I have featured Salome on my blog in the past, but wanted to share this Manichaean psalm. There are numerous psalms from the Manichaean faith, but in a particular group titled “Psalms of Thom(as)”, number 16 is titled “Salome built a tower.” I did not see this posted online elsewhere, so I want to share it here. I am pulling this translation from the 1938 book “A Manichaean Psalm Book: Part II” by Charles Robert Cecil Allberry. As far as I know, there is no other English translation available, at least in modern times. Some of the psalm is lost, so it will be represented with …… and there are some parts that may not have been translated properly. I have included as is:
Psalms of Thomas: 16
Salome built a tower upon the rock of truth and mercy.
The builders that built it are the righteous, the masons that hew stones for it are the angels.
The floor of the house is Truth, the beams of the roof are alms, faith is the …… the Mind is the …… of its door.
They that go into it rejoice, they that come out of it, ---- their heart seeks after gladness.
She built it and gave it a roof.
Salome gave a parapet to the tower, she took an anesh of storax to purify it, she took the ……. of incense into the palm of her hand…….. forth, she set it upon her head, she went into it, she called my Lord Jesus, saying ……. mayset thou answer me, Jesus, mayest thou hear me, for I am not double-minded, one is my heart and one my intention, there is no thought in my heart that is split or divided.
Garland me with the Brightnesses and take me up to the house of peace.
The governors and rulers, --- their eyes looked upon me, they wondered and marvelled that the Righteous belonged to a single Lord.
Love the symbolism in this psalm! Definitely gives one something ponder upon!
Featured artwork was made by Midjourney.
bP
Culmination of Wisdom 