Sophia Scriptura

Sibylline Oracles (Christian books 6-8) 6.1–7.161

Anonymous · Sibylline Oracles (Christian books 6-8) · 2nd-3rd cent. · place unknown · 20 passages

Pseudonymous: Hexameter oracles in the name of the Sibyl. Books 6 and 7 (the baptism and ministry of Christ; a Jewish-Christian and an eastern Christian piece) and Book 8 (the acrostic on Christ at 8.217-250, and an apocalypse against Rome) are Christian or Christianized, mostly of the late second to third century. Books 1-2 contain Christian passages inside Jewish material and Books 3-5 are Jewish; those are not staged here.

Greek text: Geffcken 1902.English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).

Chapter 6

6.1Geffcken GCS 8

Aöyos ἕχτος. "Adavarov μέγαν υἱὸν ἀοίδιμον ἐκ φρενὸς αὐδῶ, ᾧ ϑρόνον ὕψιστος γενέτης παρέδωχε λαβέσϑαι οὔπω γεννηϑέντι ἐπεὶ κατὰ σάρκα τὸ δισσόν ἠγέρϑη, προχοαῖς ἀπολουσάμενος ποταμοῖο Ἰορδάνου, ὃς φέρεται γλαυχῷ ποδί, κύματα σύρων. ὃς πυρὸς ἐχφεύξας πρῶτος ϑεὸν ὄψεται ἡδύν πνεύματι γενόμενον, λευκαῖς πτερύγεσσι πελείης. ἀνϑήσει δ᾽ ἄνϑος καϑαρόν, βρύσουσι δὲ πηγαί. δείξει δ᾽ ἀνϑρώποισιν ὁδούς, δείξει δὲ κελεύϑους οὐρανίας" πάντας δὲ σοφοῖς μύϑοισι διδάξει.

Aoyos hechtos. "Adavarov megan huion aoidimon ek phrenos audō, hǭ ϑronon hypsistos genetēs paredōche labesϑai oupō gennēϑenti epei kata sarka to disson ēgerϑē, prochoais apolousamenos potamoio Iordanou, hos pheretai glauchǭ podi, kymata syrōn. hos pyros echpheuxas prōtos ϑeon opsetai hēdyn pneumati genomenon, leukais pterygessi peleiēs. anϑēsei d᾽ anϑos kaϑaron, brysousi de pēgai. deixei d᾽ anϑrōpoisin hodous, deixei de keleuϑous ouranias" pantas de sophois myϑoisi didaxei.

Sixth Book. The great immortal Son, renowned in song, I proclaim from my heart, to whom the Most High Father gave a throne to receive when he was not yet born; since according to the flesh he was raised up a second time, having washed himself in the outpourings of the river Jordan, which moves with grey-blue foot, sweeping its waves along. He, having escaped the fire, will be the first to see God, sweet, coming in the Spirit, on the white wings of a dove. A pure flower will blossom, and springs will gush forth. He will show men ways, he will show the paths of heaven; and he will teach all with wise words.

Matt 3:16 (allusion, high confidence) · Mark 1:10 (allusion, high confidence) · Ps 110:1 (109:1 LXX) (echo, low confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl proclaims the immortal Son, enthroned by the Father before his birth, baptized in the Jordan, where the Spirit came upon him as a dove.

  • The Sibylline Oracles are hexameter oracles in the name of the ancient Sibyl; Books 6–8 are Christian (or Christianized) compositions of the second and third centuries. They are translated here line by line from Geffcken's edition (GCS 8, 1902), as read from an uncorrected OCR in which some words are garbled; such words are translated by sense or marked "…". The Sibyl's oracles are translated as written.
  • Echoes: Mark 1:9–11; Matt 3:16; Ps 110:1. "Raised up a second time according to the flesh" (κατὰ σάρκα τὸ δισσόν ἠγέρθη) is obscure; translated literally.

Topics: Christology, Baptism

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 6.1 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-6-1).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

6.11Geffcken GCS 8

ἥξει δ᾽ ἔς τε δίκην καὶ πείσει λαὸν ἀπειϑῆ αἰνετὸν αὐχήσας πατρὸς γένος οὐρανίδαο. κύματα πεζεύσει, νόσον ἀνθρώπων ἀπολύσει, στήσει τεϑνηῶτας, ἀπώσεται ἄλγεα πολλά" ἐκ δὲ μιῆς πήρης ἄρτου κόρος ἔσσεται ἀνδρῶν, οἶχος ὅταν Δαυὶδ φύῃ φυτόν" ἐν χερὶ δ᾽ αὐτοῦ κόσμος ὅλος καὶ γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ ϑάλασσα. ἀστράψει δ᾽ ἐπὶ γῆν, οἷόν ποτε πρῶτα φανέντα εἶδον ἀπ᾿ ἀλλήλων πλευρῶν δύο γεννηϑέντες. ἔσσεται, ἡνίκα γαῖα χαρήσεται ἐλπίδι παιδός.

hēxei d᾽ es te dikēn kai peisei laon apeiϑē aineton auchēsas patros genos ouranidao. kymata pezeusei, noson anthrōpōn apolysei, stēsei teϑnēōtas, apōsetai algea polla" ek de miēs pērēs artou koros essetai andrōn, oichos hotan Dauid phyę̄ phyton" en cheri d᾽ autou kosmos holos kai gaia kai ouranos ēde ϑalassa. astrapsei d᾽ epi gēn, hoion pote prōta phanenta eidon ap᾿ allēlōn pleurōn dyo gennēϑentes. essetai, hēnika gaia charēsetai elpidi paidos.

He will come to judgment and persuade a disobedient people, boasting of the praiseworthy race of his heavenly Father. He will walk upon the waves, he will free men from disease, he will raise the dead, he will drive away many pains; and from one wallet there will be bread to fill men, when the house of David puts forth a shoot; and in his hand is the whole world, and earth and heaven and sea. He will flash like lightning upon the earth, as once, when he first appeared, the two born from each other's sides saw him. It will be when the earth rejoices in the hope of a child.

Matt 14:25 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 11:5 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 14:20 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 11:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 24:27 (allusion, medium confidence) · Gen 2:21 (allusion, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl foretells Christ's miracles, his birth from the house of David, and his appearing like lightning.

  • "The two born from each other's sides" are Adam and Eve (Eve formed from Adam's side). Echoes: Matt 14:25; Matt 11:5; Matt 14:19–21; Isa 11:1; Matt 24:27.

Topics: Christology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 6.11 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-6-11).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

6.21Geffcken GCS 8

σοὶ δὲ μόνῃ, Σοδομῖτι γαίη, κακὰ πήματα κεῖται" αὐτὴ γὰρ δύσφρων τὸν σὸν ϑεὸν οὐχ ἐνόησας ἐλϑόντα ϑνητοῖσιν ἐν ὀμμασιν᾽ ἀλλ᾿ ἀπ᾿ ἀκάνϑης ἔστεψας στεφάνῳ, φοβερὴν δὲ χολὴν ἐχέρασσας εἰς ὕβριν καὶ "πνεῦμα "" τό σοι “κακὰ πήματα τεύξει. ὦ ξύλον ὦ μακαριστόν, ἐφ᾽ οὐ ϑεὸς ἐξετανύσϑη, οὐχ ἕξει σε χϑών, ἀλλ᾽ οὐρανὸν οἶχον ἐσόψει, ἡνίχα ἀστράψειζε) τὸ σόν, ϑεός, ἔμπυρον ὄμμα.

soi de monę̄, Sodomiti gaiē, kaka pēmata keitai" autē gar dysphrōn ton son ϑeon ouch enoēsas elϑonta ϑnētoisin en ommasin᾽ all᾿ ap᾿ akanϑēs estepsas stephanǭ, phoberēn de cholēn echerassas eis hybrin kai "pneuma "" to soi “kaka pēmata teuxei. ō xylon ō makariston, eph᾽ ou ϑeos exetanysϑē, ouch hexei se chϑōn, all᾽ ouranon oichon esopsei, hēnicha astrapseize) to son, ϑeos, empyron omma.

But for you alone, land of Sodom, evil woes are laid up; for you yourself, ill-minded, did not perceive your God coming before the eyes of mortals; but with the thorn you crowned him with a crown, and you mixed fearful gall for insult, and a drink, which will bring you evil woes. O wood, O most blessed, on which God was stretched out, the earth will not hold you, but you will look upon heaven as your home, when your fiery eye, O God, flashes forth.

Matt 27:29 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 27:34 (allusion, high confidence) · Rev 11:8 (echo, low confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl pronounces woe on the land that crowned God with thorns and gave him gall, and blesses the wood of the cross, which will see heaven.

  • "Land of Sodom" is the oracle's name for Judea (cf. Isa 1:10; Rev 11:8); the polemic is translated as written. "A drink" reads by sense a garbled word in the OCR. Echoes: Matt 27:29, 34.

Topics: Christology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 6.21 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-6-21).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

Chapter 7

7.1Geffcken GCS 8

Ἔχ τοῦ ἑβδόμου λόγου. Ὦ Ῥύδε δειλαίη 00 σὲ γὰρ πρώτην, σὲ δακρύσω" ἔσσῃ δὲ πρώτη πόλεων, πρώτη δ᾽ ἀπολέσοσῃ, ἀνδρῶν μὲν χήρη, βιότου δέ τε πάμπαν *adsvang* Κύπρε, σὲ δ᾽ ἐξολέσει γλαυκῆς ποτε κῦμα ϑαλάσσης" Δῆλε, σὺ μὲν πλεύσεις καὶ ἐφ᾽ ὕδατος ἄστατος ἔσσῃ" Σικελίη, φλέξει σε τὸ καιόμενον κατὰ σοῦ πῦρ. τοῦτο, λέγω, τὸ ϑεοῦ φοβερὸν καὶ ἐπήλυτον ὕδωρ. No&£ τις ἐκ πάντων μοῦνος φυγὰς ἤλυϑεν ἀνδρῶν.

πλεύσει γῆ, πλεύσει δὲ 00N, πλεύσει δὲ καὶ αἰϑήρ. ὕδωρ ἔσται ἅπαντα καὶ ὕδασι πάντ᾽ ἀπολεῖται.

Ech tou hebdomou logou. Ō Rhyde deilaiē 00 se gar prōtēn, se dakrysō" essę̄ de prōtē poleōn, prōtē d᾽ apolesosę̄, andrōn men chērē, biotou de te pampan *adsvang* Kypre, se d᾽ exolesei glaukēs pote kyma ϑalassēs" Dēle, sy men pleuseis kai eph᾽ hydatos astatos essę̄" Sikeliē, phlexei se to kaiomenon kata sou pyr. touto, legō, to ϑeou phoberon kai epēlyton hydōr. No&£ tis ek pantōn mounos phygas ēlyϑen andrōn.

pleusei gē, pleusei de 00N, pleusei de kai aiϑēr. hydōr estai hapanta kai hydasi pant᾽ apoleitai.

From the seventh book. O wretched Rhodes, for you first, for you I will weep; you will be first of cities, and first you will perish, bereft of men, and utterly … of livelihood. Cyprus, the wave of the grey sea will one day destroy you. Delos, you will float, and be unstable on the water. Sicily, the fire that burns beneath you will consume you. This, I say, is the fearful and coming water of God. Noah alone of all men came out as a fugitive. The earth will float, … will float, and the sky will float. All will be water, and by waters all will perish.

Gen 7:23 (allusion, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Seventh Book opens with woes on Rhodes, Cyprus, Delos, and Sicily, and recalls the flood from which Noah alone escaped.

  • A line of Geffcken's apparatus at the head of the book and a stray fragment of a line are removed by logged corrections. Two words are garbled in the OCR and marked "…". Echoes: Gen 7:17–23.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (a line of the editor's apparatus at the head of the book; stray OCR fragment of a line): nächsten Buches: L): στίχοι ζῆ. — In 2 folgt gleich VII 1 ὦ Pöde... danach → ; * ἧς [ → .

Topics: Eschatology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.1 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-1).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.11Geffcken GCS 8

στήσονται δ᾽ ἄνεμοι καὶ δεύτερος ἔσσεται αἰών. ὦ Φρυγίη, πρώτη δ᾽ ἀναλάμψεις ὕδατος ἄκρου" πρώτη δ᾽ εἰς ἀσέβειαν ἀπαρνήσῃ ϑεὸν αὐτή εἰδώλοις ἀλάλοις κεχαρισμένη, ὅσσα σε, δειλή, ἐξολέσει πολλῶν περιτελλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν. Αἰϑίοπες δύστηνοι *ön’* ἄλγεα οἰκτρὰ παϑόντες ῥομφαίαις πλήξονται ὑπὸ χρόα πεπτηῶτες. τῆν λιπαρὴν Αἴγυπτον ἀεὶ σταχύεσσι μέλουσαν, ἣν Νεῖλος νηχτοῖς ὑπὸ χεύμασιν ἑπτὰ μεϑύσκει, ἀλλήλων ἔμφυλος ὀλεῖ στάσις" ἔνϑεν ἀέλπτως

stēsontai d᾽ anemoi kai deuteros essetai aiōn. ō Phrygiē, prōtē d᾽ analampseis hydatos akrou" prōtē d᾽ eis asebeian aparnēsę̄ ϑeon autē eidōlois alalois kecharismenē, hossa se, deilē, exolesei pollōn peritellomenōn eniautōn. Aiϑiopes dystēnoi *on’* algea oiktra paϑontes rhomphaiais plēxontai hypo chroa peptēōtes. tēn liparēn Aigypton aei stachyessi melousan, hēn Neilos nēchtois hypo cheumasin hepta meϑyskei, allēlōn emphylos olei stasis" enϑen aelptōs

And the winds will cease, and there will be a second age. O Phrygia, you will be the first to shine forth from the top of the water; you first will deny God in impiety, delighting in dumb idols, which, wretched one, will destroy you as many years revolve. The wretched Ethiopians, suffering pitiable pains, will be struck with swords, cowering in their bodies. Rich Egypt, ever caring for ears of grain, which the Nile makes drunk with seven swimming streams, kindred strife among themselves will destroy; then unexpectedly

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl foretells the age after the flood, Phrygia's idolatry, and the sufferings of Ethiopia and Egypt.

  • A margin line number in the OCR is removed by a logged correction; one word in the line on the Ethiopians is garbled and omitted.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (margin line numeral): 1ὅ ἐξολέσει → ἐξολέσει.

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.11 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-11).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.21Geffcken GCS 8

ἀνέρες ἐξελάσουσι τὸν οὐ ϑεὸν ἀνδράσιν "Anıy. αἰαῖ, Δαοδίκεια, σὺ δ᾽ οὐ ϑεὸν οὐποτ᾽ ἰδοῦσα ψεύσῃ, τολμηρή᾽ κλύσσει δέ σε κῦμα Δύχοιο. αὐτὸς "ὁ γεννηϑεὶς Ἐ ὃ μέγας ϑεὸς *aoro ὃς" πολλά ποιήσει, κρεμάσει δὲ δι᾽ αἰϑέρος ἄξονα μέσσον, στήσει δ᾽ ἀνϑρώποισι μέγαν φόβον ὑψόσ ἰδέσϑαι κίονα μετρήσας μεγάλῳ πυρί, οὗ ῥαϑάμιγγες ἀνϑρώπων ὀλέσουσι γένη κακὰ δηλησάντων. ἔσται γάρ ποτε κεῖνος ἅπαξ χρόνος, ἔνϑα δὲ φῶτες ἐξιλάσουσι ϑεόν, ἀλλ οὐ παύσουσιν ἀνίας

aneres exelasousi ton ou ϑeon andrasin "Anıy. aiai, Daodikeia, sy d᾽ ou ϑeon oupot᾽ idousa pseusę̄, tolmērē᾽ klyssei de se kyma Dychoio. autos "ho gennēϑeis E ho megas ϑeos *aoro hos" polla poiēsei, kremasei de di᾽ aiϑeros axona messon, stēsei d᾽ anϑrōpoisi megan phobon hypsos idesϑai kiona metrēsas megalǭ pyri, hou rhaϑaminges anϑrōpōn olesousi genē kaka dēlēsantōn. estai gar pote keinos hapax chronos, enϑa de phōtes exilasousi ϑeon, all ou pausousin anias

men will drive out Apis, who is no god for men. Alas, Laodicea, you who never saw God will lie, bold one; the wave of the Lycus will wash over you. He himself, the begotten, the great God, … will do many things, and will hang the middle axis through the aether, and will set up for men a great terror to see on high, measuring out a pillar with great fire, whose drops will destroy the races of men who did evil harm. For there will be once that time, when men will seek to appease God, but will not stop the griefs

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl foretells the end of Apis's worship, woe on Laodicea, and a pillar of fire set by God in heaven to destroy evildoers.

  • "Apis" reads the OCR's "Anıy"; one word after "the great God" is garbled and marked "…". The pillar of fire is a sign of the end in the oracle's own imagery.

Topics: Eschatology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.21 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-21).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.31Geffcken GCS 8

ἀκράντους. Δαυὶδ δὲ δι’ οἴχου πάντα τελεῖται. τῷ γάρ τ᾽ αὐτὸς ἔδωκε ϑεὸς ϑρόνον ἐγγυαλίξας" οἱ δὲ διαγγελτῆρες ὑπαὶ ποσὶ κοιμήσονται, οἵ τε πυρὰς φαίνουσι καὶ ol ποταμοὺς *palvovoır,* οἵ τ᾽ ἄστη σῴζουσι καὶ οἱ πέμπουσιν ἀήτας. --- πολλοῖς δ᾽ av χαλεπὸς βίος ἀνθρώποισιν ἔπεισιν ἐσδύνων ψυχαῖσι καὶ ἀλλάσσων φρένας. ἀνδρῶν. ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν 2x ῥίζης βλαστὸς νέος ὄμματα φύσῃ, Ἐτὴν xriow* ἢ ποτε πᾶσι τροφὴν διέδωκε περισσήν, Ἐν το ἢ

akrantous. Dauid de di’ oichou panta teleitai. tǭ gar t᾽ autos edōke ϑeos ϑronon engyalixas" hoi de diangeltēres hypai posi koimēsontai, hoi te pyras phainousi kai ol potamous *palvovoır,* hoi t᾽ astē sǭzousi kai hoi pempousin aētas. --- pollois d᾽ av chalepos bios anthrōpoisin epeisin esdynōn psychaisi kai allassōn phrenas. andrōn. all᾽ hotan 2x rhizēs blastos neos ommata physę̄, Etēn xriow* ē pote pasi trophēn diedōke perissēn, En to ē

that bring no fulfilment. But through the house of David all will be accomplished. For to him God himself gave the throne, placing it in his hand; and the messengers will sleep beneath his feet, those who show the fires, and those who show the rivers, and those who keep the cities, and those who send the winds. But a hard life will come upon many men, entering into souls and changing the minds of men. But when from the root a new shoot puts forth its eyes, … which once gave abundant food to all, …

Luke 1:32 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 11:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Ps 8:6 (8:7 LXX) (echo, low confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl foretells that all will be fulfilled through the house of David, to whom God gave the throne and subjected the angels.

  • The "messengers" are angels who govern fire, rivers, cities, and winds. The last two lines are garbled in the OCR and are marked "…". Echoes: Isa 11:1; Luke 1:32; Ps 8:6; Heb 1:7.

Topics: Christology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.31 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-31).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.41Geffcken GCS 8

“Ὁ καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀμφὶ *xoovors* ἔσται πλέον. ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν ἄλλοι ἄρξωνται Πέρσαι μαχίμων φῦλον, αὐτίχα δεινοί" ἔσσονται ϑάλαμοι νυμφῶν διὰ δύσνομα φῦλα. ἕξει. γὰρ μήτηρ E0v υἱέα καὶ πόσιν" υἱός μητέρα δηλήσει: ϑυγάτηρ δ᾽ ἐπὶ πατρὶ κλιϑεῖσα βάρβαρον ὑπνώσει τοῦτον νόμον" ὕστερα δ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἐχκλάμψει Ῥωμαῖος Ἄρης πολλῆς ἀπὸ λόγχης" αἵματι δ᾽ ἀνδρομέῳφ πολλὴν χϑόνα φυρήσουσιν. Ἰπαλίης δὲ πρόμος τότε φεύξεται ἐκ δορὸς ἀλκῆς. λείψουσιν δ᾽ ἐπὶ γῆς χρυσῷ κεχαραγμένον ὄμθος “ἐκπρομολόντα φέρον γε ἀεὶ σημεῖον ἀνάγκης.

“Ho kai ta men amphi *xoovors* estai pleon. all᾽ hotan alloi arxōntai Persai machimōn phylon, auticha deinoi" essontai ϑalamoi nymphōn dia dysnoma phyla. hexei. gar mētēr E0v huiea kai posin" huios mētera dēlēsei: ϑygatēr d᾽ epi patri kliϑeisa barbaron hypnōsei touton nomon" hystera d᾽ autois echklampsei Rhōmaios Arēs pollēs apo lonchēs" haimati d᾽ andromeǭph pollēn chϑona phyrēsousin. Ipaliēs de promos tote pheuxetai ek doros alkēs. leipsousin d᾽ epi gēs chrysǭ kecharagmenon omthos “ekpromolonta pheron ge aei sēmeion anankēs.

… and the things about … will be greater. But when others, the Persians, a race of warriors, begin to rule, at once terrible will be the bridal chambers because of lawless races. For the mother will have her own son as husband; the son will defile his mother; and the daughter, lying with her father, will sleep according to this barbarian law. Afterwards upon them Roman Ares will flash out from many a spear, and they will soak much land in human blood. And the chief of Italy will then flee from the might of the spear. And they will leave upon the earth a shower engraved with gold, coming forth, ever bearing a sign of necessity.

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl foretells the Persians' incestuous marriages and their wars with Rome.

  • The charge of incestuous marriage among the Persians is a commonplace of Greek polemic, repeated by the oracle; translated as written. Several words are garbled in the OCR; the last two lines are obscure.

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.41 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-41).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.51Geffcken GCS 8

ἔσται μάν, ὅτε πᾶσα κακὴ καὶ δύσμορος οἰκτρῶς Ἰλιὰς ἐχπίεται τάφον, οὐ γάμον, ἔνϑα βαϑεῖα κλαύσουσιν νύμφαι, ὅτι δὴ ϑεὸν οὐκ ἐνόησαν, ἀλλ᾽ αἰεὶ τυπάνοις “καὶ κρότοις τ᾽ ὃ ἦχον ἔδωκαν. μαντεύου, Κολοφών" μέγα σοι κρέμαται φοβερὸν πῦρ. Θεσσαλίη δύσνυμφε, σὲ δ᾽ ὄψεται οὐχέτι γαῖα οὐδὲ FON πλεύσῃ δὲ μόνη φυγὰς ἠπείροιο. Ἑαὐτοῖς ἢ ὦ τλῆμον, σχύβαλον πολέμου λυγρὸν ἔσσῃ, Ἑὠ κυσὶ καὶ ποταμοῖς καὶ ᾿ δομφαίαισι πεσοῦσα. ὦ τλῆμόν γε Κόρινϑε, σὺ δ᾽ ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὴν βαρὺν Ἄρην

estai man, hote pasa kakē kai dysmoros oiktrōs Ilias echpietai taphon, ou gamon, enϑa baϑeia klausousin nymphai, hoti dē ϑeon ouk enoēsan, all᾽ aiei typanois “kai krotois t᾽ ho ēchon edōkan. manteuou, Kolophōn" mega soi krematai phoberon pyr. Thessaliē dysnymphe, se d᾽ opsetai oucheti gaia oude FON pleusę̄ de monē phygas ēpeiroio. Heautois ē ō tlēmon, schybalon polemou lygron essę̄, Heō kysi kai potamois kai ᾿ domphaiaisi pesousa. ō tlēmon ge Korinϑe, sy d᾽ amph᾽ autēn baryn Arēn

There will come a time indeed when all evil and ill-fated Ilias, pitiably, will drink out a tomb, not a marriage, where deeply the brides will weep, because they did not perceive God, but always gave forth noise with drums and clapping. Prophesy, Colophon: a great and fearful fire hangs over you. Thessaly, unhappy in marriage, the earth will no longer see you, nor …; but you alone will sail, a fugitive from the mainland. … O wretched one, you will be the grievous refuse of war, … fallen to dogs and rivers and swords. O wretched Corinth, about yourself grievous Ares

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl pronounces woes on Ilium, Colophon, Thessaly, and Corinth.

  • Several words are garbled in the OCR and are marked "…".

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.51 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-51).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.61Geffcken GCS 8

δέξῃ, δειλαίη, καὶ ἐν ἀλλήλοις ἀπολεῖσϑε. Τύρε, σὺ δ᾽ ἡλίκα (δὴ) λήψῃ μόνη εὐσεβέων γάρ ἀνδρῶν χηρεύουσ᾽ ὀλιγηφρενίῃσι διοίσει. ἃ Συρίη κοίλη, Φοινίχων ὕστατον ἀνδρῶν, οἷς ἐπερευγομένη κεῖται Βηρυτιὰς ἅλμη, τλήμων, οὐχ ἔγνως τὸν σὸν ϑεόν, ὃν ποτ᾽ ἔλουσεν ᾿Ιόρδανος ἐν “τριτάτοισι" καὶ ἔπτατο πνεῦμα πελείῃ, ὃς πρὶν καὶ γαίης τε καὶ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος αὐϑέντης γένετο λόγος πατρὶ πνεύματί 9 ayvo τὸ σάρκα τε δυσάμενος ταχὺς ἵπτατο πατρὸς ἐς οἴκους.

dexę̄, deilaiē, kai en allēlois apoleisϑe. Tyre, sy d᾽ hēlika (dē) lēpsę̄ monē eusebeōn gar andrōn chēreuous᾽ oligēphrenię̄si dioisei. ha Syriē koilē, Phoinichōn hystaton andrōn, hois epereugomenē keitai Bērytias halmē, tlēmōn, ouch egnōs ton son ϑeon, hon pot᾽ elousen ᾿Iordanos en “tritatoisi" kai eptato pneuma peleię̄, hos prin kai gaiēs te kai ouranou asteroentos auϑentēs geneto logos patri pneumati 9 ayvo to sarka te dysamenos tachys hiptato patros es oikous.

you will receive, wretched one, and you will perish at one another's hands. Tyre, how much you alone will receive! For, bereft of pious men, you will be ruined by folly. O hollow Syria, last land of Phoenician men, against whom the Berytian brine lies belching, wretched one, you did not know your God, whom once the Jordan washed in its third streams, and the Spirit flew as a dove, who before was also the author of earth and of starry heaven, the Word, with the Father and the holy Spirit, and having put on flesh, swiftly flew to his Father's house.

Mark 1:10 (allusion, high confidence) · John 1:3 (allusion, high confidence) · John 1:14 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 28:19 (echo, low confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl laments Syria for not knowing its God, the Word who was baptized in the Jordan, author of creation with the Father and the Spirit, who took flesh and returned to the Father.

  • "In its third streams" (ἐν τριτάτοισι) is obscure, perhaps alluding to triple immersion; uncertain. Echoes: Mark 1:9–10; John 1:1–3, 14; Matt 28:19.

Topics: Christology, Trinity, Baptism

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.61 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-61).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.71Geffcken GCS 8

τρεῖς δ᾽ αὐτῷ πύργους μέγας Οὐρανὸς ἐστήριξεν, ἐν τῷ δὴ ναίουσι ϑεοῦ νῦν μητέρες ἐσϑιλαί, ’Eiris τ᾽ Eöoeßin τε Σεβασμοσύνη τε ποϑεινή, οὐ χρυσῷ χαίρουσαι ἢ ἀργύρῳ, ἀλλὰ σεβασμοῖς ἀνθρώπων ϑυσίαις τε δικαιοτάτοις τε λογισμοῖς. ϑύσεις δ᾽ ἀϑανάτῳ ϑεῷ μεγάλῳ ἀγερώχῳ οὐ χόνδρον τήξας λιβάνου πυρὶ οὐδὲ μαχαίρῃ ἀρνειὸν κόψας λασιότριχα, ἀλλ᾿ ἅμα πᾶσιν, οἱ τεὸν αἷμα φέρουσι, λαβὼν *ayoinva πετεινά εὐξάμενος πέμψεις εἰς οὐρανὸν ὄμματα τείνας"

treis d᾽ autǭ pyrgous megas Ouranos estērixen, en tǭ dē naiousi ϑeou nyn mēteres esϑilai, ’Eiris t᾽ Eooeßin te Sebasmosynē te poϑeinē, ou chrysǭ chairousai ē argyrǭ, alla sebasmois anthrōpōn ϑysiais te dikaiotatois te logismois. ϑyseis d᾽ aϑanatǭ ϑeǭ megalǭ agerōchǭ ou chondron tēxas libanou pyri oude machairę̄ arneion kopsas lasiotricha, all᾿ hama pasin, hoi teon haima pherousi, labōn *ayoinva peteina euxamenos pempseis eis ouranon ommata teinas"

And three towers great Heaven set fast for him, in which now dwell the noble mothers of God, Hope and Piety and longed-for Reverence, rejoicing not in gold or silver, but in the reverence of men, and in sacrifices and in most righteous thoughts. You will sacrifice to the immortal God, great and lordly, not melting a grain of frankincense in the fire, nor with a knife slaying a shaggy ram, but together with all who bear your blood, taking wild birds, having prayed, you will send them to heaven, lifting up your eyes;

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl tells of three towers in heaven where Hope, Piety, and Reverence dwell, and of a sacrifice offered not with incense or slaughter but with prayer and birds released to heaven.

  • "Who bear your blood" means one's kin. The rite described (releasing birds, pouring water on fire) is the oracle's own and does not correspond to a known church practice; translated as written.

Topics: Prayer

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.71 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-71).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.81Geffcken GCS 8

ὕδωρ δὲ σπείσεις καϑαρῷ πυρὶ τοῖα βοήσας" ‚og σε λόγον γέννησε πατήρ "πάτερ" ὄρνιν ἀφῆκα, ὀξὺν ἀπαγγελτῆρα λόγων λόγον, ὕδασιν ἁγνοῖς ῥαίνων σὸν βάπτισμα, di οὗ πυρὸς ἐξεφαάνϑης. --- οὐδὲ ϑύρην κλείσεις, ὅτε τίς σοι ἐπήλυτος ἄλλος ἥξει δευόμενος πενίην λιμόν τ᾽ ἀπερύχειν. ἀλλὰ λαβὼν κεφαλὴν τοῦδ᾽ ἀνέρος ὕδατι ῥδάνας εὖξαι τρίς" τῷ σῷ δὲ ϑεῷ μάλα τοῖα βόησον" οὐκ ἔραμαι πλούτου" λιτὸς δέ τε λιτὸν ἐδέγμην" ἄμφω δὸς σύ, πάτερ, σύ, χορηγητήρ, ἐπάκουσον.

hydōr de speiseis kaϑarǭ pyri toia boēsas" ‚og se logon gennēse patēr "pater" ornin aphēka, oxyn apangeltēra logōn logon, hydasin hagnois rhainōn son baptisma, di hou pyros exephaanϑēs. --- oude ϑyrēn kleiseis, hote tis soi epēlytos allos hēxei deuomenos peniēn limon t᾽ aperychein. alla labōn kephalēn toud᾽ aneros hydati rhdanas euxai tris" tǭ sǭ de ϑeǭ mala toia boēson" ouk eramai ploutou" litos de te liton edegmēn" amphō dos sy, pater, sy, chorēgētēr, epakouson.

and you will pour water on pure fire, crying out thus: "As the Father begot you, the Word, Father, I have released a bird, a swift messenger of words, the Word, sprinkling with holy waters your baptism, through which you were revealed from fire." Nor will you shut the door when some other stranger comes to you, needing to ward off poverty and hunger; but taking this man's head and sprinkling it with water, pray three times; and cry aloud to your God thus: "I do not long for wealth; poor, I have received a poor man; give both, Father; you, the provider, hear me."

Matt 25:35 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl prescribes a prayer with water poured on fire in memory of Christ's baptism, and hospitality to the poor stranger with a threefold prayer.

  • The address and the rite are obscure in the Greek and partly garbled in the OCR; translated by sense.

Topics: Baptism, Prayer, Ethics

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.81 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-81).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.91Geffcken GCS 8

εὐξαμένῳ δώσει 001° ἀπήγαγεν ἔχτοτε δ᾽ ἀνήρ um ϑλίψῃς us, ϑεοῦ ἱερὸν σέβας ἠδὲ δίκαιον, *ayvov ἀδούλωτον περὶ γένναν ἐλεγχϑὲν . . .* τλήμονά μου κραδίην στῆσον, πάτερ' εἰς σὲ δέδορχα, εἰς σὲ τὸν ἄχραντον, τὸν μὴ χέρες ἐργάσσαντο. Σαρδώ, νῦν σὺ βαρεῖα, μεταλλάξῃ ἐς τέφρην. ἔσσῃ δ᾽ οὐχέτι νῆσος, ὅταν δέκατος χρόνος ἔλϑη. ζητήσουσι πλέοντες ἐν ὕδασιν οὐχέτ᾽ ἐοῦσαν, ἀλκυόνες δ᾽ ἐπὶ σοὶ οἰκτρὸν γόον αἰάξουσιν. Movydovin τρηχεῖα, δυσέχβατε πυρσὲ ϑαλάσσης,

euxamenǭ dōsei 001° apēgagen echtote d᾽ anēr um ϑlipsę̄s us, ϑeou hieron sebas ēde dikaion, *ayvov adoulōton peri gennan elenchϑen . . .* tlēmona mou kradiēn stēson, pater' eis se dedorcha, eis se ton achranton, ton mē cheres ergassanto. Sardō, nyn sy bareia, metallaxę̄ es tephrēn. essę̄ d᾽ oucheti nēsos, hotan dekatos chronos elϑē. zētēsousi pleontes en hydasin ouchet᾽ eousan, alkyones d᾽ epi soi oiktron goon aiaxousin. Movydovin trēcheia, dysechbate pyrse ϑalassēs,

To one who prays he will give … ; and thereafter the man … "Do not afflict me, the holy and righteous reverence of God, … pure, unenslaved, … proved concerning birth … Make firm my wretched heart, Father; I have looked to you, to you the undefiled, whom hands did not make." Sardinia, now heavy, you will change into ashes; you will no longer be an island when the tenth time comes. Sailors will seek you on the waters, but you will be no more, and halcyons will wail a piteous lament over you. Rugged Mygdonia, hard to land on, beacon of the sea,

Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.

Acts 17:24 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: After a prayer to the undefiled God whom hands did not make, the Sibyl foretells the disappearance of Sardinia beneath the sea.

  • The first three lines are garbled in the OCR (the editor marks one as corrupt); gaps are marked "…". "Whom hands did not make" echoes Acts 17:24–25.

Topics: Prayer

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.91 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-91).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.101Geffcken GCS 8

αὐχήσεις αἰῶνα, (di) αἰώνων ἀπολέσσῃ ϑερμῷ πνεύματι πᾶσα, μανήσῃ δ᾽ ἄλγεσι πολλοῖς. Κελτὶ γαίη, τὸ δὲ σὸν κατ᾽ 0005, παρὰ δύσβατον "Alnıy, ψάμμος ὅλην χώσει σε βαϑύς" φόρον οὐχέτι δώσεις, οὔ στάχυν, οὐ βοτάνας" πανέρημος ἔσῃ δ᾽ ἀπὸ λαῶν αἰεί, κρυμαλέοις δὲ παχυνομένη χρυστάλλοις λώβην ἐκχτίσεις, ἣν οὐκ ἐνόησας, ἄναγνε. Ῥώμη καρτερόϑυμε, Μακηδονίην μετὰ λόγχην ἀστράψεις ἐς Ὄλυμπον ϑεὸς δέ σε πάμπαν ἄπυστον ποιήσει, ὁπόταν δοχέῃς πολὺ κρεῖσσον ἐς ὄμμα

auchēseis aiōna, (di) aiōnōn apolessę̄ ϑermǭ pneumati pasa, manēsę̄ d᾽ algesi pollois. Kelti gaiē, to de son kat᾽ 0005, para dysbaton "Alnıy, psammos holēn chōsei se baϑys" phoron oucheti dōseis, ou stachyn, ou botanas" panerēmos esę̄ d᾽ apo laōn aiei, krymaleois de pachynomenē chrystallois lōbēn ekchtiseis, hēn ouk enoēsas, anagne. Rhōmē karteroϑyme, Makēdoniēn meta lonchēn astrapseis es Olympon ϑeos de se pampan apyston poiēsei, hopotan docheę̄s poly kreisson es omma

you will boast for an age, but through the ages you will perish wholly by a hot wind, and you will rave with many pains. Celtic land, along your mountain, by the impassable Alps, deep sand will bury you wholly; you will no longer give tribute, no ear of grain, no pasture; you will be wholly desolate of peoples for ever, and thickened with icy crystals you will pay for the outrage which you did not perceive, unholy one. Rome, strong of spirit, after the Macedonian spear you will flash up to Olympus; but God will make you utterly unheard of, when you think, far stronger in appearance,

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl foretells the ruin of Mygdonia, of the Celtic land by the Alps, and of Rome after its rise over Macedonia.

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.101 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-101).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.111Geffcken GCS 8

ἑδραίη μίμνειν" τότε σοι τοιαῦτα βοήσω" ὀλλυμένη φϑέγξῃ λαμπρόν ποτε *xa, μαρμάραν σε" δεύτερά σοι, Ῥώμη, μέλλω πάλι δεύτερα φωνεῖν. ἄρτι δέ σε, Συρίη “λῆμον, “κατοδύρομαι οἰκτρῶς. Θῆβαι δύσβουλοι, ὑμῖν κακὸς ἦχος ἐπέσται αὐλῶν φϑεγγομένων, ὑμῖν σάλπιγξ κακὸν ἦχον ἠχήσει, ὄψεσϑε δ᾽ ἀπολλυμένην χϑόνα πᾶσαν. αἰαῖ σοι τλῆμον, αἰαῖ κοχόϑυμε ϑάλασσα. βρωϑήσῃ πυρὶ πᾶσα καὶ ἐξολέσεις λαὸν ἅλμῃ. ἔσται γάρ τε τοσοῦτον ἐπὶ χϑονὶ μαινόμενον πῦρ,

hedraiē mimnein" tote soi toiauta boēsō" ollymenē phϑenxę̄ lampron pote *xa, marmaran se" deutera soi, Rhōmē, mellō pali deutera phōnein. arti de se, Syriē “lēmon, “katodyromai oiktrōs. Thēbai dysbouloi, hymin kakos ēchos epestai aulōn phϑengomenōn, hymin salpinx kakon ēchon ēchēsei, opsesϑe d᾽ apollymenēn chϑona pasan. aiai soi tlēmon, aiai kochoϑyme ϑalassa. brōϑēsę̄ pyri pasa kai exoleseis laon halmę̄. estai gar te tosouton epi chϑoni mainomenon pyr,

that you will remain firmly established; then I will cry such things to you: "Perishing, you will once cry out aloud … ." A second time, Rome, I am about to speak to you again a second time. And now, wretched Syria, I lament you piteously. Thebes ill-counselled, an evil sound will come upon you of flutes sounding; for you the trumpet will sound an evil sound, and you will see the whole land perishing. Alas for you, wretched one, alas, sea of evil temper! You will be wholly devoured by fire, and destroy the people with brine. For there will be so much raging fire on the earth

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl laments Rome, Syria, and Thebes, and foretells a fire on earth as great as the waters.

  • The second line is garbled in the OCR and is translated in part.

Topics: Eschatology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.111 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-111).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.121Geffcken GCS 8

ὅσσον ὕδωρ, ῥεύσει τε καὶ ἐξολέσει χϑόνα πᾶσαν. φλέξει ὅρη, καύσει ποταμούς, πηγὰς δὲ κενώσει. ἔσται κόσμος ἄκοσμος ἀπολλυμένων ἀνϑρώπων. καιόμενοι δὲ κακῶς τότε τλήμονες ἐμβλέψουσιν οὐρανόν, οὐχ ἄστροις, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν πυρὶ κεκμηῶτα. οὐδὲ ϑοῶς ὀλέχονται, ἀπολλυμένων δ᾽ ὑπὸ σαρχῶν πνεύματι καιόμενοι εἰς αἰώνων ἐνιαυτούς αἰεὶ δυσβασάνιστα ϑεοῦ νόμον εἰδήσουσιν οὐχ ἀπαφητὸν ἐόντα, βιαζομένη δ᾽ ἄρα γαῖα, ὅντινα τολμήσασα ϑεῶν ἐπεδέξατο βωμοῖς

hosson hydōr, rheusei te kai exolesei chϑona pasan. phlexei horē, kausei potamous, pēgas de kenōsei. estai kosmos akosmos apollymenōn anϑrōpōn. kaiomenoi de kakōs tote tlēmones emblepsousin ouranon, ouch astrois, all᾿ en pyri kekmēōta. oude ϑoōs olechontai, apollymenōn d᾽ hypo sarchōn pneumati kaiomenoi eis aiōnōn eniautous aiei dysbasanista ϑeou nomon eidēsousin ouch apaphēton eonta, biazomenē d᾽ ara gaia, hontina tolmēsasa ϑeōn epedexato bōmois

as there is water; and it will flow and destroy the whole earth. It will burn mountains, burn rivers, and empty the springs. The world will be no world, as men perish. And then the wretched, burning miserably, will look up at heaven, not with stars, but worn out in fire. Nor will they perish quickly, but, as their flesh perishes, burning in spirit for years of ages, for ever in grievous torments they will know the law of God to be not deceitful; and the earth, under constraint, whatever gods it dared to receive on its altars,

2 Pet 3:10 (allusion, medium confidence) · Mark 9:48 (echo, low confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl foretells the world's destruction by fire and the endless torment of the wicked, who will learn that God's law does not deceive.

  • "The world will be no world" renders the play on κόσμος ἄκοσμος (an order without order). Echoes: 2 Pet 3:10–12; Mark 9:48.

Topics: Eschatology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.121 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-121).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.131Geffcken GCS 8

ψευδομένη, καπνὸν εἶδε di αἰϑέρος *arlyndevra*. κεῖνοι δὲ τλήσονται ἄγαν πόνον, οἱ διὰ κέρδος αἰσχρὰ προφητεύσουσι κακὸν χρόνον ἀλδαίνοντες. οἱ μὲν δυσάμενοι προβάτων λασιότριχα δινά Ἑβραῖοι ψεύσονται, ὃ μὴ γένος ἔλλαβον αὐτοί, ἀλλὰ λόγοις λαλέοντες ἐπ᾽ ἄλγεσι χερδαντῆρες οὐ βίον ἀλλάξουσι καὶ οὐ πείσουσι δικαίους, οἵτε ϑεὸν πάμπιστα διὰ φρενὸς ἱλάσκονται. ἐν δὲ τρίτῳ κλήρῳ περιτελλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν ὀγδοάδος πρώτης ἄλλος πάλι κόσμος ὁρᾶται.

pseudomenē, kapnon eide di aiϑeros *arlyndevra*. keinoi de tlēsontai agan ponon, hoi dia kerdos aischra prophēteusousi kakon chronon aldainontes. hoi men dysamenoi probatōn lasiotricha dina Hebraioi pseusontai, ho mē genos ellabon autoi, alla logois laleontes ep᾽ algesi cherdantēres ou bion allaxousi kai ou peisousi dikaious, hoite ϑeon pampista dia phrenos hilaskontai. en de tritǭ klērǭ peritellomenōn eniautōn ogdoados prōtēs allos pali kosmos horatai.

deceiving, it saw smoke through the boundless aether. And those will suffer very great toil, who for gain will prophesy shameful things, fostering an evil time. Those who, putting on the shaggy skins of sheep, will falsely claim to be Hebrews, a race they did not receive, but, speaking with words, profiting from sorrows, will not change their life, and will not persuade the righteous, who appease God most faithfully in their minds. And in the third lot of the revolving years of the first ogdoad, another world is seen again.

Matt 7:15 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl condemns false prophets in sheepskins who pretend to be Hebrews for gain, and foretells a new world after the first ogdoad.

  • One word in the first line is garbled in the OCR (read as "boundless"). The false prophets "in the shaggy skins of sheep" echo Matt 7:15; who is meant is uncertain.

Topics: Eschatology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.131 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-131).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.141Geffcken GCS 8

γνὺξ ἔσται πάντη σὺ -- μακρὴ καὶ ἀπειϑής. καὶ τότε μὲν ϑείου δεινὴ περιβήσεται ὀδμή ἀγγέλλουσα φόγους, ὁπόταν κεῖνοι ἀπόλωνται γυχτί TE καὶ λιμῷ᾽ τότε γεννήσει καϑαρὸν νοῦν us ἀνϑρώπων, στήσει δὲ τεὸν γένος, ος πάρος ἣν σοι" οὐχέτι τις κόψει βαϑὺν αὐλακα γυρῷ ἀρότρφ᾽ οὐ βόες ἰϑυντῆρα κάτω βάψουσι σίδηρον" κλήματα δ᾽ οὐκ ἔσται οὐδὲ στάχυς" ἀλλ᾽ ἅμα πᾶντες μᾶάννην τὴν δροσερὴν λευκοῖσιν ὀδοῦσι φάγονται. σὺν δ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἔσται τότε καὶ ϑεός, ὃς σε διδάξει,

gnyx estai pantē sy -- makrē kai apeiϑēs. kai tote men ϑeiou deinē peribēsetai odmē angellousa phogous, hopotan keinoi apolōntai gychti TE kai limǭ᾽ tote gennēsei kaϑaron noun us anϑrōpōn, stēsei de teon genos, os paros hēn soi" oucheti tis kopsei baϑyn aulaka gyrǭ arotrph᾽ ou boes iϑyntēra katō bapsousi sidēron" klēmata d᾽ ouk estai oude stachys" all᾽ hama pantes maannēn tēn droserēn leukoisin odousi phagontai. syn d᾽ autois estai tote kai ϑeos, hos se didaxei,

There will be night everywhere, … long and unyielding. And then a dread smell of sulphur will spread around, announcing murders, when those perish by night and by hunger; then he will beget a pure mind … of men, and will establish your race, as it was for you before. No longer will anyone cut a deep furrow with the curved plough; no oxen will plunge the guiding iron down; there will be no vine-branches nor ears of grain; but all together will eat the dewy manna with white teeth. And with them then will be God too, who will teach you,

Exod 16:14 (allusion, medium confidence) · Rev 21:3 (echo, medium confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl foretells darkness and sulphur on the wicked, and then a renewed race eating manna, with God among them.

  • Two words are garbled in the OCR and marked "…". Echoes: Exod 16:14–15; Rev 21:3.

Topics: Eschatology

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.141 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-141).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.151Geffcken GCS 8

os ἐμὲ τὴν λυγρήν. ὅσα γὰρ κακὰ πρόσϑεν ἔρεξα εἰδυῖ᾽, ἄλλα τε πολλὰ κακῶς ἐπόνησ᾽ ἀμελοῦσα. μυρία μέν μοι λέκτρα, γάμος δ᾽ οὐδεὶς ἐμελήϑη" πᾶσι δ᾽ ἐγὼ πανάπιστος ἐπήγαγον ἄγριον ὕρχον. δευομένους ἀπέκλεισα καὶ ἐν Ἐπρομολοῦσιν " ἰοῦσα ἘἸχελον εἰς αὐλῶνα ϑεοῦ φάτιν 00x ἐνόησα. tovvsxa πῦρ u ἔφαγεν καὶ βρώσεται" οὐδὲ γὰρ αὐτή ζήσομαι, ἀλλ᾽ ὀλέσει με κακὸς χρόνος, ἔνϑα τάφον μοι ἄνϑρωποι τεύξουσι παρερχόμενοί μὲ ϑαλάσσῃ. καί με λίϑοις ὀλέσουσ᾽ " ἐπ᾿ ἐμῷ γὰρ πατρὶ λαλοῦσα

os eme tēn lygrēn. hosa gar kaka prosϑen erexa eidui᾽, alla te polla kakōs eponēs᾽ amelousa. myria men moi lektra, gamos d᾽ oudeis emelēϑē" pasi d᾽ egō panapistos epēgagon agrion hyrchon. deuomenous apekleisa kai en Epromolousin " iousa EIchelon eis aulōna ϑeou phatin 00x enoēsa. tovvsxa pyr u ephagen kai brōsetai" oude gar autē zēsomai, all᾽ olesei me kakos chronos, enϑa taphon moi anϑrōpoi teuxousi parerchomenoi me ϑalassę̄. kai me liϑois olesous᾽ " ep᾿ emǭ gar patri lalousa

as he taught me, the wretched one. For all the evils I did before, knowingly, and many other things I wickedly wrought through neglect. Countless were my beds, but no marriage was my care; upon all I, utterly faithless, brought a savage oath. I shut out those in need, and going among … … I did not perceive the word of God. Therefore fire has eaten me and will devour me; for I myself will not live, but an evil time will destroy me, when men will build a tomb for me as they pass me by at the sea. And they will kill me with stones; for speaking against my father

Notes and citation

Summary: The Sibyl confesses her own past sins, her many unlawful unions and her neglect of God's word, and foretells her death by stoning.

  • The Sibyl's confession of her own immorality is a known feature of this book; translated as written. Two lines are partly garbled in the OCR and marked "…".

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.151 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-151).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.

7.161Geffcken GCS 8

*yia φίλον" μετέδωκχα. βάλοιτέ με, βάλλετε πάντες" οὕτω γὰρ ζήσω καὶ ἐς οὐρανὸν ouuara πήξω.

*yia philon" metedōkcha. baloite me, ballete pantes" houtō gar zēsō kai es ouranon ouuara pēxō.

… I gave a share to my dear one. Stone me, stone me, all of you; for so I shall live and fix my eyes on heaven.

Notes and citation

Summary: The Seventh Book ends with the Sibyl calling for her own stoning, by which she will live and look to heaven.

  • The first word of the line is garbled in the OCR and marked "…".

Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 7.161 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/6-1/#p-7-161).

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Translation: Translated by Claude from Geffcken's Greek (GCS 8, 1902), Books 6-8; no public-domain English on hand, so the translation was re-read against the Greek.