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 receive 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," FIRST BOOK 105 [THE NOTE OP A SCRIBE] (Now these are the names which I will give 125. from the Boundless onward. Write them with a a note by a later hand, sign, that the Sons of God may be revealed copied from , another irom here on. scripture.
This is the name of the Immortal: aaa, odd; and this is the name of the Voice, for the sake of which the Perfect Man hath set himself in motion: m. 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 or odd, its interpretation is aaa; the third, which is pspsps, its interpretation is 000; the fourth, which is fff, its interpretation is nnn; 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.)
THE SECOND BOOK OF PISTIS SOPHIA CHAP. 63. John also came forward and said: ** 0 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.' " John further And John answcrcd and said: ** This is the tht^samf *^ word which thou hast said unto us aforetime: scripture. * J j^ave 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 127. 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 106 SECOND BOOK 107 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 of Sabaoth, forth into the matter of Barbelo, and he made Yabraoth proclamation concerning the regions of Truth yg^t*^gg|.yj.g^ 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 aeons 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 128. 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 108 PISTIS SOPHIA 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."
CHAP. 64. The First Mystery again continued and said: Gabriel and <' j^ camc to pass, therefore, that the power summoned which had comc out of the Height, that is I, in Sophi^. ^^ ^^ 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 Saba5th, 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 aeons, 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 | 129. 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- SECOND BOOK 109 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 Hght-stream The Ught- over the body of the matter of Pistis Sophia and storeth the poured into her all the light-powers which they ^^g^^'P^^^""^ 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, i30, 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 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 110 PISTIS SOPHIA The light- stream, having ac- complished its purpose, departeth from Sophia.
131.
CHAP. 65.
Peter inter- preteth the narrative from the Odes of Solomon.
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 SECOND BOOK 111 poured in the breath, so that they should not die.
** * 8. They have raised up hmbs 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 i32. 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: (hp PISTIS SOPHIA All in Pistis Sophia whose light had before been taken away, got light.
*' And the word which it hath spoken: ' Their 133. thirst was quieted | and quenched,' — that is: Her powers ceased to lack the light, because their hght, 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. | 134. ** And the word which thy power hath spoken: * They have quickened souls, having poured in SECOND BOOK 113 the breath, so that they should not die,' — that is: When they had poured the Hghts into Pistis Sophia, they quickened the body of her matter, from which they had before taken its Hghts, and which was on the point of perishing.
** And again the word which thy power hath spoken: ' They have raised up hmbs 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 135. 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 8 114 PISTIS SOPHIA CHAP. 66.
The emana- tions of Self-willed cry aloud to him for help.
He sendeth forth an- other more violent power like unto a flying arrow.
136.
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."
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 aeon, 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 SECOND BOOK 115 the form of a great serpent; another again The fashion- changed itself also into the form of a seven-headed ^?pent.,^ basihsk; another again changed itself into the ^rago^n- *^^ form of a dragon. And moreover the first power powers. 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 The demon- out of the twelve aeons, Adamas, the Tyrant, idamas who also was wroth with Pistis Sophia, because ^p^*^^^^^ she desired to go to the | Light of lights, which 137. 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 seons, 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. 0 Light, it is thou who hast helped me; let thy light come over me.
116 PISTIS SOPHIA Sophia again crieth to the Light.
Gabriel and Michael and the Ught-stream again go to her aid.
138.
" ' 2. For thou art my protector, and I come hence unto thee, 0 Light, having faith in thee, 0 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.
'' 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 exceed- ingly and there was no measure for the light about it, that they became terror-stricken and quitted Pistis Sophia. And the great Ught- 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 SECOND BOOK 117 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 aeons.
*' And moreover by commandment of myself, The trans- the First Mystery which looketh without, the so^ta!^^ ° 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 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 First Mystery which looketh within, I myself te^ looking went down into the chaos, shining most exceed- ^^g^^^* ingly, I and approached the lion-faced power, Sophia to 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 aeon. 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 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." | And when the First Mystery said this unto his 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: ** * 1. Whoso then dwelleth under the help of thXarrative ^h© Most High, will abide under the shadow of 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, " * 4. He will shade thee with his breast, and thou shalt have trust beneath his wings; his truth shall surround thee as a shield.
141. CHAP. 67.
James infrom Psalm xc.
SECOND BOOK 119 ** * 5. Thou wilt not be afraid of terror by night nor of an arrow which flieth by day, ** ' 6. Of a thing which sHnketh in the dark- ness, of a mischance and a demon at mid-day.
** * 7. A thousand will fall on | thy left, and ten 1^2 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, 0 Lord, art my hope. Thou hast estabHshed 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 day^ 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 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 143. 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: ' 0 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 SECOND BOOK 121 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 144. 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 aeon, it being that which is lord over the twelve aeons, and which giveth light unto all the aeons; where- for 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 aeon; wherefor then hath thy power said: * He will not be afraid of | the demon mischance at ua mid-day,' — ' mid-day,' because it hath come out of the twelve aeons, 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 aeon which is in the midst between both; therefore hath thy light-power said * mid- 122 PISTIS SOPHIA day,' because the twelve aeons lie in the midst between the thirteenth aeon 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 Hght-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 re- quital of the sinners, for thou, 0 Lord, art my hope,' — that is the word: Pistis Sophia hath with her eyes beheld her foes, that is the emanations 146. of Self-willed, who all | have fallen one on another;