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.

The Fifth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

This is the fifth repentance of Pistis Sophia, side by side translations. As always, best viewed in desktop mode.

MacDermot Translation:

l. 0 Light of my salvation, I sing praise to thee in the place of the height, and again in the Chaos.

2. I will sing praise to thee in my song, with which I have praised thee in the height, and with which I have praised thee when I was in the Chaos; may it reach thee. And give heed, 0 Light, to my repentance.

3. My power has been filled with darkness; and my light has come down to the Chaos.

4. I have become like the archons of the Chaos which have gone to the darkness below; I have become like a material body, which has no one in the height who will save it.

5. I have become like material things whose power has been taken from them as they were cast into the Chaos, which thou hast not saved; and they have been destroyed by thy ordinance.

6. Now at this time I have been placed in the darkness below, in dark things and in material things which are dead; and there is no power within them.

7. Thou hast brought thy ordinance upon me; with all things which thou hast ordained.

8. And the Spirit has departed and left me; and again, through thy ordinance, the emanations of my aeon have not helped me; and they have hated me and they have ceased towards me, and yet I am not completely destroyed.

9. And my light has diminished within me, and I have cried out to the light with all the light that is in me; and I have stretched out my hands to thee.

10. Now at this time, 0 Light, wilt thou perhaps fulfil thy ordinance in the Chaos? And will the saviours, perhaps, who came according to thy ordinance, arise in the darkness and come and be disciples to thee?

II. Will they, perhaps, say the mystery of thy name in the Chaos?

12. Or will they not rather say thy name in matter of the Chaos, this in which thou wilt not purify?

13. But I have sing praises to thee, 0 Light, and my repentance will reach thee in the height.

14. May thy light come down upon me.

15. My light has been taken from me and I am in distress on account of the light, from the time when I was emanated forth. And when I looked to the height to the light, I looked down to the light-power which is in the Chaos; I rose, I came down.

16. Thy ordinance came down upon me, and the fears which thou didst ordain for me, agitated me.

17. And they surrounded me roaring like water, they seized me at once for all my time.

18. And through thy ordinance, thou didst not allow my fellow-emanations to help me; and thou didst not allow my partner to save me from my afflictions.

Mead Translation:

1. Light of my salvation, I sing praise unto thee in the region of the height and again in the chaos.

2. I sing praise unto thee in my hymn with which I sang praise in the height and with which I sang praise unto thee when I was in the chaos. Let it come into thy presence, and give heed, O Light, to my repentance.

3. For my power is filled up with |68. darkness, and my light hath gone down into the chaos.

4. I am myself become as the rulers of the chaos, who are gone into the darknesses below; I am become as a material body, which hath no one in the height who will save it.

5. I am become also as matters from which their power hath been taken, when they are cast down into the chaos,–[matters] which thou hast not saved, and they are condemned utterly by thy commandment.

6. Now, therefore, have they put me into the darkness below,–in darknesses and matters which are dead and in them [is] no power.

7. Thou hast brought thy commandment upon me and all things which thou hast decreed.

8. And thy spirit hath withdrawn and abandoned me. And moreover by thy commandment the emanations of my eon have not helped me and have hated me and separated themselves from me, and yet am I not utterly destroyed.

9. And my light is diminished in me, and I have cried up to the light with all the light in me, and I have stretched forth my hands unto thee.

10. Now, therefore, O Light, wilt thou not accomplish thy commandment in the chaos, and will not the deliverers, who come according to thy commandment, arise in the darkness and come and be disciples for thee’?

11. Will they not utter the mystery of thy name in the chaos?

12. Or will they not rather utter thy name in a matter of the chaos, in which thou wilt not [thyself] purify?

13. But I have sung praises unto thee, O Light, and my repentance will reach unto thee in the height.

14. Let thy light come upon me,

15. For they have taken my light, and I am in pain on account of the Light from the time when I was emanated. And when I had looked into the height to the Light, then I looked down below at the light-power in the chaos; I rose up and went down.

16. Thy commandment came upon me, and the terrors, which thou didst decree for me, have brought me into delusion.

17. And they have surrounded me, in numbers as water, they have laid hold on me together all my time.

18. And by thy commandment thou hast not suffered my fellow-emanations to help me, nor hast thou suffered my pair to save me out of my afflictions.

The Fourth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Here is the fourth repentance of Pistis Sophia side by side translations. As always, best viewed in desktop mode.

MacDermot Translation:

I. 0 Light whom I have trusted, hear my repentance; and Iet my voice come into thy dwelling-place.

2. Do not turn thy image of light away from me, but give heed to me. If they oppress me, save me quickly at the time when I cry to thee.

3. For my time has vanished like a breath, and I have become matter.

4. My light has been taken from me, and my power has dried up. I have forgotten my mystery which I performed at first.

5. Through the voice of fear and the power of the Authades, my power has diminished within me.

6. I have become like a peculiar demon, which dwells in matter, in whom is no light. And I have become like a spirit counterpart which is in a material body, in which there is no light-power.

7. And I have become like a decan, which is upon the air alone.

8. The emanations of the Authades have afflicted me greatly; and my partner has spoken of it thus: in place of the light within her, they have filled her with Chaos.

9. I have swallowed the sweat of my matter myself and the anguish of the tears of the matter of my eyes, lest those that oppress me take away these things also.

10. All these things have happened to me, 0 Light, through thy ordinance and with thy command. And it is thy ordinance that I should be among these things.

11. Thy ordinance has brought me down, and I have come down like a power of the Chaos; and my power has congealed within me.

12. But thou, 0 Lord, art eternal light; and at all times thou dost seek those who are oppressed.

13. Now at this time, 0 Light, arise and seek after my power and my soul within me. Thy ordinance is completed, which thou hast ordained for me in my affliction. My time has come, that thou shouldst seek after my power and my soul, and this is the time which thou hast ordained to seek me;

14. For thy saviours have sought after the power which is in my soul, because the number is completed, and that they should save its matter also.

15. And then in that time all the archons of the material aeons will fear before thy light; I and all the emanations of the thirteenth material aeon will fear before the mystery of thy light, that the others may put on themselves what is purified of their light.

16. For the Lord will seek after the power of your souls; he has revealed his mystery.

17. For he will Iook at the repentance of those who are in the places below; and he has not overlooked their repentance.

18. This is that mystery which has become a type for the race which will be born; and the race which will be born will sing praises to the height.

19. For the light has looked forth from the height of his light. He will Iook down upon all matter;

20. To hear the groaning of those that are bound; to release the power of the souls whose power is bound.

21. To place his name in the soul, and his mystery in the power’.

Mead Translation:

1. O Light, in whom I have trusted, give ear to my repentance, and let my voice reach unto thy dwelling-place.

2. Turn not away thy light-image from me, but have heed unto me, if they oppress me; and save me quickly at the time when I shall cry unto thee.

3. For my time is vanished like a breath and I am become matter.

4. They have taken my light from me, and my power is dried up. I have forgotten my mystery which heretofore I was wont to accomplish.

5. Because of the voice of the fear and the power of Self-willed my power is vanished.

6. I am become as a demon apart, who dwelleth in matter and light is not in him, and I am become as a counterfeiting spirit, which is in a material body and light-power is not in it.

7. And I am become as a decan who is alone in the air.

8. The emanations of Self-willed have sore oppressed me, and my pair hath said unto himself:

9. Instead of with light which was in her, they have filled her with chaos. I have devoured the sweat of my own matter and the anguish of the tears from the matter of my eyes, so that they who oppress me may not take the rest.

10. All this hath befallen me, O Light, by thy commandment and thy command, and it is thy commandment that I am here.

11. Thy commandment hath brought me down, and I am descended as a power of the chaos, and my power is numbed in me.

12. But thou, O Lord, art Light eternal, and dost visit them who are for ever oppressed.

13. Now, therefore, O Light, arise and seek my power and the soul in me. Thy commandment is accomplished, which thou didst decree for me in my afflictions. My time is come, that thou shouldst seek my power and my soul, and this is the time which thou didst decree to seek me.

14. For thy saviours have sought the power which is in my soul, because the number is completed, and in order that also its matter may be saved.

15. And then at that time shall all the rulers of the material æons be in fear of thy light, and all the emanations of the thirteenth material æon shall be in fear of the mystery of thy light, so that the others may put on the purification of their light.

16. For the Lord will seek the power of your soul. He hath revealed his mystery,

17. So that he may regard the repentance of them who are in the regions below; and he hath not disregarded their repentance.

18. This is then that mystery which is become the type in respect of the race which shall be born; and the race which shall be born will sing praises to the height.

19. For the Light hath looked down from the height of its light. It will look down on the total matter,

20. To hear the sighing of those in chains, to loose the power of the souls whose power is bound,

21. So that it may lay its name in the soul and its mystery in the power.

The Third Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Here is the third repentance of Pistis Sophia translation comparisons.

As always, desktop view is recommended to see them side by side.

MacDermot Translation:

I. 0 Light of the powers, give heed and save me.

2. May those that want to take away my light from me fail and be in darkness.  Let them return to the Chaos, and may those who want to take away my power be put to shame.

3. May those that persecute me and say: we have become Iords over her, return quickly to the darkness.

4. May all those who seek after the light rejoice and flourish; and may they who want thy mystery say at all times: Iet the mystery be raised up.

5. Do thou now at this time save me, 0 Light, for I am lacking in my light, which has been taken away.  And I need my power which has been taken from me.  Thou, 0 Light, thou art my Saviour, and thou art my rescuer, 0 Light.  Save me quickly out of this Chaos’.

Mead Translation:

1. O Lord God, give heed to my help.

2. Let them be put to shame and con-founded who seek after my soul.

3. May they turn straightway and be put to shame, who say unto me: Ha, ha.

4. May all who seek thee, be joyful and exult because of thee, and they who love thy salvation, say ever: May God be exalted.

5. But I am wretched, I am poor; O Lord, help me.  Thou art my helper and defence; O Lord, delay not.

The Second Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Part 2 (of 13) of the side by side translations of the Repentances of Pistis Sophia. This is the second repentance. Once again, this is best viewed on desktop mode as the translations will appear side by side. They do not do this in mobile mode.

MacDermot Translation:

I. 0 Light of Lights, I have believed in thee. Do not leave me in the darkness until the completion of my time.

2. Help me and save me in thy mysteries.  Incline thy ear to me and save me.

3. Let the power of thy light save me and carry me to the aeons on high, for it is thou who savest me and takest me to the height of thy aeons.

4. Save me, 0 Light, from the hand of this lion-faced power, and from the hands of the emanations of the deity, Authades.

5. For thou, 0 Light, art the one in whose light I have believed and in whose light I have trusted from the beginning.

6. And I have believed in it from the hour that it emanated me forth. And thou indeed art he who caused me to be emanated forth. And I have indeed believed in thy light from the beginning.

7. And when I believed in thee, the archons of the aeons mocked me, saying: she has ceased in her mystery.  It is thou who wilt save me.  And thou art my Saviour.  And thou art my mystery, 0 Light.

8. My mouth has been filled with glory, so that I might tell the mystery of thy greatness at all times.

9. Now, 0 Light, do not leave me in the Chaos during the completion of my whole time.  Do not abandon me, 0 Light.

10. For my whole light-power has been taken away from me.  And all the emanations of the Authades have surrounded me.  They wanted to take all my light from me completely, and they watched for my power.

11. They were saying at the same time to one another: the light has left her; Let us seize her and take away all the light within her.  The light has left her; the light has left me.

12. On account of this, 0 Light, do not cease towards me. Turn thyself, 0 Light, and save me from the hands of the merciless.

13. May those who want to take away my power fall and become powerless.  May those who want to take away my light-power from me be wrapped in darkness and exist in powerlessness.

Mead Translation:

1. Light of lights, in whom I have had faith, leave me not in the darkness until the end of my time.

2. Help me and save me through thy mysteries; incline thine ear unto me and save me.

3. May the power of thy light save me and carry me to the higher æons; for thou wilt save me and lead me into the height of thy æons.

4. Save me, O Light, from the hand of this lion-faced power and from the hands of the emanations of god Self-willed.

5. For it is thou, O Light, in whose light I have had faith and in whose light I have trusted from the beginning.

6. And I have had faith in it from the time when it emanated me, and thou thyself didst make me to emanate; and I have had faith in thy light from the beginning.

7. And when I had faith in thee, the rulers of the æons mocked at me, saying: She hath ceased in her mystery. Thou art my saviour and thou art my deliverer and thou art my mystery, O Light.

8. My mouth was filled with glorifying, that I may tell of the mystery of thy grandeur at all times.

9. Now, therefore, O Light, leave me not in the chaos for the completion of my whole time; forsake me not, O Light.

10. For all the emanations of Self-willed have taken from me my whole light-power and have surrounded me. They desired to take away my whole light from me utterly and have set a watch on my power,

11. Saying one to another together: The Light hath forsaken her, let us seize her and take away the whole light in her.

12. Therefore then, O Light, cease not from me; turn thee, O Light, and save me from the hands of the merciless.

13. May they who would take away my power, fall down and become powerless. May they who would take away my light-power from me, be enwrapped in darkness and sink into powerlessness.

The First Repentance of Pistis Sophia

About three years ago, I did my first reading of the PISTIS SOPHIA. The translation I read was by G. R. S. Mead. When I was finished, the book sort of left me in a confused state. I was able to grasp some of what was being said but other parts left me clueless. Now granted, this happens with a lot of older esoteric texts. I planned on re-reading the text at a later time after I made myself more familiar with Gnostic literature. Unlike other texts, the PISTIS SOPHIA is a rather large book, so it is not something I could easily re-read over and over. Recently I obtained a book titled The Fall of Sophia: A Gnostic Text on the Redemption of Universal Consciousness that features an alternate translation of the Pistis Sophia (at least parts 1 & 2) by Violet MacDermot. This time around, the story is clicking on all cylinders! My knowledge of Gnosticism has grown substantially since my first encounter with the PS but this translation also flows much better IMO. I appreciate Mead’s translation but MacDermot’s really sticks with me. I plan to do a comparison of all 13 Repentances that Sophia makes after her fall with each translation. I will not be including the student’s interpretation of each repentance (read the text for yourself 😉 ).

This page is recommended to view in the desktop format, as it will show the translations side by side. Mobile view does not do this.

Here is the first Repentance of Pistis Sophia:

MacDermot Translation:

l. 0 Light of Lights, in whom I have believed from the beginning, hear my repentance now at this time, 0 Light; save me, 0 Light, for wicked thoughts have entered into me.

2. I looked, 0 Light, to the parts below. I saw a light in that place, and I thought : I will go to that place to receive that light. And I went, and I came to be in the darkness which is in the Chaos below. And I was not able to proceed out to go to my place, because I was oppressed among all the emanations of the Authades. And the lion-faced power took away my inner light.

3. And I cried out for help, and my voice did not penetrate the darkness. And I looked to the height, so that the Light in which I had believed might help me.

4. And when I looked to the height, I saw all the archons of the aeons, that they were numerous and they looked down upon me, rejoicing over me, although I had done nothing evil to them, but they had hated me without cause. And when the emanations of the Authades saw the archons of the aeons rejoicing over me, they knew that the archons of the aeons would not help me. And those emanations which oppressed me without cause were encouraged. And they took from me the light which I did not take from them.  

5. Now at this time, 0 true Light, thou knowest that I have done these things in my simplicity, thinking that the lion-faced light belonged to thee, and the sin which I have committed is manifest in thy presence.

6. Do not now let me be lacking, 0 Lord, for I have believed in thy light from the beginning, 0 Lord, Light of the powers, do not let me now lack my light.

7. For on account of thee and thy light I have come to be in this oppression, and shame has covered me.

8. And because of the delusion of thy light, I have become a stranger to my brothers, the invisible ones, and also to the great emanations of the Barbelo.

9. These things happened to me, 0 Light, because I was eager for thy dwelling-place. And the anger of the Authades came down upon me – this one who did not obey thy command to emanate from the emanation of his power – because I was in his aeon and not performing his mystery.

10. · And all the archons of the aeons mocked me.

11. And I was in that place, sorrowing and seeking the light which I had seen in the height.

12. And the watchers of the gates of the aeons were seeking me, and all those who continued in their mystery mocked me.  

13. But I looked up to the height to thee, 0 Light. And I believed in thee. Now at this time, 0 Light of Lights, I am oppressed in the darkness of the Chaos. If now thou dost wish to come to save me – great is thy compassion – hear me truly and save me.

14. Save me out of the matter of this darkness, so that I shall not be immersed in it, and that I shall be saved from the emanations of the deity, Authades, which oppress me, and from their evils.

15. Do not allow this darkness to immerse me, and do not allow this lion-faced power to swallow up all my power completely. And do not allow this Chaos to cover over my power.

16. Hear me, 0 Light, for thy mercy is precious, and look down upon me, according to the great compassion of thy light.

17. Do not turn away thy face from me, for I am greatly afflicted.

18. Hear me quickly and save my power.

19. Save me, on account of the archons which hate me, for thou knowest my affliction and my torment, and the torment of my power which they have taken from me. Those who have put me into all these evils are in thy presence. Deal with them according to thy will.

20. My power looked forth from the midst of the Chaos, and from the midst of the darkness. I looked for my partner, that he should come and fight for me, and he did not come. And I looked that he should come and give power to me, and I did not find him.

21. And when I sought for light, I was given darkness. And when I sought for my power, I was given matter.

22. Now at this time, 0 Light of Lights, let the darkness and the matter which the emanations of the Authades have brought upon me become a snare for them, and let them be ensnared therein. And do thou repay them and bring disgrace upon them, so that they do not come to the place of their Authades.

23. Let them remain in darkness and not see the light. Let them look at the Chaos at all times, and do not let them look at the height.

24. Bring down upon them their vengeance, and let thy judgment seize them.

25. Do not let them go to their place from this time, to their deity, Authades. And do not let his emanations go to their places from this time. Because their god is impious and insolent, because he thought that he had clone these wicked things of himself, not knowing that, unless I was humbled according to thy ordinance, he would have had no power over me.

26. But when thou didst humble me, according to thy ordinance, I was persecuted the more. And their emanations inflicted torments upon my humiliation.

27. And they took a light-power from me. And furthermore they began to torment me greatly, in order to take away all the light that was in me. On account of these things into which I was put, do not let them go up to the thirteenth aeon, the place of righteousness.

28. And do not let them be numbered within the portion of those who purify themselves and their light. And do not let them be numbered among those who will repent quickly, so that they will quickly receive mysteries in the light.

29. For they have taken my light from me. And my power has begun to decrease within me. And I lack my light.

30. Now at this time, 0 Light which art in thee and with me, I sing praises to thy name, 0 Light, in glory.

31. And may my song of praise, 0 Light, please thee, like an excellent mystery which is received into the gates of light, which those who will repent, will recite, and whose light they will purify.

32. Now at this time, let all material things rejoice; seek the light, all of you, so that the power of your souls, which is within you, may live.

33. Because the Light has heard the material things, and it will not leave any material things which it has not purified.

34. Let the souls and the material things bless the Lord of all the aeons; the material things and all things in them.  

35. For God will save their souls out of all matter, and a city will be prepared in the light; and all souls which will be saved will dwell in that city, and they will inherit it.

36. And the soul of those who will receive mysteries will be in that place, and they who have received mysteries in his name will be within it.

Mead Translation:

1. O Light of lights, in whom I have had faith from the beginning, hearken now then, O Light, unto my repentance. Save me, O Light, for evil thoughts have entered into me.

2. I gazed, O Light, into the lower parts and saw there a light. thinking: I will go to that region, in order that I may take that light. And I went and found myself in the darkness which is in the chaos below, and I could no more speed thence and go to my region, for I was sore pressed by all the emanations of Self-willed, and the lion-faced power took away my light in me.

3. And I cried for help, but my voice hath not reached out of the darkness. And I looked unto the height, that the Light, in which I had had faith, might help me.

4. And when I looked unto the height, I saw all the rulers of the æons, how in their numbers they looked down on me and rejoiced over me, though I had done them no ill; but they hated me without a cause. And when the emanations of Self-willed saw the rulers of the æons rejoicing over me, they knew that the rulers of the æons would not come to my aid; and those emanations which sore pressed me with violence, took courage, and the light which I had not taken from them, they have taken from me.

5. Now, therefore, O Light of Truth, thou knowest that I have done this in my innocence, thinking that the lion-faced light-power belonged to thee; and the sin which I have done is open before thee.

6. Suffer me no more to lack, O Lord, for I have had faith in thy light from the beginning; O Lord, O Light of the powers, suffer me no more to lack my light.

7. For because of thy inducement and for the sake of thy light am I fallen into this oppression, and shame hath covered me.

8. And because of the illusion of thy light, I am become a stranger to my brethren, the invisibles, and to the great emanations of Barbelo.

9. This hath befallen me, O Light, because I have been zealous for thy abode; and the wrath of Self-willed is come upon me–of him who had not hearkened unto thy command to emanate from the emanation of his power–because I was in his æon without performing his mystery.

10. And all the rulers of the æons mocked me.

11. And I was in that region, mourning and seeking after the light which I had seen in the height.

12. And the guards of the gates of the æons searched for me, and all who remain in their mystery mocked me.

13. But I looked up unto the height towards thee and had faith in thee. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, I am sore pressed in the darkness of chaos. If now thou wilt come to save me,–great is thy mercy,–then hear me in truth and save me.

14. Save me out of the matter of this darkness, that I may not be submerged therein, that I may be saved from the emanations of god Self-willed which press me sore, and from their evil doings.

15. Let not this darkness submerge me, and let not this lion-faced power entirely devour the whole of my power, and |50. let not this chaos shroud my power.

16. Hear me, O Light, for thy grace is precious, and look down upon me according to the great mercy of thy Light.

17. Turn not thy face from me, for I am exceedingly tormented.

18. Haste thee, hearken unto me and save my power.

19. Save me because of the rulers who hate me, for thou knowest my sore oppression and my torment and the torment of my power which they have taken from me. They who have set me in all this evil are before thee; deal with them according to thy good pleasure.

20. My power looked forth from the midst of the chaos and from the midst of the darkness, and I waited for my pair, that he should come and fight for me, and he came not, and I looked that he should come and lend me power, and I found him not.

21. And when I sought the light, they gave me darkness; and when I sought my power, they gave me matter.

22. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, may the darkness and the matter which the emanations of Self-willed have brought upon me, be unto them for a snare, and may they be ensnared therein, and recompense them and may they be made to stumble and not come into the region of their Self-willed.

23. May they remain in the darkness and not behold the light; may they behold the chaos for ever, and let them not look unto the height.

24. Bring upon them their revenge, and may thy judgment lay hold upon them.

25. Let them not henceforth come into their region to their god Self-willed, and let not his emanations henceforth come into their regions; for their god is impious and self willed, and he thought that he had done this evil of himself, not knowing that, had I not been brought low according to thy command, he would not have had any authority over me.

26. But when thou hadst by thy command brought me low, they pursued me the more, and their emanations added pain to my humiliation.

27. And they have taken light-power from me and fallen again to pressing me sore, in order to take away all the light in me. Because of this in which they have set me, let them not ascend to the thirteenth æon, the region of Righteousness.

28. But let them not be reckoned in the lot of those who purify themselves and the light, and let them not be reckoned with those who will quickly repent, that they may quickly receive mysteries in the Light.

29. For they have taken my light from me, and my power hath begun to cease in me and I am destitute of my light.

30. Now, therefore, O Light, which is in thee and is with me, I sing praises to thy name, O Light, in glory.

31. May my song of praise please thee, O Light, as an excellent mystery, which leadeth to the gates of the Light, which they who shall repent will utter, and the light of which will purify them.

32. Now, therefore, let all matters rejoice; seek ye all the Light, that the power of the stars which is in you, may live.

33. For the Light hath heard the matters, nor will it leave any without having purified them.

34. Let the souls and the matters praise the Lord of all æons, and [let] the matters and all that is in them [praise him].

35. For God shall save their soul from all matters, and a city shall be prepared in the Light, and all the souls who are saved, will dwell in that city and will inherit it.

36. And the soul of them who shall receive mysteries will abide in that region, and they who have received mysteries in its name will abide therein.

I apologize for not exactly lining up some of the texts. WordPress is kind of weird with their formatting, but it’s close enough. 😉

The Greatest Evil in Man is Not Knowing God

I’ve been reading the “Corpus Hermeticum: The Divine Pymander” (2015 edition edited by Tarl Warwick, see post photo) and I wanted to share this section. The book itself is quite interesting though some parts are a bit hard to understand/read. Not sure if it’s just this particular edition/translation or the fact it’s my first time reading through it. Anyway, I really liked this section and I am going to reprint the entire section below for you all to enjoy. This particular edition can be found on Amazon for $6, so if you are interested in reading the rest of the book, you can get it there. Other editions/translations are available as well.

VIII: THE GREATEST EVIL IN MAN IS NOT KNOWING GOD

  1. Where are you carried, Oh men, drunken with the win of ignorance? When you see that you cannot hold it down, why do you vomit it up again?
  2. Stand, and be sober, and look up again with the eyes of your heart, and if you cannot all do so, yet do so as many as you can.
  3. For the malice of ignorance surrounds all the Earth, and corrupts the soul, shut up in the body, not suffering it to arrive at the havens of salvation.
  4. Suffer not yourselves to be carried with the great stream, but stem the tide you that can lay hold of the haven of safety, and make your full course towards it.
  5. Seek still what may lead you by the hand, and conduct you to the door of truth and knowledge, where the clear light is that which is pure from darkness, where there is not one drunken, but all are sober, and in their heart look up to him, whose pleasure it is to be seen.
  6. For he cannot be heard with ears, nor seen with eyes, nor expressed in words; but only in mind and heart.
  7. But first you must tear to pieces, and break through the garment that you wear; the web of ignorance; the foundation of all mischief; the shackles of corruption; the cloak of darkness; the living death; the corruptible corpse; the sepulcher, carried about with us; the domestic thief, which in what he loves us, hates us, envies us.
  8. Such is the hurtful apparel, with which you are now clothed, which draws and pulls you downward by its own self, lest looking upward and seeing the beauty of truth, and the good that is reposed therein, you would hate the wickedness of this garment and understand the traps and ambushes which it had laid for you.
  9. Therefore it labors to make good those things that seem, and are by the senses, judged and determined; and the things that are true, it hides, and veils in much matter, filling what it presents unto you, with hateful pleasure, that you may neither hear what you should hear, nor see what you should see.

The Sentences of Sextus

I love “sayings” texts. They are easy to read and after each sentence, you can stop and take in what it said. I wanted to highlight this particular text that was found in the Nag Hammadi library. The above video is a reading of the text but for below, I am quoting a slightly different translation. If you are like I am, you read various translations of texts as they all add a different take on texts (and at times, can make them flow more poetically rather than dry academia). Below are some of my favorite quotes from this translation: http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/sent.html

(163b) When it is proper to act, do not use a word.

Actions speak louder than words!

(164b) While it is a skill to speak, it is also a skill to be silent.

Now this is a skill our modern society should consider implimenting!

(178) What it is not right to do, do not even consider doing it.

(179) What you do not want to happen to you, do not do it yourself either.

The ole “practice what you preach” mentality.

(323) The fear of death grieves man because of the ignorance of the soul.

I see this as an issue with a lot of people who are afraid of dying. If you know the Father, there should absolutely be no fear of death.

(328) Let not an ungrateful man cause you to cease to do good.

Another lesson I would LOVE to see our modern society take hold. I’ve heard this excuse from people all the time on why they should not help someone. That is definitely not the way to go.

(331) Persuade a senseless brother not to be senseless; if he is mad, protect him.

Those taking up this cause, it can be very aggravating if you do not have patience especially if the one who is senseless is very persistent.

(336) It is better to serve others than to make others serve you.

I live to serve! 😀 I always tell my kids, help whoever you can, whenever you can. Do not ask for anything in return and you will be amazed with what happens in your life.

(343/344) Do not provoke the anger of a mob. Know, then, what is fitting for the fortunate man to do.

I am guilty of this at my workplace though in the past few years, I have gone the other way (even when my co-workers still partake in this). This is another example where our current society could learn a lot from this advice. Social media has made it all too easy to get caught up in the mob mentality.

(350) Do not give the word of God to everyone.

(351) For those who are corrupted by glory it is not assuring to hear about God.

(352/353) It is not a small danger for us to speak the truth about God; do not say anything about God before you have learned from God.

(354/356) Do not speak with a godless person about God; if you are polluted on account of impure works, do not speak about God.

(355) Speak concerning the word about God as if you were saying it in the presence of God.

(358) If first your mind is persuaded that you have been god-loving, then speak to whomever you wish about God.

(360) Do not wish to speak with a crowd about God.

(361) Be (more) sparing with a word about God (than) about a soul.

(362) It is better to dispose of a soul than to discard at random a word about God.

(365) He who speaks the word of God to those for whom it is not lawful, he is the betrayer of God.

(366) It is better for you to be silent about the word of God, than to speak recklessly.

(367/368) He who speaks lies about God is lying to God; a man who does not have anything truthful to say about God is abandoned by God.

I grouped these sayings all together since they refer to speaking of the Father. Living in the USA, I am full aware of the TV evangelicals that I believe do much more harm than good. Based on these sayings, those people go against quite a few of them. But to each their own. Speaking of the Father should be personal and pure, and to those who wish to seek the wisdom of the Father. Cast not pearls before swine, as the saying goes.

(380) He who thinks that no one is in the presence of God, he is not humble towards God.

The Father is everywhere and in everything. Know this!

Those are just some of my favorite sayings but really, the whole text is quite lovely and I highly recommend it.