Pistis Sophia 77–83

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

“It 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 æons 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 æons. Thereon Adamas again remembered Pistis Sophia and became most exceedingly wroth against her, thinking that it was she who had imprisoned 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 emanation 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 carry 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 region, because it had become exceedingly dark, for I had taken its Light-power from it. “It 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 constrained,— and I sat with you in this region, that is on the Mount of Olives, — that she sang praises to the Light, saying: “’ 1. O 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 imprisoned 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, “’ 4. 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.’”

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

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery 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 aforetime through David in the seventh Psalm: “‘ 1. O Lord, my God, in thee have I hoped. Free me from my pursuers and save me, pay “’ 2. That in sooth he may never steal away my soul as a lion, without any one to deliver and save. “‘ 3. O Lord, my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands, “’4. If 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 seize 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 had heard James speak these words, that he said: “Well said, James, beloved.”

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

And the First Mystery continued again and 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 to see whether Adamas and his rulers had turned back to go to their æon. 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: “’ 1. O Light, lo! Adamas, the doer of Violence, is wrathful; he hath made a dark 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.”

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

Martha again came forward and said: “My Lord, I I am sober in my spirit and understand 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 are 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. “’ 13. If 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].”

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

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 æons, and also the way it had saved her out of all her afflictions with which the rulers of the chaos had constrained her, because she longed to go to the Light, that Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: “It came to pass then after all this, that I took Pistis Sophia and led her into the thirteenth æon, 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 saw Sophia, 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. “It 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 invisibles, and in their midst sang praises unto me, saying: “‘ 1. I will give thanks unto thee, O Light, for thou art a saviour; thou art a deliverer for all time. ’"2. 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. “‘ 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 æons 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 æon, my dwelling-place. “’ 5. For 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 æons to lead me up into the thirteenth æon, my dwelling-place. “‘ 8. I 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. “’ 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 affliction I sang praises unto the Light, and it saved me out of my afflictions. “‘ 14. And it hath also broken asunder ah my bonds and led me up out of the darkness and the affliction of the chaos. “‘ 15. I win 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 afflictions. “‘ 21. I 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.”

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

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words, that Philip came forward and 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. “’ 2. Let the delivered of the Lord say this, 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 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 I 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 affliction; 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 eternal,’ — 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 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, all blessed Philip. This is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered.” [End of the Story of Pistis Sophia]

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

It came to pass then again, after all this, that Mary came forward, adored the feet of Jesus and said: My Lord, be not wroth with me, if I 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, or 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 exceedingly exalted thought; for which cause, therefore, no one existeth in the world of men nor any one in the height of the æons, who can give the decision on the words concerning which we question, save thee alone, who knoweth [sic] 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 question 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. Amen, 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 exceedingly, 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 invisibles and of what type, or rather of what quality are they, or of what quality is then their Light?”