The Mnemonic Diagram of Valentinus

I recently picked up and read the 1926 book “Gnosticism” by Mary W. Barrie. This book was published pre-Nag Hammadi, so I was curious to how it portrayed Gnosticism. It is a rather small book, just a little over 100 pages. The book gives a history of the Gnostic sects and touched upon some of the literature that was available at it’s publishing (Pistis Sophia, Books of Jeu, etc…). Overall, I thought it was interesting and worth a read though nothing really ground breaking was revealed. However, what I really liked about the book was the diagrams that were included in the back of the book. I love seeing such diagrams and decided to share some of them here on the site. This first diagram I am posting about is the “Mnemonic Diagram of Valentinus.” I have copied the text from the book that describes this diagram:

In this diagram emphasis is laid on the Fulness, the circle from which the three fiery ones are born. The two aspects of Spirit and Matter are represented as separate spheres within the Fulness. Then we find the Divine or Upper Tetractys and the Lower Tetractys together making the mystic eight or Ogdoad. The interlacing of the archetypal and sensible worlds is symbolised in the interlacing triangles. Lastly there is the five-pointed star, the symbol of the goal of liberation and perfection, with its apex within the first triad. All is beautifully simple and clear.

More to come!

The Eleventh Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Here is the translation comparisons of the Eleventh Repentance of Pistis Sophia.

MacDermot Translation:

I. ‘Why has the strong power risen among the wicked?

2. Its thought took the light away from me at all times. And Iike sharp iron they took power from me.

3. I preferred to come down to the Chaos more than to remain in the place of the thirteenth aeon, the place of righteousness.

4. And they wanted to take me by cunning, that they might swallow all my light.

5. Because of this now, the light will take all their light, and also their whole matter will be destroyed. And he will take their light, and he will not Iet them exist in the thirteenth aeon, their dwelling place, and he will not Iet their names be in the place of those that will live .

6. And the 24 emanations will see what has happened to thee, 0 lion-faced power, and they will fear and they will not be disobedient, but they will give what is purified of their light.

7. And they will see thee, and they will rejoice over thee and they will say : Behold an emanation which has not given what is purified of its light, that it might be saved, but it boasts of the magnitude of the light of its power, because it did not emanate the power within it; and it said: I will take away the light of the Pistis Sophia, this which will be taken from her.’

Mead Translation:

1. Why hath the mighty power raised itself in evil?

2. Its plotting taketh away the light from me all the time, and as sharp iron have they taken away power from me.

3. I chose to descend into the chaos rather than to abide in the thirteenth æon, the region of Righteousness.

4. And they desired to lead me craftily, in order to consume my whole light.

5. For this cause then will the Light take away their whole light, and also their whole matter will be made naught. And it will take away their light and not suffer them to abide in the thirteenth æon, their dwelling-place, and will not have their name in the region of those who shall live.

6. And the four-and-twenty emanations will see what hath befallen thee, O lion-faced power, and will be afraid and not be disobedient, but give the purification of their light.

7. And they will see thee and will rejoice over thee and say: Lo, an emanation which hath not given the purification of its light, so that it may be saved, but boasted itself in the abundance of the light of its power, because it did not emanate from the power in it, and hath said: I will take away the light from Pistis Sophia, which will now be taken from it.

Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1

What is the “Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1” you may ask? It is a piece of papyri discovered by papyrologists Bernard Pyne Grenfell and Arthur Surridge Hunt on their second day of excavation, January 12, 1897, in the garbage mounds of the town of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt. Their total find amounted to 1,000s of various texts including some religious related material. This particular papyri I am highlighting today is a Greek version of the “Gospel of Thomas.” It is not complete, just a few sayings, but what is important is that the Greek language is more closer to the original source than the Coptic version that was found at Nag Hammadi. It is always good to have these alternate translations, so I present this particular version.

Below, the sayings that are ITALIC are from the Greek source. The BOLD sayings are from the Coptic source.

Saying 27:

Jesus saith: Except ye fast to the world, ye shall in no wise find the Kingdom of God; and except ye sabbatize the Sabbath, ye shall not see the Father.

Jesus said, “If you do not fast as regards the world, you will not find the kingdom. If you do not observe the Sabbath as a Sabbath, you will not see the father.”

Saying 28:

Jesus saith: I stood in the midst of the world, and in flesh was I seen of them, and I found all drunken, and none found I athirst among them. And My soul grieveth over the souls of men, because they are blind in their heart and see not. . . .

Jesus said, “I took my place in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in flesh. I found all of them intoxicated; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts and do not have sight; for empty they came into the world, and empty too they seek to leave the world. But for the moment they are intoxicated. When they shake off their wine, then they will repent.”

Saying 30 + part of 77:

Jesus saith: Wheresoever there be two, they are not without God; and wherever there is one alone, I say, I am with him. Raise the stone, and there thou shalt find Me; cleave the wood, and there am I.

Jesus said, “Where there are three gods, they are gods. Where there are two or one, I am with him.”

Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.”

Saying 31:

Jesus saith: A prophet is not acceptable in his own country, neither doth a physician work cures upon those that know him.

Jesus said, “No prophet is accepted in his own village; no physician heals those who know him.”

Saying 32:

Jesus saith: A city built on the top of a high hill and stablished can neither fall nor be hid.

Jesus said, “A city being built on a high mountain and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden.”

Saying 33:

Jesus saith: Thou hearest with one ear (but the other thou hast closed).

Jesus said, “Preach from your housetops that which you will hear in your ear. For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, nor does he put it in a hidden place, but rather he sets it on a lampstand so that everyone who enters and leaves will see its light.”

Sources: The Greek translations taken from “Fragments of a Faith Forgotten” by G.R.S. Mead; Coptic translations from gnosis.org. Also, more fragments of the “Gospel of Thomas” were found during that excavation but this post is in regards to this one particular fragment.

The Tenth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Almost there! This is a rather short passage. Below are the comparisons.

MacDermot Translation:

1. ‘I have cried out to thee, 0 Light of Lights, in my affliction, and thou hast heard me.

2. 0 Light, save my power from unjust and iniquitous lips, and from cunning snares.

3. The light which was taken away from me with a cunning snare will not be brought to thee.

4. For the snares of the Authades are widespread, with the traps of the merciless.

5. Woe to me, for my dwelling was far off and I was in the dwellings of the Chaos.

6. My power was in places which were not mine.

7. And I flattered those merciless ones, and when I flattered them, they attacked me without cause’.

Mead Translation:

1. I have cried unto thee, O Light of lights, in my oppression and thou hast hearkened unto me.

2. O Light, save my power from unjust and lawless lips and from crafty traps.

3. The light which was being taken from me in crafty snaring, will not be brought unto thee.

4. For the traps of Self-willed and the nooses of the merciless [one] are spread out.

5. Woe unto me, that my dwelling was far off, and I was in the dwellings of the chaos.

6. My power was in regions which are not mine.

7. And I entreated those merciless [ones]; and when I entreated them, they fought against me without a cause.

Be Like Wine Jars

Just like my post from the other day, this particular post is a short text from the “Essential Gnostic Scriptures” book and is sourced from the Mandaean liturgy. It is a short text titled “Be Like Wine Jars.” Text is pretty explanatory and to the point. I like it!

You of my blood, speak the truth.
Close your lying lips.
Don’t be a pomegranate whose outer face is fresh.
Its outer face is fresh, but inside it is full
of rotting corn seed.
Be like wine jars filled with redolent wine.
Their outer shells are clay and pitch,
but inside is redolent wine.
The message of life shouts. Ears of my chosen,
come and hear me.

The Ninth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

This is a long one. Here is the ninth repentance of Pistis Sophia, side-by-side translations. Best viewed via desktop mode.

MacDermot Translation:

1. ‘0 Light, smite down those who have taken my power away from me; and take the power from those who have taken mine from me.

2. For I am thy power and thy light; come and save me.

3. May a great darkness cover over those that oppress me; say to my power: it is I who will save thee.

4. All those who want to take my light from me completely: may their power fail; those who want to take my light from me completely: may they turn to the Chaos and become powerless.

5. May their power become like dust; and may Jeu, thine angel, smite them down.

6. And if they come to go to the height, may a darkness seize them, so that they stumble and turn to the Chaos; and may thine angel, Jeu, pursue them and send them to the darkness below.

7. For without my having done evil to them, they have ensnared me with a lion-faced power from which their light will be taken; they have oppressed the power within me, which they will not able to take away.

8. Now at this time, 0 Light, take away what is purified from the lion-faced power, without his knowing; and the thought which the Authades had (lit. thought), to take away my light : take his own away; and Iet the light of the lionfaced power, which ensnared me, be taken away.

9. My power will flourish in the light and will rejoice because it will save it.

10. And all the parts of my power will say: there is now no saviour except thee; for it is thou who wilt save me from the hands of the lion-faced power which has taken my power from me. And it is thou who savest me from the hands of those who have taken my power and my light from me.

11. For they stood up against me and to1d lies about me. And they say: I know the mystery of the light which is in the height, in which I have believed. And they have compelled me, saying: Tell us the mystery of the light which is in the height, this one which I do not know.

12. And they have repaid me with all these wicked things, because I have believed in the light of the height; and they have made my power to be without light.

13. But when I was compelled, I sat in the darkness, while my soul was humble in sorrow.

14. And, 0 Light, concerning whom I sing praises to thee, save me; I know that thou wilt save me, because I have done thy will since I was in my aeon. I have done thy will like the invisible ones who are in my place, and like my partner; and I became sorrowful as I looked, seeking for thy light.

15. Now at this time all the emanations of the Authades have surrounded me; and have rejoiced over me, and they have oppressed me greatly, without my knowing; and they have run away, they have left me, and they have not been merciful to me.

16. They turned again and tempted me, and they oppressed me with great oppression; they gnashed their teeth at me, wanting to take away my light from me completely.

17. How long now, 0 Light, dost thou sujfer them, that they oppress me? Save my power from their wicked thoughts, and save me from the lion-faced power, for I alone among the invisible ones am in this place.

18. I will sing praise to thee, 0 Light, while I am in the midst of all those gathered against me. And I will cry out to thee in the midst of all those that oppress me.

19. Now at this time, 0 Light, Iet not those that hate me and want to take away my power from me, rejoice over me; these who hate me, as they move their eyes against me, without my having done anything to them.

20. For indeed they flatter me with sweet words while they seek from me the mysteries of the light which I do not know; speaking to me with cunning against me, and raging against me, because I have believed in the light which is in the height.

21. They have opened their mouths against me; they have said: Yes. We will take away her light.

22. Now at this time, 0 Light, thou hast known their cunning; suffer them not, and Iet not thy help be far from me.

23. Make haste, 0 Light, judge me and avenge me.

24. And give judgment to me in thy goodness; now at this time, 0 Light of Lights, Iet them not take my light from me.

25. And do not Iet them say in their hearts: Our power has satisfied itself with her light; and Iet them not say: We have swallowed her power.

26. But rather Iet darkness come down upon them; and Iet those that want to take away my light from me become powerless; and those that say: We will take away her light and her power, Iet them be covered with Chaos and darkness.

27. Now at this time, save me, that I may rejoice, because I want the thirteenth aeon, the place of righteousness. And I will say at all times : May the light of Jeu, thy angel, give more light.

28. And my tongue will sing praises to thee in thy knowledge, all my time in the thirteenth aeon’.

Mead Translation:

1. O Light, smite down them who have taken away my power from me, and take away the power from them who have taken away mine from me.

2. For I am thy power and thy light. Come and save me.

3. Let great darkness cover my oppressors. Say unto my power: I am he who will save thee.

4. Let all those who would take away my light from me utterly, lack their power. Let them face about unto the chaos and become powerless, who would take away my light from me utterly.

5. Let their power be as dust, and let Yew, thy angel, smite them.

6. And if they would go into the height, let darkness seize upon them and let them slip down and turn to the chaos. And let thy angel Yew pursue them and cast them down into the darkness below.

7. For they have set a lion-faced power as a trap for me, although I have done them no ill, from which its light will be taken; and they have oppressed the power in me, which they will not be able to take away.

8. Now, therefore, O Light, take away the purification from the lion-faced power without its knowing it,–the thought which Self-willed hath thought, to take away my light; take away his own and let the light be taken away from the lion-faced power, which set the trap for me.

9. But my power will exult in the Light and rejoice that he will save it.

10. And all the portions of my power shall say: There is no saviour but thee. For thou wilt save me out of the hand of the lion-faced power, which hath taken away my power from me, and thou savest me out of the hands of them who have taken away my power and my light from me.

11. For they have risen up against me, lying against me and saying that I know the mystery of the Light which is in the height, [the Light] in which I have had faith. And they have constrained me, [saying:] Tell unto us the mystery of the Light in the height,–that which I know not.

12. And they have requited me with all this ill because I have had faith in the Light of the height; and they have made my power lightless.

13. But when they constrained me, I sat in the darkness, my soul bowed down in mourning.

14. And do thou, O Light–for that reason sing I praise to thee–save me. I know that thou wilt save me because I fulfilled thy will ever since I was in my æon. I fulfilled thy will, as the invisibles who are in my region, and as my pair. And I mourned, looking unceasingly and searching for the Light.

15. Now, therefore, have all the emanations of Self-willed surrounded me and rejoiced over me and sore oppressed me without my knowing [paragraph continues] [them]. And they have fled away and ceased from me but have had no pity upon me.

16. They have returned again and made trial of me and they have oppressed me in great oppression and ground their teeth against me, desiring to take away my light from me utterly.

17. How long, therefore, O Light, dost thou suffer them, that they oppress me? Save my power from their evil thoughts and save me from the hand of the lion-faced power; for I alone of the invisibles am in this region.

18. I will sing praises unto thee, O Light, in the midst of all who are gathered together against me, and I will cry unto thee in the midst of all who oppress me.

19. Now, therefore, O Light, let not them who hate me and desire to take away my power from me, rejoice over me–who hate me and flash their eyes against me, though I have not done anything unto them.

20. For indeed they have fawned upon me with sweet words, asking me concerning the mysteries of the Light which I know not, and have craftily spoken against me and been enraged against me, because I have had faith in the Light in the height.

21. They have opened their chops against me and said: Well indeed, we will take from her her light.

22. Now, therefore, O Light, thou hast known their guile; suffer them not and let not thy help be far from me.

23. Quickly, O Light, vindicate and avenge me,

24. And give judgment on me according to thy goodness. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, let them not take away my light from me,

25. And let them not say in their heart: Our power is glutted with her light. And let them not say: We have consumed her power.

26. But rather let darkness come upon them, and let those who long to take away my light from me, become powerless, and let them be clothed with chaos and darkness, who say there: We will take away her light and her power.

27. Now, therefore, save me that I may rejoice, for I long for the thirteenth æon, the region of Righteousness, and |93. I shall say ever-more: May the light of thy angel Yew shine more and more.

28. And my tongue will sing praises to thee in thy gnosis my whole time in the thirteenth æon.’

A Poor Man Taken Far

Recently I picked up the “Essential Gnostic Scriptures” book by Willis Barnstone and Marvin Meyer. The book collects various texts they feel are essential (which I admit is a good selection) but the last part of the book features song excerpts from various traditions. I wanted to share one of them. This is titled “A Poor Man Taken Far” taken from ritual texts of the Mandaean Gnostics. I will probably share some more of these songs in future posts as I really like what they have to say.

A Poor Man Taken Far

I am a poor man from the fruit.
They took me from far away. I am far.
I am a poor man whom life spoke to.
I am far. The light beings took me away.
They carried me here from the good
to where the wicked live.
They installed me in the world of the wicked
where all is malice and fire.
I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t want to come
to this awful place.
By my strength and light I suffer through
this misery. By illumination and praise.
I remain a stranger in their world.
I stand among the wicked like a child without a father.
Like a fatherless child, an untended fruit.
I hear the voice of the seven planets.
They whisper. They say among themselves,
“Where does this alien come from?
He doesn’t speak like us.”
I didn’t listen to their speech raging against me.

The Eighth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Onto the Eighth Repentance of Pistis Sophia, side by side translation comparisons. Best viewable in desktop mode.

MacDermot Translation:

1. I have hoped in thee, 0 Lord. Let me not be put to shame for ever; save me in thy righteousness.

2. Incline thine ear to me; save me quickly, be to me a protecting God and a house of refuge to save me.

3. For thou art my support and my refuge; for the sake of thy name thou wilt guide me and nourish me.

4. And thou wilt bring me forth from this snare which they have hidden for me, for thou art my protector.

5. I will give up my spirit into thy hands. Thou hast saved me, 0 Lord, God of truth.

6. Thou hast hated those who idly keep to what is vain. But I have trusted;

7. And I will rejoice over the Lord, and I will be glad over thy mercy; for thou hast looked upon my humbleness, and thou hast saved my soul out of my necessities.

8. Thou hast not shut me in the hands of the enemy; thou hast set my feet in a wide place.

9. Have mercy on me, 0 Lord, for I am afllicted; my eye is troubled with anger; and my soul and my belly.

10. For my years have been spent in distress and my life has been spent in groanings; my power has become weak in poverty, and my bones are troubled.

11. I have become a reproach to all my enemies and my neighbours. I have become a fear to those that know me, and those that saw me ran away from me.

12. I have been forgotten like a corpse in their hearts; and I have become like a broken vessel.

13. I have heard contempt from many at my side who surrounded me; when they gathered together against me, they took counsel to take away my soul from me.

14. But I have trusted thee, 0 Lord, I have said: thou art my God.

15. My lots are in thy hands; save me from the hand of my enemies, and deliver me from those that persecute me.

16. Reveal thy face over thy servant, and save me in thy mercy, 0 Lord.

17. Let me not be put to shame, for I have cried to thee; Iet the impious be put to shame and turned to Amente.

18. Let the cunning lips be dumb, who speak iniquity against the righteous with pride and contempt.

Mead Translation:

1. On thee, O Light, have I hoped. Leave me not in the chaos; deliver me and save me according to thy gnosis.

2. Give heed unto me and save me. Be unto me a saviour, O Light, and save me and lead me unto thy light.

3. For thou art my saviour and wilt lead me unto thee. And because of the mystery of thy name lead me and give me thy mystery.

4. And thou wilt save me from this lion-faced power, which they have laid as a snare for me, for thou art my saviour.

5. And in thy hands will I lay the purification of my light; thou hast saved me, O Light, according to thy gnosis.

6. Thou art become wroth with them who keep watch over me and will not be able to lay hold of me utterly. But I have had faith in the Light.

7. I will rejoice and will sing praises that thou hast had mercy upon me and hast heeded and saved me from the oppression in which I was. And thou wilt set free my power out of the chaos.

8. And thou hast not left me in the hand of the lion-faced power; but thou hast led me into a region which is not oppressed.

9. Have mercy upon me, O Light, for they have oppressed me again. Because of thy commandment, the light in me is distracted and my power and my understanding.

10. My power hath begun to wane whiles I am in these afflictions, and the number of my time whiles I am in the chaos. My light is diminished, for they have taken away my power from me, and all the powers in me are tossed about.

11. I am become powerless in the presence of all the rulers of the æons, who hate me, and in the presence of the four-and-twenty emanations, in whose region I was. And my brother, my pair, was afraid to help me, because of that in which they have set me.

12. And all the rulers of the height have counted me as matter in which is no light. I am become as a material power which hath fallen out of the rulers,

13. And all who are in the æons said: She hath become chaos. And thereafter all the pitiless powers encompassed me together and proposed to take away the whole light in me.

14. But I have trusted in thee, O Light, and said: Thou art my saviour.

15. And my commandment, which thou hast decreed for me, is in thy hands. Save me out of the hands of the emanations of Self-willed, which oppress me and persecute me.

16. Send thy light over me, for I am as naught before thee, and save me according to thy compassion.

17. Let me not be despised, for I have sung praises unto thee, O Light. Let chaos cover the emanations of Self-willed, let them be led down into the darkness.

18. Let the mouth of them be shut up, who would devour me with guile, who say: Let us take the whole light in her,–although I have done them no ill.

The Seventh Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Side by side translations of the Seventh Repentance of Pistis Sophia. As always, desktop view recommended.

MacDermot Translation:

1. 0 Light, I have raised up my power to thee, my Light.

2. I have believed in thee; do not make me to be despised. Do not make the archons of the twelve aeons, which hate me, rejoice over me.

3. For all those that believe in thee will not be brought to shame. May those who have taken away my power remain in darkness, and have no profit from it, but have it taken away from them.

4. 0 Light, show me thy ways, and I will be saved by them; and show me thy paths, so that I be saved in the Chaos.

5. And Iead me in thy light, and may I know, 0 Light, that thou art my Saviour; I will trust thee in my whole time.

6. Give heed, so that thou savest me, 0 Light, because thy compassion exists for ever.

7. Concerning my transgression which I have committed from the beginning in my ignorance, do not count it against me, 0 Light, but rather save me through thy great mystery of forgiveness of sins, for the sake of thy goodness, 0 Light.

8. For the Light is good and upright. Because of this he (the Light) will allow me (lit. give me my way) to be saved from my transgression.

9. And my powers, which are diminished through fear of the material emanations of the Authades, he will draw out thence by his ordinance. And to my powers, which are diminished through Iack of mercy, he will teach his knowledge.

10. For all knowledges of the light are salvations and are mysteries to everyone who seeks the places of his inheritance and his mysteries.

11. For the sake of the mystery of thy name, 0 Light, forgive my transgression, for it is great.

12. To everyone who trusts the light, he will give the mystery which pleases him.

13. And his soul will exist in the places of the light; and his power will inherit the Treasury of the Light.

14. lt is the light which gives power to those that believe in it. And the name of its mystery is for those that trust it. And it will show them the place of the inheritance which is in the Treasury of the Light.

15. Moreover I have believed in the light at all times, that it is this which will save my feet from the bonds of the darkness.

16. Give heed to me, 0 Light, and save me,for my name has been taken from me in the Chaos.

17. Beyond all the emanations, my afflictions and my oppressions are very numerous; save me from my transgression and this darkness.

18. And Iook upon the distress of my oppression and forgive my transgression.

19. Give heed to the archons of the twelve aeons which hate me with envy.

20. Watch over my power and save me; and Iet me not remain in this darkness, for I have believed in thee.

21. And they have committed a great folly for I have believed in thee, 0 Light.

22. Now at this time, 0 Light, save my powers from the emanations of the Authades, by which I am oppressed.

Mead Translation:

1. O Light, I have lifted up my power unto thee, my Light.

2. On thee have I had faith. Let me not be scorned; let not the rulers of the twelve æons, who hate me, rejoice over me.

3. For all who have faith in thee shall not be put to shame. Let them who have taken away my power, remain in darkness; and let them not get from it any profit, but let it be taken away from them.

4. O Light, show me thy ways, and I shall be saved in them; and show me thy paths, whereby I shall be saved out of the chaos.

5. And guide me in thy light, and let me know, O Light, that thou art my saviour. On thee will I trust the whole of my time.

6. Give heed that thou save me, O Light, for thy mercy endureth for ever.

7. As to my transgression, which I have committed from the beginning in my ignorance, put it not to my account, O Light, but rather save me through thy great mystery of the forgiveness of sins because of thy goodness, O Light.

8. For good and sincere is the Light. For this cause will it grant me my way, to be saved out of my transgression;

9. And for my powers, which are diminished through the fear of the material emanations of Self-willed, will it draw near after its commandment, and will teach my powers, which are diminished because of the merciless, its gnosis.

10. For all gnoses of the Light are saving means and are mysteries for all who seek the regions of its Inheritance and its mysteries.

11. For the sake of the mystery of thy name, O Light, forgive my transgression, for it is great.

12. To every one who trusteth in the Light it will give the mystery which suiteth him;

13. And his soul will abide in the regions of the Light and his power will inherit the Treasury of the Light.

14. The Light giveth power to them who have faith in it; and the name of its mystery belongeth to those who trust in it. And it will show them the region of the Inheritance, which is in the Treasury of the Light.

15. But I have ever had faith in the Light, for it will save my feet from the bonds of the darkness.

16. Give heed unto me, O Light, and save me, for they have taken away my name from me in the chaos.

17. Because of all the emanations my afflictions and my oppression have become exceedingly manifold. Save me out of my transgression and this darkness.

18. And look upon the grief of my oppression and forgive my transgression.

19. Give heed to the rulers of the twelve æons, who have hated me through jealousy.

20. Watch over my power and save me, and let me not remain in this darkness, for I have had faith in thee.

21. And they have made of me a great fool for having had faith in thee, O Light.

22. Now, therefore, O Light, save my powers from the emanations of Self-willed, by whom I am oppressed.

The Sixth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Here is the sixth repentance of Pistis Sophia, side by side translation. Desktop view recommended.

MacDermot Translation:

1. I have sung praises to thee, 0 Light, in the darkness below.

2. Hear my repentance, and may thy light give heed to the voice of my entreaty.

3. 0 Light, if thou dost remember my sins I shall not be able to come before thee, and thou wilt forsake me.

4. For thou, 0 Light, art my Saviour on account of the light of thy name. I have believed in thee, 0 Light.

5. And my power believed in thy mystery. And furthermore, my power trusted in the light, when it was in those of the height, and it (my power) trusted it (the light) when it (my power) was in the Chaos below.

6. May all the powers within me trust the light, when I am in the darkness below, and may they trust it when they come to the place of the height.

7. For it (the light) is merciful to us and saves us, and there is a great mystery of salvation within it.

8. And it will save all the powers from the Chaos on account of my transgression, because I have forsaken my place, I have come down to the Chaos.

Mead Translation:

1. I have sung praises unto thee, O Light, in the darkness below.

2. Hearken unto my repentance, and may thy light give heed to the voice of my supplication.

3. O Light, if thou thinkest on my sin, I shall not be able to stand before thee, and thou wilt abandon me,

4. For thou, O Light, art my saviour; because of the light of thy name I have had faith in thee, O Light.

5. And my power hath had faith in thy mystery; and moreover my power hath trusted in the Light when it was among those of the height; and it hath trusted in it when it was in the chaos below.

6. Let all the powers in me trust in the Light when I am in the darkness below, and may they again trust in the Light if they come into the region of the height.

7. For it is [the Light] which hath compassion on us and delivereth us; and a great saving mystery is in it.

8. And it will save all powers out of the chaos because of my transgression. For I have left my region and am come down into the chaos.