sabaoth, the Good,

which is in thee,—he who hath baptized and hath

forgiven the race of men,—and it hath made them

at peace with the sons of the Light. And more-

over as thy power hath said through David:

‘Truth sprouted forth out of the earth,—that is

the power of Sabaoth, the Good, which sprouted

forth out of Mary, thy mother, the dweller on

eatth. ‘Righteousness,’ which ‘looked down

from heaven,’ on the other hand is the spirit in

the height who hath brought all mysteries of the

height and given them to the race of men; and

they have become righteous and good, and have

inherited the Light-kingdom.”

And it came to pass, when Jesus had heard

Mary speak these words, that he said: “ Well

said, Mary, inheritress of the Light.”

And Mary, the mother of Jesus, again came

forward, fell down at his feet, kissed them and

said: “My Lord, my son and my Saviour, be

not wroth with me, but pardon me, that I may

once more speak the solution of these words.

“Grace and truth met together,—it is I, Mary,

The other

Mary fur-

ther.inter-

preteth the

same scrip-

ture from

the baptism

of Jesus.

Marty, the

mother,

again

further in-

terpreteth

the same

scripture

from the

meeting of

herself with

Elizabeth,

mother of

John the

Baptizer.

124.

Of the in-

carnation

of Jesus.

104 PISTIS SOPHIA

thy mother, and Elizabeth, mother of John,

whom I have met. | ‘Grace’ then is the power

of Sabaoth in me, which went forth out of me,

which thou art. Thou hast had mercy on the

whole race of men. ‘Truth’ on the other hand

is the power in Elizabeth, which is John, who did

come and hath made proclamation concerning

the way of Truth, which thou art,—who hath made

proclamation before thee. And again, ‘Grace and

truth met together,—that is thou, my Lord,

thou who didst meet John on the day when thou

hadst to recetve the baptism. And again thou

and John are ‘Righteousness and peace kissed

each other.—‘ Truth hath sprouted forth out

of the earth, and righteousness looked down from

heaven,—this is, during the time when thou

didst minister unto thyself, thou didst have the

form of Gabriel, thou didst look down upon me

from heaven and speak with me. And when thou

hadst spoken with me, thou didst sprout up in

me,—that is the ‘truth’ that is the power of

Sabaoth, the Good, which is in thy material body,

that is the ‘truth’ which ‘ sprouted up out of the

earth.’ ”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard

his mother Mary speak these words, that he said:

“Well said, and finely. This is the solution of

all the words concerning which my light-power

hath prophesied aforetime through the prophet

David.”

[THE NOTE OF A SCRIBE]

(Now these are the names which I will give

125.

from the Boundless onward. Write them with a 4note by

sign, that the Sons of God may be revealed

from here on.

This is the name of the Immortal: aaa, 600;

and this is the name of the Voice, for the sake

of which the Perfect Man hath set himself in

motion: 7. And these are the interpretations

of the names of these mysteries: the first [name],

which is aaa, its interpretation is fff the second,

which is mmm ort 000, its interpretation is aaa;

the third, which is pspsps, its interpretation is 000;

the fourth, which is ff, its interpretation is nan;

the fifth, which is ddd, its interpretation is aaa.

He on the throne is aaa. This is the interpreta-

tion of the second: aaaa, aaaa, aaaa; this is the

interpretation of the whole name.)

a later hand,

copied from

another

scripture.

CHAP. 63.

126.

John further

interpreteth

the same

scripture.

127.

JOHN also came forward and said: “O Lord,

bid me also speak the solution of the words which

thy light-power hath prophesied aforetime through

David.”

And Jesus answered and said unto John:

“To thee too, John, I give commandment to

speak the solution of the words which my light-

power hath prophesied through David:

“*10. Grace and truth met together, and

righteousness and peace kissed each other.

“11. Truth hath sprouted forth out of the

earth, and righteousness looked down from

heaven.’ ”

And John answered and said: “This is the

word which thou hast said unto us aforetime:

‘I have come out of the Height and entered into

Sabaoth, the Good, and embraced the light-

power in him.’ Now, therefore, ‘Grace and

truth? which ‘met together,—thou art ‘ grace,’

thou who art sent out of the regions of the Height

through thy Father, the First Mystery which

looketh within, in that he hath sent thee, | that

thou mayest have mercy on the whole world.

‘Truth’ on the other hand is the power of

Sabaoth, the Good, which bound itself in thee

and which thou hast cast forth to the Left,—thou

the First Mystery which looketh without. And

the little Sabaoth, the Good, took it and cast it

forth into the matter of Barbelo, and he made

proclamation concerning the regions of Truth

to all the regions of those of the Left. That

matter of Barbelo then it is which is body for

thee to-day.

“And ‘righteousness and peace’ which

‘kissed each other,—“‘ righteousness’ then art

thou who didst bring all the mysteries through

thy Father, the First Mystery which looketh

within, and hast baptized this power of Sabaoth,

the Good; and thou didst go to the region of the

rulers and didst give unto them the mysteries

of the. Height; they became righteous. and good.

“*Peace’ on the other hand is the power

of Sabaoth, that is thy soul, which did enter into

the matter of Barbelo, and all the rulers of the

six eons of Yabraoth have made peace with the

mystery of the Light.

“And ‘truth’ which ‘sprouted forth out of

the earth, —it is the power of Sabaoth, the Good,

which came out of the region of the Right, which

lieth outside the Treasury of the Light, and which

hath come into the region of those of the Left; |

it hath entered into the matter of Barbélo, and

hath made proclamation concerning the mysteries

of the region of Truth.

“*Righteousness’ on the other hand which

‘looked down from heaven,’ is thou the First

Mystery which looketh down without, as thou

didst come out of the spaces of the Height with

the mysteries of the Light-kingdom; and thou

Of Sabaoth,

Barbélo,

Yabraoth

and the

light-vesture.

CHAP. 64.

Gabriel and

Michaél are

summoned

to help Pistis

Sophia.

129.

108 PISTIS SOPHIA

didst come down upon the light-vesture which

thou didst receive from the hand of Barbélo,

which [vesture] is Jesus, our Saviour, in that

thou didst come down upon him as a dove.”

It came to pass then, when John had brought

forwatd these words, that the First Mystery

which looketh without, said unto him: “ Well

said, John, beloved brother.”

The First Mystery again continued and said:

“Tt came to pass therefore that the power

which had come out of the Height, that is I, in

that my Father sent me to save Pistis Sophia out

of the chaos, [that] I, therefore, and also the power

which did go from me, and the soul which I had

received from Sabaoth, the Good,—they drew

towards one another and become a single light-

stream, which shone very exceedingly. I called

down Gabriél and Michaél out of the AZons, at

the command of my Father, the First Mystery

which looketh within, and I gave unto them the

light-stream and let them go down into the chaos |

to help Pistis Sophia and to take the light-powers,

which the emanations of Self-willed had taken

from her, from them and give them to Pistis

Sophia.

“And straightway, when they had _ brought

down the light-stream into the chaos, it shone

most exceedingly in the whole of the chaos, and

spread itself over all their regions. And when the

emanations of Self-willed had seen the great light

of that stream, they were terror-stricken one with

the other. And that stream drew forth out of

them all the light-powers which they had taken

from Pistis Sophia, and the emanations of Self-

willed could not dare to lay hold of that light-

stream in the dark chaos; nor could they lay

hold of it with the art of Self-willed, who ruleth

over the emanations.

“And Gabriel and Michael led the light-stream The light-

over the body of the matter of Pistis Sophia and Sic the

poured into her all the light-powers which they Son

had taken from her. And the body of her matter

became shining throughout, and all the powers

also in her, whose light they had taken away,

took light and ceased to lack their light, for they got

their light which had been taken from them,

because the light was given them through me.

And Michaél and Gabriél, who ministered and

had brought the light-stream | into the chaos, 130.

will give them the mysteries of the Light; it is

they to whom the light-stream was entrusted,

which I have given unto them and brought into

the chaos. And Michael and Gabriel have taken

no light for themselves from the lights of Sophia,

which they had taken from the emanations of

Self-willed.

“Tt came to pass then, when the light-stream

had ingathered into Pistis Sophia all her light-

powers, which it had taken from the emanations

of Self-willed, that she became shining through-

out; and the light-powers also in Pistis Sophia,

which the emanations of Self-willed had not taken,

became joyful again and filled themselves with

light. And the lights which were poured into

Pistis Sophia, quickened the body of her matter,

in which no light was present, and which was

on the point of perishing or perished. And they

raised up all her powers which were on the point

of being dissolved. And they took unto them-

selves a light-power and became again as they

The light-

stream,

having ac-

complished

its purpose,

departeth

from Sophia.

131.

CHAP. 65.

Peter inter-

preteth the

narrative

from the

Odes of

Solomon.

110 PISTIS SOPHIA

were before, and they increased again in their

sense of the Light. And all the light-powers

of Sophia knew themselves mutually through my

light-stream and were saved through the light of

that stream. And my light-stream, when it

had taken away the lights from the emanations

of Self-willed, which they had taken away from

Pistis Sophia, poured them into | Pistis Sophia,

and turned itself about and went up out of the

chaos.”

When then the First Mystery said this to the

disciples, that it had befallen Pistis Sophia in

the chaos, he answered and said unto them:

“Understand ye in what manner I discourse

with you? ”

Peter came forward and said: “My Lord,

concerning the solution of the words which thou

hast spoken, thus hath thy light-power pro-

phesied aforetime through Solomon in his Odes:

“<1. A stream came forth and became a great

wide flood.

“*2.It tore away all to itself and turned it-

self against the temple.

“*3 Dams and buildings could not hold it,

nor could the art of them who hold the waters.

“4. It was led over the whole land and laid

hold of all.

“<5. They who were on the dry sand, drank;

their thirst was quieted and quenched, when the

draught from the hand of the Highest was given.

“*6. Blessed are the ministers of that draught,

to whom the water of the Lord is entrusted.

“<7. They have refreshed parched lips; they

whose power was taken away, have gotten joy

of heart and they have laid hold of souls, having

poured in the breath, so that they should not

die.

“<8. They have raised up limbs which were

fallen; they have given power to their openness

and light unto their eyes.

“9. For they all have known themselves in

the Lord and are saved through the water of Life

eternal.’

“Hearken, therefore, my Lord, that I may

set forth the word in openness. As thy | power

hath prophesied through Solomon: ‘A stream

came forth and became a great wide flood,—

this is: The light-stream hath spread itself out

in the chaos over all the regions of the emanations

of Self-willed.

“And again the word which thy power hath

.poken through Solomon: ‘It tore away all to

itself and led it over the temple,—that is: It

drew all the light-powers out of the emanations

of Self-willed, which they had taken from Pistis

Sophia, and poured them anew into Pistis Sophia.

“And again the word thy power hath spoken:

"The dams and buildings could not hold it,—

that is: The emanations of Self-willed could

not hold the light-stream within the walls of the

darkness of the chaos.

“And again the word which it hath spoken:

“It was led over the whole land and filled all,

—that is: When Gabriel and Michael had led it

over the body of Pistis Sophia, they poured into

her all the lights which the emanations of Self-

willed had taken from her, and the body of her

matter shone.

“And the word which it hath spoken: ‘ They

who were in the dry sand, drank,—that is:

133.

134.

112 PISTIS SOPHIA

All in Pistis Sophia whose light had before been

taken away, got light.

“And the word which it hath spoken: ‘ Their

thirst was quieted | and quenched,’—that is:

Her powers ceased to lack the light, because

their light, which had been taken from them, was

given them [again].

“And again as thy power hath spoken: ‘The

draught through the Highest was given them,—

that is: The light was given unto them through

the light-stream, which came forth out of thee,

the First Mystery.

“And as thy power hath spoken: ‘ Blessed

are the ministers of that draught,—this is the

wotd which thou hast spoken: ‘Michael and

Gabriel, who have ministered, have brought

the ijght-stream into the chaos and also led it

forth again. They will give them the mysteries

of the Light of the Height, they to whom the light-

stream is entrusted.’

“And again as thy power hath spoken: ‘ They

have refreshed parched lips,—that is: Gabriel

and Michael have not taken for themselves from

the lights of Pistis Sophia, which they had spoiled

from the emanations of Self-willed, but they have

poured them into Pistis Sophia.

“And again the word which it hath spoken:

‘They whose power was taken away, have gotten

joy of heart,—that is: All the other powers of

Pistis Sophia, which the emanations of Self-willed

have not taken, are become exceedingly merry

and have filled themselves with light from their

light-fellows, for these have poured it into them. |

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

“They have quickened souls, having poured in

the breath, so that they should not die,—that is:

When they had poured the lights into Pistis

Sophia, they quickened the body of her matter,

from which they had before taken its lights, and

which was on the point of perishing.

“And again the word which thy power hath

spoken: ‘They have raised up limbs which were

fallen, or that they should not fall,—that is:

When they poured into her her lights, they raised

up all her powers which were on the point of being

dissolved.

“And again as thy light-power hath spoken:

“They have received again their light and have

become as they were before’; and again the

word which it hath spoken: ‘They have given

light unto their eyes,—that is: They have

received sense in the Light and known the light-

stream, that it belongeth to the Height.

“And again the word which it hath spoken:

‘They all have known themselves in the Lord,—

that is: All the powers of Pistis Sophia have

known one another through the light-stream.

“And again the word which it hath spoken:

‘They are saved through water of Life eternal,—

that is: They are saved through the whole light-

stream.

“And again the word which it hath spoken:

‘The light-stream tore all to itself and drew it over

the temple,—that is: When the light-stream had

taken all the light-powers of Pistis Sophia | and

had spoiled them from the emanations of Self-

willed, it poured them into Pistis Sophia and

turned itself about and went out of the chaos

and came over thee,—thou who art the temple.

“This is the solution of all the words which

114 PISTIS SOPHIA

thy light-power hath spoken through the Ode of

Solomon.”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had heard Peter speak these words, that he said

unto him: “ Well said, blessed Peter. This is

the solution of the words which have been

spoken.”

cHap.65. And the First Mystery continued again in the

Theemena- discourse and said: “It came to pass then,

Self-willed before I had led forth Pistis Sophia out of the

Kies: chaos, because it was not yet commanded me

help: through my Father, the First Mystery which

looketh within,—at that time then, after the

emanations of Self-willed had perceived that my

light-stream had taken from them the light-

powers which they had taken from Pistis Sophia,

and had poured them into Pistis Sophia, and

when they again had seen Pistis Sophia, that

she shone as she had done from the beginning,

that they were enraged against Pistis Sophia

and cried out again to their Self-willed, that he

should come and help them, so that they might

take away the powers in Pistis Sophia anew.

Hesendeth “And Self-willed sent out of the height, out

forthan’ . of the thirteenth aon, and sent another great

roket pewerlight-power. It came down into the chaos | as

flying arrow. a flying arrow, that he might help his emanations,

si so that they might take away the lights from

Pistis Sophia anew. And when that light-power

had come down, the emanations of Self-willed

which were in the chaos and oppressed Pistis

Sophia, took great courage and again pursued

Pistis Sophia with great terror and great alarm.

And some of the emanations of Self-willed

oppressed her. One of them changed itself into

the form of a great serpent; another again

changed itself also into the form of a seven-headed

basilisk; another again changed itself into the

form of a dragon. And moreover the first power

of Self-willed, the lion-faced, and all his other very

numerous emanations, they came together and

oppressed Pistis Sophia and led her again into the

lower regions of the chaos and alarmed her again

exceedingly.

“Tt came to pass then that there looked down

out of the twelve zons, Adamas, the Tyrant,

who also was wroth with Pistis Sophia, because

she desired to go to the | Light of lights, which

was above them all; therefore was he wroth with

her. It came to pass then, when Adamas, the

Tyrant, .had looked down out of the twelve

zons, that he saw the emanations of Self-willed

oppressing Pistis Sophia, until they should take

from her all her lights. It came to pass then, when

the power of Adamas had come down into

the chaos unto all the emanations of Self-willed,—

it came to pass then, when that demon came down

into the chaos, that it dashed down Pistis Sophia.

And the lion-faced power and the serpent-form

and the basilisk-form and the dragon-form and

all the other very numerous emanations of' Self-

willed surrounded Pistis Sophia all together,

desiring to take from her anew her powers in

her, and they oppressed Pistis Sophia exceedingly

and threatened her. It came to pass then, when

they oppressed her and alarmed her exceedingly,

that she cried again to the Light and sang praises,

saying:

“1.1 Light, it is thou who hast helped me;

let thy light come over me.

The fashion-

ing of the

serpent-,

basilisk- and

dragon-

powers.

The demon-

power of

Adamas

dasheth

Sophia down.

137.

Sophia

again crieth

to the Light.

Gabriel and

Michael

and the

light-stream

again go to

her aid.

138.

116 PISTIS SOPHIA

“<2. For thou art my protector, and I come

hence unto thee, O Light, having faith in thee,

O Light.

“* 3, For thou art my saviour from the emana-

tions of Self-willed and of Adamas, the Tyrant,

and thou shalt save me from all his violent

threats.’

“And when Pistis Sophia had said this, then

at the commandment | of my Father, the First

Mystery which looketh within, I sent again

Gabriel and Michael and the great light-stream,

that they should help Pistis Sophia. And I gave

commandment unto Gabriel and Michael to bear

Pistis Sophia in their hands, so that her feet should

not touch the darkness below; and I gave them

commandment moreover to guide her in the

regions of the chaos, out of which she was to

be led.

“Tt came to pass then, when the angels had

come down into the chaos, they and the light-

stream, and moreover [when] all the emanations

of Self-willed and the emanations of Adamas had

seen the light-stream, how it shone very exceed-

ingly and there was no measure for the light

about it, that they became terror-stricken and

quitted Pistis Sophia. And the great light-

stream surrounded Pistis Sophia on all sides

of her, on her left and on her right and on all her

sides, and it became a light-wreath round her

head.

“Tt came to pass then, when the light-stream

had surrounded Pistis Sophia, that she took

great courage, and it ceased not to surround her

on all her sides; and she was no longer in fear

of the emanations of Self-willed which are in the

chaos, nor was she any more in fear of the other

new power of Self-willed which he had cast down

into the chaos | as a flying arrow, nor did she any 139.

more tremble at the demon power of Adamas

which had come out of the zons.

“And moreover by commandment of myself, The trans-

the First Mystery which looketh without, the ee =

light-stream which surrounded Pistis Sophia on

all her sides, shone most exceedingly, and Pistis

Sophia abode in the midst of -the light, a great

light being on her left and on her right, and on

all her sides, forming a wreath round her head.

And all the emanations of Self-willed [could] not

change their face again, nor could they bear the

shook of the great light of the stream, which

was a wreath round her head. And all the emana-

tions of Self-willed,-many of them fell at her

right, because she shone most exceedingly, and

many others fell at her left, and were not able

at all to draw nigh unto Pistis Sophia because of

the great light; but they fell all one on another,

or they all came near one another, and they could

not inflict any ill on Pistis Sophia, because she

had trusted in the Light.

“And at the commandment of my Father, Jesus, the

the the First Mystery which looketh within, I myself ee

went down into the chaos, shining most exceed- without

causeth

ingly, | and approached the lion-faced power, Sophia ts

which shone exceedingly, and took its whole light a

in it and held fast all the emanations of Self-

willed, so that from now on they went not into

their region, that is the thirteenth eon. And I

took away the power of all the emanations of

Self-willed, and they all fell down in the chaos

powerless. And I led forth Pistis Sophia, she

118 PISTIS SOPHIA

being on the right of Gabriel and Michael. And

the great light-stream entered again into her.

And Pistis Sophia beheld with her eyes her foes,

that I had taken their light-power from them.

And I led Pistis Sophia forth from the chaos,

she treading under foot the serpent-faced emana-

tion of Self-willed, and moreover treading under

foot the seven-faced-basilisk emanation, and tread-

ing under foot the lion- and dragon-faced power.

I made Pistis Sophia continue to stand upon the

seven-headed-basilisk emanation of Self-willed;

and it was more mighty than them all in its

evil doings. And I, the First Mystery, stood by

it and took all the powers in it, and made to

perish its whole matter, so that no seed should arise

from it from now on.” |

141. And when the First Mystery said this unto his

CHAP. 67. disciples, he answered and_ said: “ Understand

ye in what manner I discourse with you?”

James came forward and said: “My Lord,

concerning then the solution of the words which

thou hast said, thus hath thy light-power pro-

phesied thereon aforetime through David in the

ninetieth Psalm:

James in- “1. Whoso then dwelleth under the help of

wrpreteth the Most High, will abide under the shadow of

from Psiam the God of heaven.

- “*2.He will say unto the Lord: Thou art

my succour and my place of refuge, my God, in

whom I trust.

“*3.For he will save me out of the snare

of the hunters and from mighty word.

“*A\ He will shade thee with his breast, and

thou shalt have trust beneath his wings; his

truth shall surround thee as a shield.

“*5. Thou wilt not be afraid of terror by night

nor of an arrow which flieth by day,

“*6,Of a thing which slinketh in the dark-

ness, of a mischance and a demon at mid-day.

“<7. A thousand will fall on | thy left, and ten

thousand at thy right hand; but they shall not

come nigh thee.

“*8. Nay rather with thine eyes wilt thou

behold, thou wilt see the requital of the sinners.

“*9.For thou, O Lord, art my hope. Thou

hast established the Most High for thyself as

refuge.

“10. Harm will not come nigh unto thee;

scourge will not come nigh thy dwelling.

“*11. For he will give commandment to

his angels on thy behalf that they guard thee on

all thy ways,

“12. And bear thee on their hands, that thou

mayest never strike with thy foot against a

stone.

“13. Thou wilt stride over the serpent and

basilisk and tread on lion and dragon.

“<14, Because he hath trusted in me, I will

save him; I will overshadow him, because he

hath known my name.

“*15.He will cry unto me and I= shall

hearken unto him; I am at his side in his tribu-

lation and will save him and honour him,

“*16. And increase him with many days and

show him my salvation.’

“This, my Lord, is the solution of the words

which thou hast said. Hearken therefore, that

I may say it in openness.

“The word then which thy power hath spoken

through David: ‘Whoso then dwelleth under

143.

120 PISTIS SOPHIA

the help of the Most High, will abide under the

shadow of the God of heaven,—that is: When

Sophia had trusted in the Light, she abode under

the light of the light-stream, which through thee

came out of the Height.

“And the word which thy power hath spoken

through David: ‘I will say unto the Lord: Thou

art my succour and my refuge, my God, in whom

I trust,—it is the word with which Pistis Sophia

hath sung praises: | ‘Thou art my succour, and

I come unto thee.’

“And again the word which thy power hath

spoken: ‘My God, in whom I trust, thou wilt

save me out of the snare of the hunters and from

mighty word,—it is what Pistis Sophia hath said:

‘O Light, I have faith in thee, for thou wilt save

me from the emanations of Self-willed and from

those of Adamas, the Tyrant, and thou wilt save

me also from all their mighty threats.’

“And again the word which thy power hath

spoken through David: ‘ He will shade thee with

his breast, and thou wilt have trust beneath his

wings, —that is: Pistis Sophia hath been in the

light of the light-stream, which hath come from

thee, and hath continued in firm trust in the

light, that on her left and that on her right, which

are the wings of the light-stream.

“And the word which thy light-power hath

prophesied through David: ‘Truth will surround

thee as a shield, —it is the light of the light-stream

which hath surrounded Pistis Sophia on all her

sides as a shield.

“ And the word which thy power hath spoken:

“He will not be afraid of terror by night,—that

is: Pistis Sophia hath not been afraid of the

terrors and alarms into which she had been

planted in the chaos, which is the * night.’

“ And the word which thy power hath spoken: |

‘He will not be afraid of an arrow which flieth by

day, —that is: Pistis Sophia hath not been afraid

of the power which Self-willed hath sent last of

all out of the height, and which hath come into

the chaos as it were a flying arrow. Thy light--

power therefore hath said: ‘Thou wilt not be

afraid of an arrow which flieth by day,-—for that

power hath come out of the thirteenth eon, it

being that which is lord over the twelve cons,

and which giveth light unto all the zons; where-

fore hath he [David] said ‘ day.’

“And again the word which thy power hath

spoken: ‘He will not be afraid of a thing which

slinketh in the darkness,—that is: Sophia hath

not been afraid of the lion-faced emanation,

which caused fear for Pistis Sophia in the chaos,

which is the ‘ darkness.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

“He will not be afraid of a mischance and of a

demon at mid-day,—that is: Pistis Sophia hath

not been afraid of the demon emanation of Tyrant

Adamas, which hath cast Pistis Sophia to the

ground in a great mischance, and which hath

come forth out of Adamas out of the twelfth

eon; wherefor then hath thy power said: ‘He

will not be afrajd of | the demon mischance at

mid-day, —‘ mid-day,’ because it hath come out

of the twelve zons, which is ‘ mid-day ’; and again

[‘ night,’ because] it hath come out of the chaos,

which is the ‘ night.’ and because it hath come out

of the twelfth zon which is in the midst between

both; therefore hath thy light-power said ‘ mid-

146.

122 PISTIS SOPHIA

day,’ because the twelve eons lie in the midst

between the thirteenth zon and the chaos.

“And again the word which thy light-power

hath spoken through David: ‘A thousand will

fall on his left, and ten thousand at his right hand,

but they shall not come nigh him,—that is:

When the emanations of Self-willed, which are

exceedingly numerous, could not bear the great

light of the light-stream, many of them fell on the

left hand of Pistis Sophia and many at her right,

and they could not come nigh her, to do her [harm].

“And the word which thy light-power hath

spoken through David: ‘Nay rather with thine

eyes wilt thou behold, and wilt see the tre-

quital of the sinners, for thou, O Lord, art my

hope, —that is the word: Pistis Sophia hath with

her eyes beheld her foes, that is the emanations

of Self-willed, who all | have fallen one on another;

not only hath she with her eyes beheld this, but

thou also thyself, my Lord, the First Mystery,

hast taken the light-power which is in the lion-

faced power, and hast moreover taken the power

of all the emanations of Self-willed and moreover

thou hast imprisoned them in that chaos, [so that]

from henceforth they have not gone forth to

their own region. Therefore then hath Pistis

Sophia with her eyes beheld her foes, that is

the emanations of Self-willed, in all which David

hath prophesied concerning Pistis Sophia, saying:

“Nay rather with thine eyes wilt thou behold,

and thou wilt see the requital of the sinners.’

Not only hath she with her eyes beheld, how they

fall one on another in the chaos, but she hath also

seen the requital with which it was requited them.

Just as the emanations of Self-willed have thought

to take away the light of Sophia from her, so hast

thou requited them and repaid them in full, and

hast taken the light-power in them instead of the

lights of Sophia, who hath had faith in the Light

of the Height.

“And as thy light-power hath spoken through

David: ‘Thou hast established the Most High for

thyself as refuge; harm will not come nigh unto

thee, scourge will not come nigh thy dwelling,’

—that is: When Pistis Sophia had had faith in

the Light and was afflicted, she sang praises unto

it, and the emanations of Self-willed could not

inflict on her any harm, | nor could they [injure]

her, nor could they at all come nigh her.

“And the word which thy light-power hath

spoken through David: ‘He will give command-

ment to his angels on thy behalf, that they guard

thee on all thy ways and bear thee on their hands,

that thou mayest never strike with thy foot

against a stone, —it is again thy word: Thou hast

given commandment to Gabriel and Michael, that

they guide Pistis Sophia in all the regions of the

chaos, until they lead her forth, and that they up-

lift her on their hands, so that her feet do not

touch the darkness beneath, and [that] on the

other hand they of the lower darkness do not seize

hold of her.

“And the word which thy light-power hath

spoken through David: ‘Thou wilt tread on

serpent and basilisk and tread on lion and dragon;

because he hath trusted in me, I will save him and

I will overshadow him, because he hath known

my name,—that is the word: When Pistis Sophia

was on the point of coming forth out of the chaos,

she trod on the emanations of Self-willed, and she

=

47.

124 PISTIS SOPHIA

trod on the serpent-faced ones and on the basilisk-

faced ones, which have seven heads; and she trod

on the lion-faced power and on the dragon-faced

one. Because she had had faith in the Light, is

she saved from all of them.

“This, my Lord, is the solution of the words

which thou hast spoken.”

cHaP.68. It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had heard these words; that he said: “Well said,

148. James, | beloved one.”

And the First Mystery continued again in the

discourse and said unto his disciples: “ It came to

pass, when I had led Pistis Sophia out of the chaos,

that she cried out again and said:

Sophia sing ““* 1.1 am saved out of the chaos and loosed

yoke from the bonds of the darkness. I am come unto

thee, O Light.

“*2.For thou wert light on all sides of me,

saving me and helping me.

“<3, And the emanations of Self-willed, which

fought against me, thou hast hindered through

thy light, and they could not come nigh me;

for thy light was with me and saved me through

thy light-stream.

“* 4, Because in sooth the emanations of Self-

willed constrained me, they took from me my

power and cast me out into the chaos with no

light in me. So I became as_ heavy-weighing

matter in comparison with them.

“5. And thereafter came a light-stream unto

me through thee which saved me; it shone on

my left and on my right and surrounded me on

all sides of me, so that no part of me was without

light.

“*6, And thou hast covered me with the light

of thy stream and purged from me all my evil

«matters; and I shall be relieved of all my matters

because of thy light.

““7, And it is thy light-stream which hath

raised me up and taken from me the emanations

of Self-willed which constrained me.

“*8.And I | have become sure-trusting in

thy light and purified light in thy stream.

“<9. And the emanations of Self-willed which

constrained me, have withdrawn themselves from

me; and I shone in thy great power, for thou savest

for ever.’

“This is the repentance which Pistis Sophia

hath uttered, when she came forth out of the

chaos and was freed from the bonds. of the chaos.

Now, therefore, who hath ears to hear, let him

hear.”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had finished saying these words unto his disciples,

that Thomas came forward, and said: “ My Lord,

my light-dweller hath ears and my mind hath

understood the words which thou hast said. Now,

therefore, give commandment unto me to set forth

clearly the solution of the words.”

And the First Mystery answered and said unto

Thomas: “I give thee commandment to set

forth the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia

sang unto me.”

CHAP. 69.

Thomas answered and said: “My Lord, con- Thomas in-

cerning the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered

because she was saved out of the chaos, thy

terpreteth

>» the song of

Sophia from

the Odes of

light-power prophesied afore time thereon through Solomon.

Solomom, the son of David, in his Odes:

““1.I am saved | from the bonds and am fled 150.

unto thee, O Lord.

151.

126 PISTIS SOPHIA

“*2.For thou hast been on my right hand,

saving me and helping me.

“*3,'Thou hast hindered my adversaries and

they have not been revealed, because thy face was

with me, saving me in thy grace.

“4 T was despised in the sight of many and

cast out; I have become as lead in their sight.

“<5. Through thee I have gotten a power

which helped me; for thou hast set lamps on my

right and on my left, so that no side of me may be

without light.

“6. Thou hast overshadowed me with the

shadow of thy grace, and I was relieved of the

coats of skin.

““7. It is thy right hand which hath raised

me up, and thou hast taken the sickness from

me.

“*8.I have become powerful in thy truth and

purified in thy righteousness.

“*9. My adversaries have withdrawn them-

selves from me, and I am justified by thy goodness,

for thy rest endureth unto all eternity.’

“This then, my Lord, is the solution of the

repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered,

when she was saved out of the chaos. Hearken,

therefore, that I may say it in openness.

“The word then which thy light-power hath

spoken through Solomon: ‘I am saved from the

bonds and am fled unto thee, O Lord,—it is the

wotd which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘I am

loosed from the bonds of the darkness and am

come unto thee, O Light.’

“ And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘Thou wert on my right hand, saving | and helping

me,—it is again the word which Pistis Sophia

hath spoken: ‘Thou art become a light on all

sides of me, [saving me] and helping me.’

“And the word which thy light-power hath

spoken: ‘Thou hast hindered my adversaries

and they have not been revealed, —it is the word

which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘And _ the

emanations of Self-willed which fought against

me, thou hast hindered through thy light, and

they could not come nigh me.’

“* And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘Thy face was with me, saving me in thy grace,’—

it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken:

‘Thy light was with me, saving me in thy light-

stream.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘I was despised in the sight of many and cast out,’

—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken:

‘The emanations of Self-willed constrained me

and took my power from me, and I have been

despised before them and cast out into the chaos,

with no light in me.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

“I have become as lead in their sight,—it is the

wotd which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘When

they had taken my light from me, I became as

heavy-weighing matter before them.’

“And moreover the word which thy power

hath spoken: ‘Through thee | I have gotten

power for me which helped me,’—it is again the

wotd which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘ And

thereafter came a light-power unto me through

thee which saved me.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘Thou hast set lamps on my right and on my left,

so that no side of me may be without light,—it

153.

128 PISTIS SOPHIA

is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken:

‘Thy power shone on my right and on my left and

surrounded me on all sides of me, so that no part

of me was without light.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘Thou hast overshadowed me with the shadow of

thy grace,—it is again the word which Pistis

Sophia hath spoken: ‘ And thou hast covered me

with the light of the stream.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘I was relieved of the coats of skin,—it is again

the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘And

they have purified me of all my evil matters, and

I raised myself above them in thy light.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken

through Solomon: ‘It is thy right hand which

hath raised me up, and hath taken the sickness

from me,’—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath

spoken: ‘And it is thy light-stream which hath

raised me up in thy light and hath taken from me

the emanations of Self-willed which constrained

nie." |

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘I have become powerful in thy truth and purified

in thy righteousness,—it is the word which Pistis

Sophia hath spoken: ‘I have become powerful

in thy light and purified light in thy stream.’

And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘My adversaries have withdrawn themselves from

me,—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath

spoken: ‘The emanations of Self-willed which

constrained me, have withdrawn themselves from

mer

“And the word which thy power hath spoken

through Solomon: ‘And I am justified in thy

goodness, for thy rest endureth unto all eternity,’

—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken:

‘I am saved in thy goodness; for thou savest

every one.’

“This then, O my Lord, is the whole solution

of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered,

when she was saved out of the chaos and loosed

from the bonds of the darkness.”

It came to pass then when the First Mystery

had heard Thomas say these words, that he said

unto him: “Well said, finely, Thomas, blessed

one. This is the solution of the song which Pistis

Sophia hath uttered.”

And the First Mystery continued again and said

unto the disciples: “ And Pistis Sophia continued

and sang praises unto me, saying:

“1.1 sing a song unto thee; | through thy

commandment hast thou led me down out of the

higher zon which is above, and hast led me up to

the regions which are below.

“*2.And again through thy commandment

thou hast saved me out of the regions which are

below, and through thee hast thou taken there

the matter in my light-powers, and I have seen it.

“*3, And thou hast scattered far from me the

emanations of Self-willed which constrained me

and were hostile to me, and hast bestowed power

on me to loose myself from the bonds of the emana-

tions of Adamas.

“4. And thou hast smitten the basilisk with

the seven heads and cast it out with my hands

and hast set me above its matter. Thou hast

destroyed it, so that its seed may not raise itself

up from now on...

“<5, And thou wert with me, giving me power

CHAP. 70.

154.

Sophia

singeth an-

other song

of praise.

155.

CHAP. 71.

130 PISTIS SOPHIA

in all this, and thy light surrounded me in all

regions, and through thee hast thou made all the

emanations of Self-willed powerless.

“*6. For thou hast taken the power of their

light from them and made straight my way to

lead me out of the chaos.

“*7, And thou hast removed me from the

material darknesses and taken from them all my

powers, from which the light had been taken.

“<8. Thou hast put into them purified light

and unto all my limbs, | in which was no light,

thou hast given purified light from the Light of

the Height.

“<9. And thou hast made straight the way for

them [sc. my limbs], and the light of thy face hath

become for me life indestructible.

“*10. Thou hast led me forth above the chaos,

the region of chaos and extermination, in order

that all the matters in it which are in that region,

might be unloosed and all my powers be renewed

in thy light, and thy light be in them all.

“11. Thou hast deposited the light of thy

stream in me and I am become purified light.’

“This again is the second song which Pistis

Sophia hath uttered. Who then hath under-

stood this repentance, let him come forward and

speak it.”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had finished saying these words, that Matthew

came forward and said: “I have understood the

solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered. Now, therefore, give commandment

unto me, that I speak it in openness.”

And the First Mystery answered and_ said:

“T give commandment unto thee, Matthew, to

set forth the interpretation of the song which

Pistis Sophia hath uttered.”

And Matthew answered and said: “ Concerning

the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia

hath uttered, thus thy light-power prophesied

aforetime thereon through the Ode of Solomon:

““1.He who hath led me down out of the

higher regions which are above, hath led me up

out of | the regions which are in the bottom below.

“«¢*2. Who hath there taken those in the midst,

Solomon. he hath taught me concerning them.

“*3.Who hath scattered my foes and my

adversaries, he hath bestowed power on me over

the bonds, to unloose them.

““4./Who hath smitten the serpent with the

seven heads with my hands, he hath set me up

above its root, that I may extinguish its seed.

“5. And thou wert with me, helping me; in

all regions thy name surrounded me.

“*6. Thy right hand hath destroyed the

venom of the slanderer; thy hand hath cleared

the way for thy faithful.

“<7. Thou hast freed them out of the tombs

and haat removed them from the midst of the

corpses.

“*8. Thou hast taken dead bones and hast

clothed them with a body and to them who

stirred not, hast thou given the activity of life.

“<9.Thy way is become indestructibleness

and thy face [also].

“*10. Thou hast led thy zon above decay, so

that they all may be loosed and renewed and thy

light become a foundation for them all.

“11. Thou hast piled thy riches upon them

and they have become a holy dwelling-place.’

Matthew

interpreteth

the song of

Sophia from

the Odes of

Solomon.

156.

157.

158.

132 PISTIS SOPHIA

“This then, my Lord, is the solution of the song

which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Hearken,

therefore, that I may say it in openness.

“The word which thy power hath spoken

through Solomon: ‘Who hath led me down out

of the higher regions which are above, he hath also

led me up out of the regions which are in the

bottom below, —it is the word | which Pistis Sophia

hath spoken: ‘I sing praises unto thee; through

thy commandment hast thou led me down out of

this higher zon which is above, and hast led me to

the regions below. And again through thy com-

mandment thou hast saved me and led me up out

of the regions which are below.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken

through Solomon: ‘Who hath there taken those

in the midst and hath taught me concerning them,’

—it is the word which Pistis Sophis hath spoken:

‘And again through thy commandment hast thou

caused the matter in the midst of my power to be

purified, and I have seen it.’

“ And moreover the word which thy power hath

spoken through Solomon: ‘Who hath scattered

my foes an,d my adversaries, —it is the word which

Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘Thou hast scattered

far from me all the emanations of Self-willed

which constrained me and were hostile to me.’

“ And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘Who hath bestowed on me wisdom over the bonds,

to unloose them,—it is the word which Pistis

Sophia hath spoken: ‘And he hath bestowed on

me wisdom to loose myself from the bonds of

those emanations.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘Who hath smitten | the serpent with the seven

heads with my hands, he hath set me up above its

root, that I may extinguish its seed,—it is the

wotd which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘ And

thou hast smitten the serpent with the seven heads

through my hands and set me up above its matter.

Thou hast destroyed it, so that its seed may not

raise itself up from now on.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

“And thou wert with me, helping me,’—it is the

word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘ And thou

wert with me, giving me power in all this.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

“And thy name surrounded me in all regions, —

it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken:

* And thy light surrounded me in all their regions.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘And thy right hand hath destroyed the venom of

the slanderers,—it is the word which Pistis

Sophia hath spoken: ‘And through thee the

emanations of Self-willed became powerless, for

thou hast taken from them the light of their power.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

“Thy hand hath cleared the way for thy faith-

ful,y—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath

spoken: ‘Thou hast made straight my way to

lead me out of the chaos, because I have had faith

in thee.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘Thou hast freed them out of the tombs and hast

removed them from the midst of the corpses,’

—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken:

‘Thou hast freed me out of the chaos and removed

me out of the material darknesses, that is | out 159.

of the dark emanations which are in the chaos,

from which thou hast taken their light.’

160.

134 PISTIS SOPHIA

“ And the word which thy power hath spoken:

Thou hast taken dead bones and hast clothed

them with a body, and to them who stirred not,

thou hast given activity of life,—it is the word

which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: *‘ And thou hast

taken all my powers in which was no light, and

hast bestowed on them within purified light, and

unto all my limbs, in which no light stirred, thou

hast given life-light out of thy Height.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

Thy way is become indestructibleness, and thy

face [also],—it is the word which Pistis Sophia

hath spoken: ‘And thou hast made straight

thy way for me, and the light of thy face hath

become for me life indestructible.’

“And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘Thou hast led thy zon above decay, so that all

might be loosed and renewed,—it is the word

which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘Thou hast

led me, thy power, up above the chaos and above

decay, that all the matters in that region may be

loosed and all my powers renewed in the Light.’

“ And the word which thy power hath spoken:

‘And thy light hath [become] foundation for

them all,—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath

spoken: ‘ And thy light hath been in them all.’ |

“And the word which thy light-power hath

spoken through Solomon: ‘Thou hast put thy

riches over him, and he hath become a _ holy

dwelling-place,—it is the word which Pistis

Sophia hath spoken: ‘Thou hast stayed the light

of thy stream over me, and I have become a

purified light.’

“This then, my Lord, is the solution of the song

which Pistis Sophia hath uttered.”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had heard Matthew speak these words, that he

said: “ Well said, Matthew, and finely, beloved.

This is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia

hath uttered.”

And the First Mystery continued again and said:

“1.1 will declare: Thou art the higher

Light, for that hast saved me and led me unto

thee, and thou hast not let the emanations of Self-

willed, which are hostile unto me, take my light.

“*2.O Light of lights, I sing praises unto

thee; thou hast saved me.

“*3,.O Light, thou hast led up my power out

of the chaos; thou hast saved me from them

which have gone down into the darkness.’

“These words again hath Pistis Sophia uttered.

Now, therefore, whose mind hath become under-

standing, comprehending the words which Pistis

Sophia hath uttered, let him come forward and

set forth their solution.”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had finished speaking these words unto the

disciples, that Mary came forward and said:

“My Lord, my | mind is ever understanding, at

every time to come forward and set forth the

solution of the wolds which she hath uttered;

but I am afraid of Peter, because he threatened

me and hateth our sex.”

And when she had said this, the First Mystery

said unto her: “Everyone who shall be filled

with the spirit of light to come forward and set

forth the solution of what I say,—no one shall be

able to prevent him. Now, therefore, O Mary,

set forth then the solution of the words which

Pistis Sophia hath uttered.”

CHAP. 72.

Sophia con-

tinueth to

sing.

Mary is

afraid of

Peter.

161.

Mary inter-

preteth the

song of

Sophia from

Psalm xxix

CHAP. 73.

162.

Sophia con-

tinueth her

song,

Martha in-

terpreteth

from Psalm

xxix,

136 PISTIS SOPHIA

Then Mary answered and said unto the First

Mystery in the midst of the disciples: “ My

Lord, concerning the solution of the words which

Pistis Sophia hath uttered, thus hath thy light-

power prophesied aforetime through David:

“1.1 will exalt thee, O Lord, for thou hast

received me, and thou hast not made glad my

foes over me.

“<2. O Lord, my God, I cried up unto thee,

and thou hast healed me.

“*3.O Lord, thou hast led up my soul out of

hell; thou hast saved me from them which have

gone down into the pit.’ ”

And when Mary had said this, the First Mystery

said unto her, “ Well said, finely, Mary, blessed

one.”

And he continued again | in the discourse and

said unto the disciples: “ Sophia again continued

in this song and said:

“<1. The Light hath become my saviourt.

“<2. And it hath changed my darkness into

light, and it has rent the chaos which surrounded

me and girded me with light.’ ”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had finished saying these words, that Martha

came forward and said: “My Lord, thy power

hath prophesied aforetime through David con-

cerning these words:

“*10. The Lord hath become my helper.

“*11. He hath changed my lamentation into

joy; he hath rent my mourning-robe and girded me

with joy.’ ”

And it came to pass when the First Mystery had

heard Martha speak these words, that he said:

“ Well said, and finely, Martha.”

And the First Mystery continued again and said

unto the disciples: “ Pistis Sophia a.gain continued

in the song and said:

“<1. My power, sing praises to the Light and

forget not all the powers of the Light which it

her hath given unto thee.

“*2.And the powers which are in thee, sing

praises to the name of his holy mystery;

“*3, Who forgiveth all thy transgression, who

saveth thee from all the afflictions with which

the emanations of Self-willed have constrained

thee;

“*4, Who hath saved thy light | from the

emanations of Self-willed which belong to de-

struction; who, hath wreathed thee with light

in his compassion, until he saved thee;

“5. Who hath filled thee with purified light;

and thy beginning will renew itself as an invisible

of the Height.’

“With these words Pistis Sophia sang praises,

because she was saved and remembered all things

which I had done unto her.”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had finished setting forth these words unto

the disciples, that he said unto them: “ Who hath

understood the solution of these words, let him

come forward and say it in openness.”

Mary again came forward and said: “ My Lord,

concerning these words with which Pistis Sophia

hath sung praises, thus thy light-power pro-

phesied them through David:

“<1. My soul, praise the Lord, let all that is

in me praise his holy name.

“*2. My soul, praise the Lord and forget not

all his requitals.

Sophia con-

tinueth her

song,

CHAP. 74.

Mary inter-

preteth from

Psalm cii.

164.

Sopia is

led toa

region be-

low the thir-

teenth zon

and given a

new mys-

tery.

She con-

tinueth to

sing.

138 PISTIS SOPHIA

“*3, Who forgiveth all thy iniquities; who

healeth all thy sicknesses;

“*4, Who tedeemeth thy life from decay;

who wreatheth thee with grace and compassion;

“<5, Who satisfieth thy longing with good

things; thy youth will renew itself as an eagle’s.’

“That is: Sophia will be as the invisibles who

are in the Height; he hath, therefore, said ‘as an

eagle,’ because the dwelling-place of the eagle is

in the height, and the | invisibles also are in the

Height; that is: Pistis Sophia will shine as the

invisibles, as she was from her beginning.”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery

had heard Mary say these words, that he said:

“ Well said, Mary, blessed one.”

It came to pass then thereafter, that the First

Mystery continued again in the discourse and said

unto the disciples: “I took Pistis Sophia and led

her up to a region which is below the thirteenth

zon, and gave unto her a new mystery of the Light

which is not that of her zon, the region of the

invisibles. And moreover I gave her a song of the

Light, so that from now on the rulers of the zons

could not [prevail] against her. And I removed

her to that region until I should come after her

and bring her to her higher region.

“Tt came to pass then, when I had removed her

to that region, that she again uttered this song

thus:

“*1.In faith have I had faith in the Light;

and it remembered me and hearkened to my

song.

“2. It hath led my power up out of the chaos

and the nether darkness of the whole matter and it

hath led me up. It hath removed me to a higher

and surer zon, lofty and firm; it hath changed

my place on the way which leadeth to my region.

“3, And it hath given unto me a new mystery,

which is not that of my zon, and given unto me a

song of the Light. Now, therefore, O Light, all

the rulers will see what thou hast done unto me,

and | be afraid and have faith in the Light.’

“This song then Pistis Sophia uttered, rejoicing

that she had been led up out of the chaos and

brought to regions which are below the thirteenth

zon. Now, therefore, let him whom his mind

stitreth, so that he understandeth the solution of

the thought of the song which Pistis Sophia hath

uttered, come forward and say it.”

Andrew came forward and said: “My Lord,

this is concerning what thy light-power hath pro-

phesied aforetime through David:

““1.In patience I tarried for the Lord; he

hath given heed unto me and ear unto my

weeping.

“*2.He hath led up my soul out of the pit of

misery and out of the filthy mire; he hath set my

feet on a rock and made straight my steps.

“*3,.He hath put in my mouth a new song, a

song of praise for our God. Many will see and

be afraid and hope in the Lord.’ ”

It came to pass then, when Andrew had set

forth the thought of Pistis Sophia, that the First

Mystery said unto him: “Well said, Andrew,

blessed one.”

And he continued again in the discourse and

said unto the disciples: “These are all adven-

tures which have befallen Pistis Sophia. | It

came to pass then, when I had led her to the region

which is below the thirteenth eon, and was

Andrew in-

terpreteth

from Psalm

XXxix.

CHAP. 75.

The con-

versation of

Sophia and

the Light.

The Light

promiseth

to seal the

regions of

Self-willed.

CHAP. 76.

167.

140 PISTIS SOPHIA

about to go unto the Light and depart from her,

that she said unto me :

“ *O Light of lights, thou wilt go to the

Light and depart from me. And Tyrant Adamas

will know that thou hast departed from me and

will know that my saviour is not at hand. And

he will come again to this region, he and all his

tulers who hate me, and Self-willed also will

bestow power unto his lion-faced emanation, so

that they all will come and constrain me all

together and take my whole light from me, in

order that I may become powerless and again

without light. Now, therefore, O Light and my

Light, take from them the power of their light, so

that they may not be able to constrain me from

now on.’

“Tt came to pass then, when I heard these

wotds which Pistis Sophia had spoken unto me,

that I answered her, saying: ‘My Father, who

hath emanated me, hath not yet given me com-

mandment to take their light from them; but

I will seal the regions of Self-willed and of all his

rulers who hate thee because thou hast had faith

in the Light. And I will also seal the regions of

Adamas and of his rulers, so that none of them

may be able to fight with thee, until their time

is completed and the season cometh that my

Father give me commandment to take their

light from them.’

“And thereafter I said again unto her:

‘“Hearken that I | may speak with thee about

their time, when this which I have said unto

thee, will come to pass. It will come to pass

when [the] three times are completed.’

“Pistis Sophia answered and said unto me:

‘O Light, by what shall I know when the three

times will take place, so that I may be glad and

rejoice that the time is near for thee to bring me

to my region, and moreover rejoice therein that

the time is come when thou wilt take the light-

power from all them which hate me, because I

have had faith in thy light?’

“And I answered and said unto her: ‘If thou

seest the gate of the Treasury of the Great Light

which is opened after the thirteenth zon, and that

is the left [one]—-when that gate is opened, then

are the three times completed.’

“Pistis Sophia again answered and said: ‘O

Light, by what shall I know,—for I am in this

region,—that that gate is opened?”

“And I answered and said unto her: ‘When

that gate is opened, they who are in all the zons

will know because of the Great Light which will

obtain in all their regions. But see, I have now

settled that they shall venture no ill against thee,

until the three times are eompleted. And thou

wilt have the power of going down into their

twelve cons, | when it pleaseth thee, and also of

returning and going into thy region, which is

below the thirteenth zon, and in which thou now

art. But thou wilt not have the power of passing

through the gate of the Height which is in the

thirteenth zon, so as to enter into thy region

whence thou didst come down. Moreover, if then

the three times are completed, Self-willed and all

his rulers will again constrain thee, to take thy

light from thee, being enraged against thee and

thinking that thou hast imprisoned his power

in the chaos, and thinking that thou hast taken

its light from it. He will then be embittered

How Sophia

will know

that the

time of her

final de-

liverance

ath come.

What will

come to

pass at that

time.

169.

The time

for the final

deliverance

of Sophia is

completed.

142 PISTIS SOPHIA

against thee, to take from thee thy light, in order

that he may send it down into the chaos and it

may get down to that emanation of his, so

that it may be able to come up out of the chaos

and go to his region. Adamas will attempt this.

But I will take all thy powers from him and give

them unto thee, and I will come to take them.

Now, therefore, if they constrain thee at that time,

then sing praises to the Light, and I will not delay

to help thee. And I will quickly come unto thee

to the regions which are below thee. And I will

come down to their regions to take their light

from them. And I will come to this region

whither I have removed thee, and which is below

the thirteenth | zon, until I bring thee to thy

region whence thou art come.’

“Tt came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia had

heard me say these words unto her, that she re-

joiced with great joy. But I removed her to the

region which is below the thirteenth zon. I

went to the Light and departed from her.”

And all these adventures the First Mystery told

to the disciples, that they should come to pass for

Pistis Sophia. And he sat on the Mount of

Olives, narrating all these adventures in the midst

of the disciples. And he continued again and said

unto them: “And it came to pass again after

this, while I was in the world of men and sat in

the way, that is in this region which is the Mount

of Olives, before my vesture was sent unto me,

which I had deposited in the four-and-twentieth

mystery from the interior, but the first from the

exterior, which is the Great Uncontainable, in

which I am enwrapped, and before I had gone

to the Height to receive my second vesture,—

while I sat with you in this region, which is the

Mount of Olives, that the time was completed

of which I had said to Pistis Sophia: ‘ Adamas and

all his rulers will constrain thee.’

“Tt came to pass then, when that time came on,—

and I was in the world of men, | sitting with you

in this region, which is the Mount of Olives,—

that Adamas looked down out of the twelve zons

and looked down at the regions of the chaos and

saw his demon power which is in the chaos, that

no light at all was in it, because I had taken its

light from it; and he saw it, that it was dark and

could not go to his region, that is to the twelve

eons. ‘Thereon Adamas again remembered Pistis

Sophia and became most exceedingly wroth

against her, thinking that it was she who had im-

prisoned his power in the chaos, and thinking that

it was she who had taken its light from it. And

he was exceedingly embittered; he piled wrath on

wrath and emanated out of himself a dark emana-

tion and another, chaotic and evil, the violent

[one], so as through them to harass Pistis Sophia.

And he made a dark region in his region, so as to

constrain Sophia therein. And he took many of

his rulers; they pursued after Sophia, in order

that the two dark emanations which Adamas had

emanated, might lead her into the dark chaos

which he had made, and constrain her in that

region and harass her, until they should take her

whole light from her, and Adamas should take

the light from Pistis Sophia and give it to the

two dark violent emanations, and they should

catty it to the great chaos which is below and

dark, | and cast it into his dark power which is

chaotic, if perchance it might be able to come to his

CHAP. 77.

70.

=

Adamas

sendeth

forth two

emanations

of darkness

to plague

Sophia.

171.

Sophia again

singeth a

song to the

Light.

172.

144 PISTIS SOPHIA

region, because it had become exceedingly dark,

for I had taken its light-power from it.

“Tt came to pass then, when they pursued

after Pistis Sophia, that she cried out again and

sang praises to the Light, since I had said unto

her: ‘If thou shalt be constrained and singest

praises unto me, I will come quickly and help

thee.’ It came to pass then, when she was con-

strained,—and I sat with you in this region, that

is on the Mount of Olives,—that she sang praises

to the Light, saying:

“*1.O0 Light of lights, I have had faith in

thee. Save me from all these rulers who pursue

after me, and help me,

“<2. That in sooth they may never take from

me my light, as the lion-faced power [did]. For

thy light is not with me and thy light-stream to

save me. Nay, Adamas is the more enraged

against me, saying unto me: Thou hast impri-

soned my power in the chaos.

“<3. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, if I

have done this and have imprisoned it, if I have

done any injustice at all to that power,

“*A Or if I have constrained it, as it hath

constrained me, then let all these rulers who

pursue after me, take my light from me and leave

me empty;

“*5.And let foe Adamas pursue after my

power and seize upon it and take my light from

me and cast it into his dark power which is in

the chaos, and keep my power | in the chaos.

“*6, Now, therefore, O Light, lay hold on me

in thy wrath and lift up thy power above my

foes who have lifted themselves up against me to

the very end.

“<7, Quicken me quickly, as thou hast said

unto me: I will help thee.’ ”

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery CHap. 78.

had finished saying .these words unto the disciples,

that he said: “Who hath understood the words

which I have spoken, let him come forward and

set forth their solution.”

James came forward and said: “My Lord,

concerning this song which Pistis Sophia hath

sung, thus thy light-power hath prophesied afore-

time through David in the seventh Psalm:

“*1,.O0 Lord, my God, in thee have I hoped. James in-

Free me from my pursuers and save me, Nes es

“*2. That in sooth he may never steal away fom Psim

my soul as a lion, without anyone to deliver and —

save.

“*3.O Lord, my God, if I have done this, if

injustice is on my hands,

“A Tf I have requited those who requite me

with evil, then let me fall down empty through

my foes.

“5. And let the foe pursue after my soul

and selze it, and trample my life to the ground

and lay my honour in the dust. (Selah.)

“*6, Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath, raise thyself

up for the end of my foes.

“<7. Arise according to the commandment

which thou hast commanded.’ ” |

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery 172.

had heard James speak these words, that he said:

“ Well said, James, beloved.”

And the First Mystery continued again and CHAP. 79.

said unto the disciples: “It came to pass then,

when Pistis Sophia had finished uttering the

words of this song, that she turned herself back

Sophia ad-

dresseth

Adamas and

his rulers.

174.

146 PISTIS SOPHIA

to see whether Adamas and his rulers had turned

back to go to their eon. And she saw them,

how they pursued after her. Then she turned

unto them and said unto them:

““1.Why pursue ye after me and say: I

should not have help, that it [sc the Light]

should save me from you?

“*2.Now, therefore, my vindicator is the

Light and a strong [one]; but it is long-suffering

until the time of which it hath said unto me:

I will come and help thee. And it will not bring

its wrath upon you always. But this is the time

of which he hath spoken unto me.

“<3, Now, therefore, if ye turn not back and

cease not to pursue after me, then will the Light

make ready its power, and it will make itself

ready in all its powers.

““4.And in its power hath it made itself

ready, so that it may take your lights which are

in you, and ye may become dark; and its power

hath brought it to pass, so that it may take your

power from you and ye go to ground.’

“And when Pistis Sophia had said this, she

looked at the region of Adamas and saw the dark

and chaotic region | which he had made, and saw

also the two dark exceedingly violent emanations

which Adamas had emanated, in order that they

might seize Pistis Sophia and cast her down into

the chaos which he had made, and constrain

and harass her in that region, until they should

take her light from her. It came to pass then,

when Pistis Sophia had seen those two dark

emanations and the dark region which Adamas

had made, that she feared and cried unto the

Light, saying:

eT e@)" aight, “lo| Adamas, the doer of Sophia again

violence, is wrathful; he hath made a dark elighe

emanation,

“*2.And he hath also emanated another

chaos and hath made another dark and chaotic

[one] and made it ready.

“*3,Now, therefore, O Light, the chaos

which he hath made, in order to cast me down

therein and take from me my light-power, take

then from him his own.

“*4.And the plan which he hath devised, to

take my light—they are to take his own from

him; and the injustice which he hath spoken, to

take my lights from me,—take then all of his.’

“These are the words which Pistis Sophia

hath uttered in her song. Now, therefore, who

is sober in spirit, let him come forward and set

forth the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia

[hath uttered] in her song.”

Martha again came forward and said: “ My cHap.79.

Lord, | I am sober in my spirit and understand 175.

the words which thou sayest. Now, therefore,

give me commandment to set forth their solution

in openness.”

And the First Mystery answered and said unto

Martha: “I give thee commandment, Martha,

to set forth the solution of the words which

Pistis Sophia hath uttered in her song.”

And Martha answered and said: “My Lord,

these arte the words which thy light-power

hath prophesied aforetime through David in the

seventh Psalm, saying:

“*12. God is a righteous vindicator and strong

and long-suffering, who bringeth not on his

wrath every day.

Martha in-

terpreteth

the words

of Sophia

from Pslam

vii.

CHAP. 81.

Jesus bring-

eth Sophia

again to the

thirteenth

zon.

176.

148 PISTIS SOPHIA

“<13.1f ye turn not, he will whet. his sword;

he hath bent his bow and made it ready.

““14, And he hath made ready for him

instruments of death; he hath made his arrows

for those who will be burnt up.

“*15. Behold, injustice hath been in labour,

hath conceived wrong and brought forth iniquity.

“* 16. It hath digged a pit and hollowed it out.

It will fall into the hole which it hath made.

““17. Its wrong will return on its own head,

and its injustice will come down on its pate.’ ”

When Martha had said this, the First Mystery

which looketh without, said unto her: “ Well

said, finely, Martha, blessed [one].”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished

telling his disciples all the adventures which

had befallen Pistis Sophia when she was in the

chaos, and the way | she had sung praises to the

Light, that it should save her and lead her out

of the chaos, and lead her into the twelve zons,

and also the way it had saved her out of all her

afllictions with which the rulers of the chaos had

constrained her, because she longed to go to

the Light, that Jesus continued again in the dis-

course and said unto his disciples: “It came to

pass then after all this, that I took Pistis Sophia

and led her into the thirteenth zon, shining most

exceedingly, there being no measure for the light

which was about me. I entered into the region

of the four-and-twenty invisibles, shining most

exceedingly. And they fell into great commotion;

they looked and sawSophia, who was with me.

Her they knew, but me they knew not, who I was,

but held me for some sort of emanation of the

Light-land.

“Tt came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia

saw her fellows, the invisibles, that she rejoiced

in great joy and exulted exceedingly and desired

to proclaim the wonders which I had wrought

on her below in the earth of mankind, until I

saved her. She came into the midst of the | in- 177.

visibles, and in their midst sang praises unto me,

saying:

“* 1.1 will give thanks unto thee, O Light, for sophia

thou att a saviour; thou art a deliverer for all time. ‘seh

raises of

“2.1 will utter this song to the Light, for it the pipe

hath saved me and saved me out of the hand of invisibles.

the rulers, my foes.

“*3, And thou hast preserved me in all the

regions, thou hast saved me out of the height

and the depth of the chaos and out of the zons of

the rulers of the sphere.

“<4. And when I was come out of the Height,

I wandered round in regions in which is no light,

and I could not return to the thirteenth zon,

my dwelling-place.

“<5, Por there was no light in me nor power.

My power was utterly weakened (?).

“*6,.And the Light saved me in all my

afflictions. I sang praises unto the Light, and

it hearkened unto me, when I was constrained.

“*7.It guided me in the creation of the

zons to lead me up into the thirteenth zon, my

dwelling-place.

“8,1 will give thanks unto thee, O Light,

that thou hast saved me, and for thy wondrous

works unto the race of men.

“<9, When I failed of my power, thou hast

given me power; and when I failed of my light,

thou didst fill me with purified light.

178.

150 PISTIS SOPHIA

“<10. I was in the darkness and in the shadow

of the chaos, bound with the mighty fetters of

the chaos, and no light was in me.

““11. For I have provoked the commandment

of the Light and have transgressed, and I have

made wroth the commandment of the Light,

because I had gone out of my region.

“12. And when I | had gone down, I failed

of my light and became without light, and no one

had helped me.

“13, And in my aflliction I sang praises unto

the Light, and it saved me out of my afllictions.

“14. And it hath also broken asunder all my

bonds and led me up out of the darkness and the

aflliction of the chaos.

“15.1 will give thanks unto thee, O Light,

that thou hast saved me and that thy wondrous

works have been wrought in the race of men.

“16. And thou hast shattered the upper

gates of the darkness and the mighty bolts of

the chaos.

“17, And thou didst let me depart out of the

region in which I had transgressed, and my light

was taken, because I have transgressed.

“*18. And I ceased from my mysteries and

went down to the gates of the chaos.

“*19. And when I was constrained, I sang

praises to the Light. It saved me out of all my

afflictions.

“*20. Thou sentest thy stream; it gave me

power and saved me out of all my afllictions.

“<21.1 will give thanks unto thee, O Light,

that thou hast saved me, and for thy wondrous

works in the. race of men.’

“This then is the song which Pistis Sophia

hath uttered in the midst of the four-and-twenty

invisibles, desiring that they should know all the

wondrous works which I had done for her, and

desiring that they should know that I have gone

to the world of men and have given them the

mysteries of the Height. Now, therefore, who is

exalted in his thought, let him come forward and

say the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia.

hath uttered.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus | had finished CHapP. 82.

saying these words, that Philip came forward and 179.

said: “Jesus, my Lord, my thought is exalted,

and I have understood the solution of the song

which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. The prophet

David hath prophesied concerning it aforetime

in the one-hundred-and-sixth Psalm, saying:

“<1. Give ye thanks unto the Lord, for he is philip in-

good, for his grace is eternal. ener

“*2.Let the delivered of the Lord say this, fom Psim

for it is he who hath delivered them out of the

hand of their foes.

“*3,.He hath gathered them together out of

their lands, from the east and from the west and

from the north and from the sea.

“4. They wandered round in the desert, in

a waterless country; they found not the way to

the city of their dwelling-place.

“<5, Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in

them.

“6, He saved them out of their necessities.

They cried unto the Lord and he hearkened unto

them in their affliction.

“<7. He led them on a straight way, that they

might go to the region of their dwelling-place.

“*8, Let them give thanks unto the Lord for

180.

152 PISTIS SOPHIA

his graciousness and his wondrous works unto

the children of men.

“9. For he hath satisfied a hungering soul;

he hath filled a hungering soul with good

things,

“*10.Them who sat in darkness and the

shadow of death, who were fettered in misery and

iron.

“11. For | they had provoked the word of

God and made wroth the determination of the

Most High.

“*12. Their heart was humbled in their

miseries; they become weak and no one helped

them.

“* 13, They cried unto the Lord in their afflic-

tion; he saved them out of their necessities.

“*14, And he led them out of the darkness

and the shadow of death and brake their bonds

asunder.

“15, Let them give thanks unto the Lord for

his graciousness and his wondrous works unto

the children of men.

“16. For he hath shattered the gates of brass

and burst the bolts of iron asunder.

“*17. He hath taken them unto himself out

of the way of their iniquity. For they were

brought low because of their iniquities.

“<18. Their heart abhorred all manner of meat

and they were near unto the gates of death.

“19. They cried unto the Lord in their

affliction and he saved them out of their

necessities.

“*20. He sent his word and healed them and

freed them from their miseries.

“21. Let them give thanks unto the Lord for

his graciousness and his wondrous works unto

the children of men.’

“This then, my Lord, is the solution of the song

which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Hearken,

therefore, my Lord, that I may say it clearly,

The word in sooth which David hath spoken:

“Give ye thanks unto the Lord, for he is good,

for his grace is etemal,—it is the word which

Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘I will give thanks

unto thee, O Light, for thou art a saviour and

thou art a deliverer for all time.’

“And the word which hath David spoken: |

“Let the delivered of the Lord say this, for he 181.

hath delivered them out of the hand of their

foes,—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath

spoken: ‘I will utter this song to the Light, for

it hath saved me and saved me out of the hand of

the rulers, my foes.’ And the rest of the Psalm.

“This then, my Lord, is the solution of the

song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered in the

midst of the four-and-twenty invisibles, desiring

that they should know all the wondrous works

which thou hast done for her, and desiring that

they should know that thou hast given thy

mysteries to the race of men.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard

Philip say these words, that he said: “ Well said,

blessed Philip. This is the solution of the song

which Pistis Sophia hath uttered.”

[END OF THE STORY OF PISTIS SOPHIA]

It came to pass then again, after all this, that CHAP. 83.

Mary came forward, adored the feet of Jesus and Mary ques-

tionet

said: “My Lord, be not wroth with me, if I Jesus.

182.

154 PISTIS SOPHIA

question thee, because we question concerning

everything with precision and certainty. For

thou hast said unto us aforetime: ‘Seek that ye

may find, and knock that it may be opened unto

you. For every one who seeketh shall find, and

to every one who knocketh it shall be opened.’

Now, therefore, my Lord, who is it whom I shall

seek, ot who is it at whom we shall knock? Or

who rather is able to give us the decision upon

the words concerning which we shall question

thee? Or | who rather knoweth the power of the

words concerning which we shall question?

Because thou in the mind hast given us mind of

the Light and hast given us sense and an exceed-

ingly exalted thought; for which cause, there-

fore, no one existeth in the world of men nor any

one in the height of the zons, who can give the

decision on the words concerning which we

question, save thee alone, who knoweth [sz] the

universe, who is perfected in the universe; because

we do not question in the manner in which the

men of the world question, but because we ques-

tion in the gnosis of the Height which thou hast

given unto us, and we question moreover in the

type of the excellent questioning which thou hast

taught us, that we may question therein. Now,

therefore, my Lord, be not wroth with me, but

reveal unto me the matter concerning which I shall

question thee.”

It came to pass, when Jesus had heard Mary

Magdalene say these words, that he answered and

said unto her: “ Question concerning what thou

desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee

with precision and certainty. Amén, amen, I

say unto you: Rejoice in great joy and exult

most exceedingly. If ye question concerning

all with precision, then shall I exult most exceed-

ingly, because ye question concerning all with

precision and question in the manner in which it

beseemeth to question. Now, therefore, question

concerning what thou wouldst question, | and I

will reveal it unto thee with joy.”

It came to pass then, when Mary had heard

the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced

in great joy and exulted most exceedingly and

said unto Jesus: “My Lord and Saviour, of

what manner then are the four-and-twenty in-

visibles and of what type, or rather of what

quality are they, or of what quality is then their

light”

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary:

“What is there in this world which is like unto

them, or rather what region is there in this world

which is comparable to them? Now, therefore,

to what am I to liken them, or rather what am I

to say concerning them? For nothing existeth in

this world to which I shall be able to liken them,

and no form existeth in it which is able to be like

them. Now, therefore, nothing existeth in this

world which is of the quality of the heaven. [But]

amén, I say unto you: Everyone of the invisibles

is nine times greater than the heaven and the

sphere above it all4 the twelve eons all together,

as I have already said unto you at another time.

And no light existeth in this world which is more

excellent than the light of the sun. Amen, amen,

I say unto you: The four-and-twenty invisibles

shine ten-thousand times more than the light of

the sun which is in this world, as, I have already |

said unto you at another time. For the light

183.

CHAP. 84.

Of the glory

of the four-

and-twenty

invisibles.

184.

Of the glory

of the Fate.

185.

Of the glory

of the twelve

eons.

156 PISTIS SOPHIA

of the sun in its shape in truth is not in this world,

for its light pierceth through many veils and

regions. But the light of the sun in its shape in

truth, which is in the region of the Virgin of

Light, shineth ten-thousand times more than the

four-and-twenty invisibles and the great invisible

forefather and also the great triple-powered god,

as I have already said unto you at another time.

“Now, therefore, Mary, there is no form in

this world, nor any light, nor any shape, which is

comparable to the four-and-twenty invisibles, so

that I may liken it to them. But yet a little while

and I will lead thee and thy brethren and

fellow-disciples into all the regions of the Height

and will lead you into the three spaces of the

First Mystery, save only the regions of the space

of the Ineffable, and ye shall see all their shapes

in truth without similitude.

“ And if I lead you into the height and ye shall

see the glory of them of the height, then will ye

be in very great amazement.

“ And if I lead you into the region of the of the

rulers of the Fate, then will ye see the glory in

which they are, and because of their overtowering

great glory ye will deem this world before you as

darkness of darknesses, and | ye will look at

the whole world of men, how it will have the

condition of a speck of dust for you because of

the great distance it is far distant from it, and

because of the great condition it is considerably

greater than it.

“And if I lead you into the twelve zons, then

will ye see the glory in which they are; and

because of the great glory the region of the

rulers of the Fate will count for you as the dark-

ness of darknesses, and it will have for you the

oondition of a speck of dust because of the great

distance it is far distant from it and because of

the great condition it is considerably greater

than them, as I have already ,said unto you at

another time.

“ And if I lead you moreover into the thirteenth

zon, then will ye see the glory in which they are;

the twelve zons will count for you as the darkness

of darknesses, and ye shall look at the twelve

eons, how it [sc their region] will have for you

the likeness of a speck of dust because of the

great distance it is far distant from it, and be-

cause of the great condition it is considerably

greater than the former.

“And if I lead you into the region of those

of the Midst, then will ye see the glory in which

they are; the thirteen zons will count for you as

the darkness of darknesses. And again ye will

look at the twelve eons | and upon the whole

Fate and the whole ordering and all the spheres

and all the others in which they are; they will

have for you the condition of a speck of dust

because of the great distance it [sc their region]

is distant from it and because of the great con-

dition it is considerably greater than the former.

“And if I lead you into the region of those

of the Right, then will ye see the glory in which

they are; the region of those of the Midst will

count for you as the night which is in the world

of men. And if ye look at the Midst, it will

have for you the condition of a speck of dust

because of the great distance the region of those

of the Right is considerably distant from it.

“And if I lead you into the Light-land, that

Of the glory

of the thir-

teenth zon.

Of the glory

of the Midst.

Of the glory

of the

Right.

Of the glory

of the Trea-

sury.

Of the glory

of the In-

heritance.

187.

CHAP. 85.

158 PISTIS SOPHIA

is into the Treasury of the Light, and ye see the

glory in which they are, then will the region of

those of the Right count for you as the light at

mid-day in the world of men, when the sun is

not out; and if ye look at the region of those

of the Right, it will have for you the condition of

a speck of dust because of the great distance

the Treasury of the Light is distant from it.

“And if I lead you into the region of those

who have received the inheritances and have

received the mysteries of the Light, and ye see

the glory of the Light in which they are, then the

Light-land will count for you as the light of the

sun which is in the world of men. And if ye look

upon the Light-land, | then will it count for you

as a speck of dust because of the great distance

the Light-land is distant from it, and because

of the greatness [by which] it is considerably

greater than the former.”

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished

speaking these words unto his disciples, that

Mary Magdalene started forward and said:

“My Lord, be not wroth with me if I question

thee, because we question thee concerning all

with precision.”

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary:

“ Question concerning what thou desirest to ques-

tion, and I will reveal it unto thee in openness

without similitude, and all concerning which

thou questionest, I will say unto thee with pre-

cision and certainty. I will perfect you in all

power and all fulnesses, from the interior of the

interiors to the exterior of the exteriors, from

that Ineffable to the darkness of darknesses, so

that ye shall be called ‘the fulnesses perfected

in all gnoses.’ Now, therefore, Mary, question

concerning what thou mayest question, and I

will reveal it to thee with great joy and great

exultation.”

It came to pass then, when Mary had heard

the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced in

exceedingly great joy and exulted, and _ said:

“My Lord, will then the men of the world who

have received the mysteries of the Light, | be

superior to the emanations of the Treasury in

thy kingdom? For I have heard thee say:

‘If I lead you into the region of those who have

received the mysteries of the Light, then will the

region of the [emanations of the] Light-land

count for you as a speck of dust because of the

great distance in which it is distant from it, and

because of the great light in which it is,—that