Pistis Sophia 63–66

English translation by G. R. S. Mead (1921); the original is not shown

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 æons 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 Eight, 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 Barbelo, 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 didst come down upon the light-vesture which thou didst receive from the hand of Barbelo, 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 forward these words, that the First Mystery which looketh without, said unto him: “Well said, John, beloved brother.”

English translation by G. R. S. Mead (1921); the original is not shown

The First Mystery again continued and said: “It 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 Gabriel and Michael out of the æons, 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 over the body of the matter of Pistis Sophia and poured into her all the light-powers which they 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 Michael and Gabriel, who ministered and had brought the light-stream into the chaos, 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. “It 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 throughout; 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 themselves a light-power and became again as they 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?”

English translation by G. R. S. Mead (1921); the original is not shown

Peter came forward and said: “My Lord, concerning the solution of the words which thou hast spoken, thus hath thy light-power prophesied 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 itself 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 spoken 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: 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 word which thou hast spoken: ‘Michael and Gabriel, who have ministered, have brought the light-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 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.”

English translation by G. R. S. Mead (1921); the original is not shown

And the First Mystery continued again in the discourse and said: “It came to pass then, before I had led forth Pistis Sophia out of the chaos, because it was not yet commanded me 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. “And Self-willed sent out of the height, out of the thirteenth æon, and sent another great light-power. It came down into the chaos as a flying arrow, that he might help his emanations, 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. “It came to pass then that there looked down out of the twelve æons, 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 æons, 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. O Light, it is thou who hast helped me; let thy light come over me. “’ 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 emanations 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. “It 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 exceedingly 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. “It 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 more tremble at the demon power of Adamas which had come out of the æons. “And moreover by commandment of myself, the First Mystery which looketh without, the 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 shock of the great light of the stream, which was a wreath round her head. And all the emanations 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, the First Mystery which looketh within, I myself went down into the chaos, shining most exceedingly, I and approached the lion-faced power, which shone exceedingly, and took its whole light 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 æon. 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 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 emanation of Self-willed, and moreover treading under foot the seven-faced-basilisk emanation, and treading 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, all 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.” And when the First Mystery said this unto his