“I Bless Thee”

Recently I’ve read through the “untitled text” from the Bruce Codex twice. The first time was a cold read. The second time I read along with commentary. It is a very fascinating text that describes the cosmology of the Pleroma (the text itself is sometimes given the name “The Pleroma” but there is no official name for it). I read the translation by Charlotte Baynes, which can be found at amazon under the name “A Coptic Gnostic Treatise: Contained In The Codex Brucianus.” There is also another translation that can be found online by Violent MacDermot. The text does not get much attention, which is a pity as it is quite the fascinating text regarding The ONE and the Aeons. I want to share one of the passages that really struck a cord with me. I took both translations to piece this together (mainly Baynes) and I think it flows quite well. I refer to this prayer as “I Bless Thee”….

I bless thee, the Father of all fathers of Light

I bless thee, the infinite Light, every infinitude excelling.

I bless thee, the Light uncontainable, every uncontainable surpassing.

I bless thee, the Light unutterable, every unutterable preceding.

I bless thee, the Light incorruptible, every incorruptible excelling.

I bless thee, the Light Source of every Light.

I bless thee, the Light unspeakable.

I bless thee, the Light – even by himself unthought.

I bless thee, the unbegotten Light.

I bless thee, the self-alone-caused Light.

I bless thee, the Forefather of Light, every forefather excelling

I bless thee, the invisible Light, every invisible preceding.

I bless thee, the Light Thought, every thought excelling.

I bless thee, the God of Light, who art before all gods.

I bless thee, the Gnosis, which to all gnosis is the Light.

I bless thee, the Light unknowable every unknowable preceding.

I bless thee, the still Light, every stillness preceding.

I bless thee, the all-powered Light, every all-power excelling.

I bless thee, the triple-powered Light, every triple-power excelling.

I bless thee, the undivided Light-and thou art he who separates all Light.

I bless thee, the uncommingled Light, all uncommingled things excelling.

I bless thee, the One who all things knoweth, whereas himself, no one doth know.

I bless thee, the One who in himself the Whole possesseth, whereas himself, none doth possess.

I bless thee, who begettest all in unbegottenness, inasmuch as him, none hath begotten.

I bless thee, the Source of the Whole, and of all things.

I bless thee, truly the unmoved Light: thou art the Light of those who in thy Light were moved.

I bless thee, the Silence of all silences of Light.

I bless thee, the Saviour of all saviours of Light.

I bless thee, the unconquerable Light alone.

I bless thee, who to all spaces of the Whole alone art Space.

I bless thee, who alone art Wise, and who alone art Wisdom.

I bless thee, the All-mystery alone.

I bless thee, the All-perfect Light alone.

I bless thee, the only Unattainable One.

I bless thee, thyself the Good, and thou dost every good reveal.

I bless thee, thyself the Light, and thou dost every Light reveal.

I bless thee, who all Mind awakest, who gives Life to every soul.

I bless thee, Repose of those who are in Silence.

I bless thee, in all Fatherhoods abiding-from the Beginning until now all seek for thee-in that thou art their quest.

Yea, harken to the supplication of the Main in every place-this same who prays with his whole heart.

AMEN