Sibylline Oracles (Christian books 6-8) 8.1–8.491
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 8
8.1Geffcken GCS 8
Ἐρχομένης μεγάλης ὀργῆς ἐπὶ κόσμον ἀπειϑῆ ἔσχατον εἰς αἰῶνα ϑεοῦ μηνίματα φαίνω πᾶσι προφητεύουσα κατὰ πτόλιν ἀνϑρώποισιν. ἐξότε δὴ πύργος τ᾽ ἔπεσεν γλῶσσαί T ἀνϑρώπων δ ἐς πολλὰς ϑνητῶν ἐμερίσϑησαν διαλέχτους, πρῶτα μὲν Αἰγύπτου βασιλήιον, εἶτα τὸ Περσῶν Μήδων Αἰϑιόπων τε καὶ ᾿ἀσσυρίης Βαβυλῶνος, εἶτα Μακηδονίης τῦφον μέγαν αὐχησάσης, πέμπτον δ᾽ εἶτ᾽ Ἰταλῶν κλεινὴ βασιλεία ἄϑεσμος ὑστάτιον πᾶσιν δείξει κακὰ πολλὰ βροτοῖσιν
Erchomenēs megalēs orgēs epi kosmon apeiϑē eschaton eis aiōna ϑeou mēnimata phainō pasi prophēteuousa kata ptolin anϑrōpoisin. exote dē pyrgos t᾽ epesen glōssai T anϑrōpōn d es pollas ϑnētōn emerisϑēsan dialechtous, prōta men Aigyptou basilēion, eita to Persōn Mēdōn Aiϑiopōn te kai ᾿assyriēs Babylōnos, eita Makēdoniēs typhon megan auchēsasēs, pempton d᾽ eit᾽ Italōn kleinē basileia aϑesmos hystation pasin deixei kaka polla brotoisin
As great wrath comes upon a disobedient world in the last age, I make known the wrath of God, prophesying to all men city by city. Ever since the tower fell and the tongues of men were divided into the many dialects of mortals, first the kingdom of Egypt, then that of the Persians, of the Medes, the Ethiopians, and Assyrian Babylon, then that of Macedonia, which boasted great pride, then fifth the famous and lawless kingdom of the Italians will show, last of all, many evils to all mortals
Gen 11:9 (allusion, high confidence) · Dan 2:40 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Eighth Book opens with the Sibyl announcing God's wrath in the last age and reviewing the kingdoms since Babel, ending with Rome.
- A margin line numeral in the OCR is left out. Echoes: Gen 11:1–9; Dan 2:31–45; Dan 7:2–8.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.1 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-1).
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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.
8.11Geffcken GCS 8
καὶ πάσης γαίης ἀνδρῶν μόχϑους δαπανήσει. ἄξει δ᾽ ἀκμῆτας βασιλεῖς ἐϑνῶν ἐπὶ δυσμάς καὶ ϑεσμοὺς ϑήσει λαοῖς καὶ navy ὑποτάξει. ὀψὲ ϑεοῦ μύλοι *Y* ἀλέουσι τὸ λεπτὸν ἄλευρον. πῦρ τότε πάντ᾽ ὀλέσει καὶ λεπτὸν χοῦν ἀποδώσει ὑψικόμων ὀρέων κορυφὰς καὶ σαρκὸς ἁπάσης. ἀρχὴ πᾶσι κακῶν φιλοχρημοσύγνη καὶ ἄνοια. χρυσοῦ γὰρ δολίοιο καὶ ἀργυρίου πόϑος ἔσται" οὐδὲν γὰρ τούτων ϑνητοὶ μεῖζον προέχριναν, οὐ φάος ἠελίου, οὐκ οὐρανόν, οὐδὲ ϑάλασσαν,
kai pasēs gaiēs andrōn mochϑous dapanēsei. axei d᾽ akmētas basileis eϑnōn epi dysmas kai ϑesmous ϑēsei laois kai navy hypotaxei. opse ϑeou myloi *Y* aleousi to lepton aleuron. pyr tote pant᾽ olesei kai lepton choun apodōsei hypsikomōn oreōn koryphas kai sarkos hapasēs. archē pasi kakōn philochrēmosygnē kai anoia. chrysou gar dolioio kai argyriou poϑos estai" ouden gar toutōn ϑnētoi meizon proechrinan, ou phaos ēeliou, ouk ouranon, oude ϑalassan,
and will consume the toils of men of all the earth. And it will lead the unwearied kings of the nations to the west, and lay down laws for peoples and subdue all things. Late do the mills of God grind the fine flour. Then fire will destroy all and render to fine dust the peaks of lofty-crested mountains and all flesh. The beginning of evils for all is love of money and folly. For there will be a longing for deceitful gold and silver; for mortals have preferred nothing greater than these, not the light of the sun, not heaven, nor the sea,
1 Tim 6:10 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells Rome's universal rule and the final fire, and names love of money as the beginning of all evils.
- "Late do the mills of God grind" is a Greek proverb ("the mills of the gods grind slowly"). Echoes: 1 Tim 6:10.
Topics: Eschatology, Ethics
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.11 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-11).
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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.
8.21Geffcken GCS 8
οὐ γαῖαν πλατύνωτον, ὅϑεν φύουσιν ἅπαντα, οὐ τὸν πάντα διδόντα ϑεόν, γεννήτορα πάντων, οὐ πίστιν τούτων καὶ εὐσεβίην προέκχριναν. πηγὴ δυσσεβίης καὶ ἀταξίης προοδηγός, μηχανίη πολέμων, εἰρήνης ἐχϑρὰ ἀνία ἐχϑραίνουσα τέχνοις γονέας καὶ τέχνα γονεῦσιν. κοὐδὲ γάμος δίχα χρυσοῦ ὅλως ποτὲ τίμιος ἔσται. γαῖά 8ϑ᾽ ὅρους ἕξει καὶ φρουροὺς πᾶσα ϑάλασσα πᾶσι μεριζομένη δολίως τοῖς χρυσὸν ἔχουσιν" 8 ὧἧς αἰῶσι ϑέλοντες ἔχειν πολυϑρέμμονα γαῖαν
ou gaian platynōton, hoϑen phyousin hapanta, ou ton panta didonta ϑeon, gennētora pantōn, ou pistin toutōn kai eusebiēn proekchrinan. pēgē dyssebiēs kai ataxiēs proodēgos, mēchaniē polemōn, eirēnēs echϑra ania echϑrainousa technois goneas kai techna goneusin. koude gamos dicha chrysou holōs pote timios estai. gaia 8ϑ᾽ horous hexei kai phrourous pasa ϑalassa pasi merizomenē doliōs tois chryson echousin" 8 hōēs aiōsi ϑelontes echein polyϑremmona gaian
not the broad-backed earth, from which all things grow, not God who gives all things, the begetter of all; nor have they preferred faith and piety to these. Source of impiety and leader of disorder, contriver of wars, hateful grief of peace, making parents enemies to children and children to parents. Nor will marriage ever be honoured at all without gold. And the earth will have boundaries, and every sea its guards, divided deceitfully among all who have gold; … wishing to hold for ages the earth that nourishes many
Mic 7:6 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl condemns the love of gold as the source of impiety, war, and broken families, which makes even marriage a matter of gold.
- The first word of the last line is garbled in the OCR and marked "…".
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.21 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-21).
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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.
8.31Geffcken GCS 8
πορϑήσουσι πένητας, ἵν αὐτοὶ πλείονα χῶρον προσπορίσαντες ἀλαζονίῃ καταδουλώσωσιν. κεὶ μὴ γαῖα πέλωρος ἀπ᾽ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος τὸν ϑρόνον εἶχε μακρήν, οὐχ ἦν ἴσον ἀνδράσι φέγγος, ἀλλ᾽ ἀγοραζόμενον χρυσῷ πλουτοῦσιν ὑπῆρχεν καὶ πτωχοῖς αἰῶν᾽ ἕτερον ϑεὸς ἡτοίμαζεν. ἥξει σοί ποτ᾽ ἄνωϑεν ἴση, ὑψαύχενε Ῥώμη, οὐράνιος πληγὴ καὶ κάμψεις αὐχένα πρώτη κἀξεδαφισϑήσῃ καὶ πῦρ σε ὅλην δαπανήσει κεκλιμένην ἐδάφεσσιν Eols, καὶ πλοῦτος ὀλεῖται
porϑēsousi penētas, hin autoi pleiona chōron prosporisantes alazonię̄ katadoulōsōsin. kei mē gaia pelōros ap᾽ ouranou asteroentos ton ϑronon eiche makrēn, ouch ēn ison andrasi phengos, all᾽ agorazomenon chrysǭ ploutousin hypērchen kai ptōchois aiōn᾽ heteron ϑeos hētoimazen. hēxei soi pot᾽ anōϑen isē, hypsauchene Rhōmē, ouranios plēgē kai kampseis auchena prōtē kaxedaphisϑēsę̄ kai pyr se holēn dapanēsei keklimenēn edaphessin Eols, kai ploutos oleitai
they will plunder the poor, so that, acquiring more land for themselves, they may enslave them in their arrogance. And if the huge earth did not hold its throne far off from the starry heaven, the light would not be equal for men, but would be bought with gold and belong to the rich, and God would have prepared another age for the poor. There will come upon you one day from above, high-necked Rome, an equal heavenly stroke, and you will be the first to bend your neck, and you will be razed to the ground, and fire will consume you wholly, laid low upon your foundations, and your wealth will perish,
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl condemns the rich who plunder the poor and foretells a heavenly blow that will raze proud Rome.
- One word in the last line is garbled in the OCR.
Topics: Ethics, Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.31 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-31).
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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.
8.41Geffcken GCS 8
καὶ σὰ ϑέμειλα λύκοι καὶ ἀλώπεκες οἰκήσουσιν. καὶ τότ᾽ ἔσῃ πανέρημος ὅλως, ὡς μὴ γεγονυῖα. ποῦ τότε Παλλάδιον; ποῖός σε ϑεὸς διασώσει, χρυσοῦς ἢ λίϑινος ἢ χάλκεος; ἢ τότε ποῦ σοι δόγματα συγκλήτου; ποῦ Ῥείης ἠὲ Κρόνοιο ἠὲ Διὸς γενεὴ καὶ πάντων, ὧν ἐσεβάσϑης, δαίμονας ἀψύχους, νεκύων εἴδωλα καμόντων, ὧν Κρήτη καύχημα τάφους ἡ δύσμορος ἕξει, ϑρησχεύουσα ϑρόνωσιν ἀναισϑήτοις νεκύεσσιν. ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε σοι βασιλεῖς, χλιδανή, τρὶς πέντε γένωνται
kai sa ϑemeila lykoi kai alōpekes oikēsousin. kai tot᾽ esę̄ panerēmos holōs, hōs mē gegonuia. pou tote Palladion? poios se ϑeos diasōsei, chrysous ē liϑinos ē chalkeos? ē tote pou soi dogmata synklētou? pou Rheiēs ēe Kronoio ēe Dios geneē kai pantōn, hōn esebasϑēs, daimonas apsychous, nekyōn eidōla kamontōn, hōn Krētē kauchēma taphous hē dysmoros hexei, ϑrēscheuousa ϑronōsin anaisϑētois nekyessin. all᾽ hote soi basileis, chlidanē, tris pente genōntai
and wolves and foxes will dwell in your foundations. And then you will be wholly desolate, as if you had never been. Where then is the Palladium? What god will save you, of gold or stone or bronze? Or where then for you are the decrees of the senate? Where is the race of Rhea or of Cronus or of Zeus, and of all whom you revered, lifeless demons, images of the worn-out dead, whose tombs ill-fated Crete will have as its boast, worshipping with thrones senseless corpses? But when, luxurious one, you have had three times five kings
Lam 5:18 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl mocks Rome's gods as lifeless demons and dead men whose tombs are in Crete, and foretells her desolation.
- The claim that the Greek gods were dead men buried in Crete (the tomb of Zeus) is a commonplace of Christian polemic; translated as written. Echoes: Isa 13:21–22; Lam 5:18.
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.41 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-41).
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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.
8.51Geffcken GCS 8
χόσμον δουλώσαντες ἀπ᾽ ἀντολίης μέχρι δυσμῶν, Ἐ σσετ᾽ ἄναξ πολιόχρανος ἔχων πέλας οὔνομα πόντου" κόσμον ἐποπτεύων μιαρῷ ποόί, δῶρα πορίζον, χρυσὸν μὲν πάμπλειστον ἔχον καὶ ἄργυρον ἐχϑρῶν πλείονα συλλέξας καὶ γυμνώσας ἀναλύσει. καὶ μαγικῶν ἀδύτων μυστήρια πᾶντα μεϑέξει, παῖδα ϑεὸν δεικνύσει, ἅπαντα σεβάσματα λύσει, Ἐχὰξ ἀρχῆς" τὰ πλάνης μυστήρια πᾶσιν ἀνοίξει. αἴλινος ἔκτοτε καιρός, or’ Allwog αὐτὸς ὀλεῖται. καί ποτε δῆμος ἐρεῖ ,μέγα σὸν κράτος, ἄστυ, πεσεῖται"
chosmon doulōsantes ap᾽ antoliēs mechri dysmōn, E sset᾽ anax poliochranos echōn pelas ounoma pontou" kosmon epopteuōn miarǭ pooi, dōra porizon, chryson men pampleiston echon kai argyron echϑrōn pleiona syllexas kai gymnōsas analysei. kai magikōn adytōn mystēria panta meϑexei, paida ϑeon deiknysei, hapanta sebasmata lysei, Echax archēs" ta planēs mystēria pasin anoixei. ailinos ektote kairos, or’ Allwog autos oleitai. kai pote dēmos erei ,mega son kratos, asty, peseitai"
who have enslaved the world from the east to the west, there will be a grey-headed lord, having a name close to that of a sea, surveying the world with polluted foot, bestowing gifts, having very much gold, and gathering still more silver from his enemies, and stripping them he will … . And he will take part in all the mysteries of the magic shrines, he will display a boy as a god, he will undo all objects of reverence, … he will open to all the mysteries of error. Thenceforth a time of lament, when he himself will perish. And one day the people will say: "Your great power, city, will fall,"
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells a grey-headed emperor named like a sea, who travels the world, joins in the mysteries, and makes a boy a god.
- The emperor is Hadrian (named like the Adriatic), who deified his favourite Antinous. Several words are garbled in the OCR and marked "…".
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.51 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-51).
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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.
8.61Geffcken GCS 8
εἰδὼς εὐϑὺ τὸ μέλλον ἐπερχόμενον» κακὸν ἦμαρ. καὶ τότε πενϑήσουσιν ὁμοῦ τὴν σὴν προβλέποντες οἰκτροτάτην μοῖραν πατέρες καὶ νήπια τέχνα" αἴλινα ϑρηνήσουσι λυγροὶ παρὰ Θύμβριδος ύχϑαις. τὸν μέτα τρεῖς ἄρξουσι πανύστατον ἦμαρ ἔχοντες, οὔνομα πληρώσαντες ἐπουρανίοιο ϑεοῖο, οὐ τὸ χρᾶάτος καὶ νῦν καὶ εἰς αἰῶνας ἅπαντας. εἷς μὲν πρέσβυς ἐὼν σκήπτρων ἐπὶ πουλὺ κρατήσει, οἰκτρότατος βασιλεύς, ὃς χρήματα κόσμου ἅπαντα τὸ δώμασιν ἐγκλείσει τηρῶν, ἵν᾽, ὅταν Y ἐπανέλϑῃ
eidōs euϑy to mellon eperchomenon» kakon ēmar. kai tote penϑēsousin homou tēn sēn problepontes oiktrotatēn moiran pateres kai nēpia techna" ailina ϑrēnēsousi lygroi para Thymbridos ychϑais. ton meta treis arxousi panystaton ēmar echontes, ounoma plērōsantes epouranioio ϑeoio, ou to chraatos kai nyn kai eis aiōnas hapantas. heis men presbys eōn skēptrōn epi pouly kratēsei, oiktrotatos basileus, hos chrēmata kosmou hapanta to dōmasin enkleisei tērōn, hin᾽, hotan Y epanelϑę̄
knowing at once the coming evil day. And then together they will mourn, foreseeing your most piteous fate, fathers and little children; wretched, they will sing laments beside the banks of the Tiber. After him three will rule, having the very last day, fulfilling the name of the heavenly God, whose is the power both now and for all ages. One, being old, will hold the sceptres for a long time, a most piteous king, who all the riches of the world will shut up in his houses, guarding them, so that, when there returns
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells mourning at the Tiber and three rulers after Hadrian, the first an old king hoarding the world's wealth.
- The three rulers after Hadrian are the Antonine emperors; "fulfilling the name of the heavenly God" is obscure (perhaps the title Pius).
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.61 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-61).
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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.
8.71Geffcken GCS 8
&x περάτων γαίης ὃ φυγὰς μητροχτόγνος αἴϑοων, ταῦτα ἅπασι διδοὺς πλοῦτον μέγαν Asidı ϑήσει. καὶ τότε πενϑήσεις πλατυπόρφυρον ἡγεμονήων "pös* ἐχδυσαμένη καὶ πένϑιμον εἶμα φοροῦσα, τὸ ὦ βασιλὶς μεγάλαυχε, Aatıwidog ἔχγονε Ῥώμης" οὐχέτι σοι τῆς σῆς μεγαλαυχενίης κλέος ἔσται, οὐδ᾽ ὀρϑωϑήσῃ ποτὲ δύσμορος, ἀλλὰ κλιϑήσῃ᾽ καὶ γὰρ ἀετοφόρων λεγεώνων δόξα πεσεῖται. ᾿ ποῦ τότε σοι τὸ κράτος; ποία γῆ σύμμαχος ἔσται δουλωϑεῖσα τεαῖς ματαιοφροσύνῃσιν ἀϑέσμως;
&x peratōn gaiēs ho phygas mētrochtognos aiϑoōn, tauta hapasi didous plouton megan Asidı ϑēsei. kai tote penϑēseis platyporphyron hēgemonēōn "pos* echdysamenē kai penϑimon eima phorousa, to ō basilis megalauche, Aatıwidog echgone Rhōmēs" oucheti soi tēs sēs megalaucheniēs kleos estai, oud᾽ orϑōϑēsę̄ pote dysmoros, alla kliϑēsę̄᾽ kai gar aetophorōn legeōnōn doxa peseitai. ᾿ pou tote soi to kratos? poia gē symmachos estai doulōϑeisa teais mataiophrosynę̄sin aϑesmōs?
from the ends of the earth the fugitive mother-slayer, blazing, he will give these things to all and set great wealth for Asia. And then you will mourn, having put off the broad-purple robe of rulers and wearing a garment of mourning, O boastful queen, offspring of Latin Rome; no longer will you have the glory of your arrogance, nor will you ever be raised up, ill-fated one, but you will lie low; for the glory of the eagle-bearing legions too will fall. Where then is your power? What land will be your ally, lawlessly enslaved by your vain thoughts?
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells the return of the fugitive mother-slayer and the fall of Rome's glory and legions.
- "The fugitive mother-slayer" is Nero, whose return from the east was expected in legend; translated as written. One word is garbled in the OCR.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.71 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-71).
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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.
8.81Geffcken GCS 8
πάσης γὰρ γαίης ϑνητῶν τότε σύγχυσις ἔσται, αὐτὸς ὃ παντοχράτωρ ὅταν ἐλϑὼν βήματι κρίνῃ ζώντων καὶ νεκύων ψυχὰς καὶ κόσμον ἅπαντα. ® κοῦτε γονεῖς τέχνοισι φίλοι, οὐ τέχνα γονεῦσιν ἔσσονται διὰ δυσσεβίην καὶ ϑλῖψιν ἄελπτον. ἔχτοτέ σοι βρυγμὸς καὶ σκορπισμὸς καὶ. ἅλωσις, πτῶσις ὅταν ἔλϑῃ πόλεων καὶ χάσματα γαίης" πορφύρεός τε δράχων ὁπόταν ἐπὶ κύμασιν ἔλϑῃ γαστέρι πλῆϑος ἔχων καὶ ϑρέψει σεῖο τὰ τέκνα ἐσσομένου λιμοῦ TE καὶ ἐμφυλίου πολέμοιο,
pasēs gar gaiēs ϑnētōn tote synchysis estai, autos ho pantochratōr hotan elϑōn bēmati krinę̄ zōntōn kai nekyōn psychas kai kosmon hapanta. ® koute goneis technoisi philoi, ou techna goneusin essontai dia dyssebiēn kai ϑlipsin aelpton. echtote soi brygmos kai skorpismos kai. halōsis, ptōsis hotan elϑę̄ poleōn kai chasmata gaiēs" porphyreos te drachōn hopotan epi kymasin elϑę̄ gasteri plēϑos echōn kai ϑrepsei seio ta tekna essomenou limou TE kai emphyliou polemoio,
For then there will be confusion of mortals over all the earth, when the Almighty himself comes and judges from his tribunal the souls of the living and of the dead, and the whole world. Neither will parents be friends to their children, nor children to their parents, because of impiety and unlooked-for affliction. Thenceforth for you there will be gnashing and scattering and capture, when the fall of cities comes, and chasms of the earth; and when the purple dragon comes upon the waves, having a multitude in his belly, and afflicts your children, when there is to be famine and civil war,
2 Tim 4:1 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 10:21 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 8:12 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells the coming of the Almighty to judge the living and the dead, and the calamities that will befall Rome.
- "Afflicts" reads the OCR's θρέψει by sense. A stray mark in the OCR is left out. Echoes: 2 Tim 4:1; Mic 7:6 and Matt 10:21; Matt 8:12 (gnashing).
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.81 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-81).
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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.
8.91Geffcken GCS 8
ἐγγὺς μὲν κόσμου τὸ τέλος καὶ ἔσχατον ἥμαρ καὶ *doxiuoıs* κλητοῖς κρίσις ἀϑανάτοιο ϑεοῖο. πρῶτα δὲ Ῥωμαίων ἀπαραίτητος χόλος ἔσται, αἱμοπότης καιρὸς καὶ δύστηνος βίος ἥξει. αἰαῖ σοι, Train χώρη, μέγα βάρβαρον ἔϑνος, οὐχ ἐνόησας, ὅϑεν γυμνὴ καὶ ἀνάξιος ἦλϑες πρὸς φάος ἠελίοιο, ἵν᾿ εἰς αὐτὸν πάλι χῶρον γυμνὴ χωρήσῃς καὶ ὕστερον ἐς κρίσιν ἔλϑῃς ὡς ἀδίκως κρίνουσα.......« «νον νιν νον χερσὶ γιγαντείῃσι μόνη κατὰ κόσμον ἅπαντα
engys men kosmou to telos kai eschaton hēmar kai *doxiuoıs* klētois krisis aϑanatoio ϑeoio. prōta de Rhōmaiōn aparaitētos cholos estai, haimopotēs kairos kai dystēnos bios hēxei. aiai soi, Train chōrē, mega barbaron eϑnos, ouch enoēsas, hoϑen gymnē kai anaxios ēlϑes pros phaos ēelioio, hin᾿ eis auton pali chōron gymnē chōrēsę̄s kai hysteron es krisin elϑę̄s hōs adikōs krinousa.......« «non nin non chersi giganteię̄si monē kata kosmon hapanta
near is the end of the world and the last day, and the judgment of the immortal God for the approved who are called. But first there will be implacable wrath against the Romans; a blood-drinking time and a wretched life will come. Alas for you, Italian land, great barbarian nation, you did not perceive whence you came, naked and unworthy, to the light of the sun, so that to the same place again you may go naked, and afterwards come to judgment as one who judges unjustly … . With giant hands, alone throughout the whole world,
Job 1:21 (allusion, medium confidence) · Eccl 5:15 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl announces that the end and the last judgment are near, beginning with wrath on Rome, which came naked into the world and will go naked to judgment.
- One line is broken off in the OCR (marked "…"). "Approved" reads by sense a garbled word. Echoes: Job 1:21; Eccl 5:15.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.91 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-91).
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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.
8.101Geffcken GCS 8
ἐξ ὕψους ἐλϑοῦσα κατοικήσεις ὑπὸ γαῖαν. νάφϑῃ κἀσφάλτῳ καὶ ϑείῳ καὶ πυρὶ πολλῷ ἐξαφανισϑήσῃ καὶ ἔσῃ κόνις αἰώνεσσιν αἰϑομένη" καὶ πᾶς ὁ βλέπων μυχηϑμὸν ἀκούσει 1 πένϑιμον ἐξ ᾿Δίδαο μέγαν καὶ βρυγμὸν ὀδόντων καὶ ταῖς σαῖς παλάμαις ἄϑεα στήϑη παταγοῦσαν. πᾶσιν ὁμοῦ νύξ ἐστιν ἴση τοῖς πλοῦτον ἔχουσιν καὶ πτωχοῖς" γυμνοὶ δ᾽ ἀπὸ γῆς, γυμνοὶ πάλιν ἐς γῆν ἥξαντες λήγουσι βίου χρόνον ἐκχτελέσαντες. το οὐδεὶς δοῦλος ἐχεῖ, οὐ κύριος, οὐδὲ τύραννος,
ex hypsous elϑousa katoikēseis hypo gaian. naphϑę̄ kasphaltǭ kai ϑeiǭ kai pyri pollǭ exaphanisϑēsę̄ kai esę̄ konis aiōnessin aiϑomenē" kai pas ho blepōn mychēϑmon akousei 1 penϑimon ex ᾿Didao megan kai brygmon odontōn kai tais sais palamais aϑea stēϑē patagousan. pasin homou nyx estin isē tois plouton echousin kai ptōchois" gymnoi d᾽ apo gēs, gymnoi palin es gēn hēxantes lēgousi biou chronon ekchtelesantes. to oudeis doulos echei, ou kyrios, oude tyrannos,
having come down from on high, you will dwell beneath the earth. With naphtha and asphalt and sulphur and much fire you will vanish, and be dust for ages, burning; and everyone who looks will hear a great mournful bellowing from Hades, and gnashing of teeth, and you beating your godless breasts with your palms. For all alike there is equal night, for those who have wealth and for the poor; naked from the earth, naked again into the earth they come, and cease from life when they have completed their time. No one is slave there, no lord, nor tyrant,
Gen 19:24 (echo, medium confidence) · Rev 19:20 (echo, medium confidence) · Matt 13:42 (echo, medium confidence) · Job 3:19 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells Rome's burning and descent to Hades, and says that death levels rich and poor, who go naked into the earth.
- Margin numerals in the OCR are left out. Echoes: Gen 19:24; Rev 19:20; Matt 13:42; Job 1:21; Job 3:19.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.101 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-101).
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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.
8.111Geffcken GCS 8
οὐ βασιλεῖς, οὐχ ἡγεμόνες μᾶλα τῦφον» ἔχοντες, οὐ γνομικὸς ῥήτωρ, 00x ἄρχων χρήμασι κρίνων' οὐ ϑυσιῶν σπονδαῖς ἐπὶ βωμοῖς αἷμα χέουσιν᾽ τύμπανον οὐχ ἠχεῖ, οὐ κύμβαλον...........- οὐχ αὐλὸς πολύτρητος, ἔχοντα φρενοβλάβον αὐδήν, οὐ σχολιοῦ σύριγμα φέρον μίμημα δράκοντος, οὐ σάλπιγξ πολέμων ἀγγέλτρια βαρβαρόφωνος" οὐ κώμοις μεϑύοντες ἀϑέσμοις, οὐχὶ χορείαις" οὐ φϑόγγος κιϑάρης, οὐ μηχανίη κακοεργός" οὐχ ἔρις, οὐχ ὀργὴ πολυποίκιλος, οὐδὲ μάχαιρα
ou basileis, ouch hēgemones mala typhon» echontes, ou gnomikos rhētōr, 00x archōn chrēmasi krinōn' ou ϑysiōn spondais epi bōmois haima cheousin᾽ tympanon ouch ēchei, ou kymbalon...........- ouch aulos polytrētos, echonta phrenoblabon audēn, ou scholiou syrigma pheron mimēma drakontos, ou salpinx polemōn angeltria barbarophōnos" ou kōmois meϑyontes aϑesmois, ouchi choreiais" ou phϑongos kiϑarēs, ou mēchaniē kakoergos" ouch eris, ouch orgē polypoikilos, oude machaira
no kings, no leaders with great pride, no orator full of maxims, no ruler judging for money; they do not pour blood on altars with libations of sacrifices; no drum sounds, no cymbal …, no many-holed flute, with its voice that harms the mind, no piping that bears the likeness of the crooked serpent, no barbarous-voiced trumpet, messenger of wars; no drunkards at lawless revels, no dances; no sound of the lyre, no evil-working contrivance; no strife, no many-coloured anger, no sword
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl lists the ranks, rites, music, and strife of this life that will have no place among the dead.
- The end of one line is lost in the OCR (marked "…").
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.111 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-111).
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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.
8.121Geffcken GCS 8
ἔστι παρὰ φϑιμένοις, ἀλλ᾽ αἰὼν κοινὸς ἅπασιν. παῖδες καὶ παίδων τούτου γενεὴ "ἀσαλεύτων Ὁ" ὡς γὰρ ϑέσφατόν ἐστι περιπλομένοιο χρόνοιο, ὁππόταν Αἰγύπτου βασιλεῖς τρὶς πέντε γένωνται. ἔνϑεν ὅταν φοίνικος ἐπέλϑῃ πενταχρόνοιο μο Ὃᾷἥξει πορϑήσων λαῶν γένος, ἄκριτα φῦλα, Ἑβραίων ἔϑνος. τότ᾽ "Aons ᾿άρεα προνομεύσει, Ῥωμαίων ὑπέροπλον ἀπειλὴν αὐτὸς ὀλέσσει. Astro {γὰρ) Ῥώμης ἀρχὴ τότε τηλεϑόωσα, ἀρχαίη πολέεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἄνασσα.
esti para phϑimenois, all᾽ aiōn koinos hapasin. paides kai paidōn toutou geneē "asaleutōn Ho" hōs gar ϑesphaton esti periplomenoio chronoio, hoppotan Aigyptou basileis tris pente genōntai. enϑen hotan phoinikos epelϑę̄ pentachronoio mo Hoąēxei porϑēsōn laōn genos, akrita phyla, Hebraiōn eϑnos. tot᾽ "Aons ᾿area pronomeusei, Rhōmaiōn hyperoplon apeilēn autos olessei. Astro {gar) Rhōmēs archē tote tēleϑoōsa, archaiē poleessi periktionessin anassa.
is there among the dead, but an age common to all. Children, and the race of this one's children, unshaken … For so it has been decreed as time revolves, when the kings of Egypt have become three times five. Then, when the phoenix's period of five comes, there will come, to ravage the race of peoples, the tribes beyond judgment, the nation of the Hebrews. Then Ares will plunder Ares, and will himself destroy the overweening threat of the Romans. For then the flourishing rule of Rome will perish, the ancient queen over many neighbouring cities.
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells, at an appointed time marked by the phoenix, the destruction of Rome's long rule.
- The second line is garbled in the OCR and marked "…". The phoenix's period and the role given to "the nation of the Hebrews" are obscure; translated as printed.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.121 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-121).
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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.
8.131Geffcken GCS 8
Se ’ nm: ὃ ᾽ ‚ οὐχέτι vırnosıe πέδον Ῥώμης ἐριϑήλου, ς , 2 > , , ” \ ” ὁππόταν ἐξ Ασίης χρατέων ἔλϑῃ σὺν Aonı. ταῦτα δὲ πάντ᾽ ἔρξας ἥξει κρηπισϑὲν ἐς ἄστυ. τρὶς δὲ τριηκοσίους καὶ τεσσαράχοντα καὶ ὀκτώ πληρώσεις λυχάβαντας, ὅταν σοι δύσμορος ἥξῃ
Se ’ nm: ho ᾽ ‚ oucheti vırnosıe pedon Rhōmēs eriϑēlou, s , 2 > , , ” \ ” hoppotan ex Asiēs chrateōn elϑę̄ syn Aonı. tauta de pant᾽ erxas hēxei krēpisϑen es asty. tris de triēkosious kai tessarachonta kai oktō plērōseis lychabantas, hotan soi dysmoros hēxę̄
No longer will the plain of fertile Rome be victorious, when from Asia the one who rules comes with Ares. And having done all these things he will come to the city, founded. Three times three hundred and forty and eight years you will fulfil, when there comes upon you an ill-fated
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells that Rome will last 948 years before its doom comes.
- Two lines of the OCR consist only of misread accent marks and are left out. 948 is the numerical value of the Greek letters of the name Ῥώμη ("Rome"), as 8.141 explains ("having fulfilled your name").
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.131 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-131).
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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.
8.141Geffcken GCS 8
μοῖρα βιαξομένη τεὸν οὔνομα πληρώσασα.
moira biaxomenē teon ounoma plērōsasa.
fate, overpowering you, having fulfilled your name.
Notes and citation
Summary: The doom of Rome comes when the number of its name is fulfilled.
- This line completes the sentence of 8.131.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.141 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-141).
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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.
8.151Geffcken GCS 8
οἴμοι ἐγὼ τριτάλαινα, πότ᾽ ὄψομαι ἦμαρ ἐκεῖνο Ἐσεῖό ποτε, Ῥώμη, πᾶσιν δὲ μάλιστα Λατίνοις; κώμαϊζ᾽, εἰ βούλει σύ, τὸν ἐν χρυφίαισι λοχείαις ᾿Ασίδος ἐκ γαίης ἐπὶ Τρωικὸν ἀρμ᾽ ἐπιβάντα, x ” > Ὑ o x , ϑυμὸν ἔχοντ᾽ αἴϑωνος. ὅταν δ᾽ Ισϑμὸν διακόψῃ παπταίνων, ἐπὶ πάντας ἰών, πέλαγος διαμείψας, καὶ τότε ϑῆρα μέγαν μετελεύσεται αἷμα κελαινόν. τὸν δὲ λέοντ᾽ ἐδίωξε κύων ὀλέχοντα νομῆας. σκῆπτρα δ᾽ ἀφαιρήσουσι καὶ εἰς Aldao περήσει. . ἥξει καὶ Ῥοδίοις κακὸν ὕστατον, ἀλλὰ μέγιστον,
oimoi egō tritalaina, pot᾽ opsomai ēmar ekeino Eseio pote, Rhōmē, pasin de malista Latinois? kōmaïz᾽, ei boulei sy, ton en chryphiaisi locheiais ᾿Asidos ek gaiēs epi Trōikon arm᾽ epibanta, x ” > Hy o x , ϑymon echont᾽ aiϑōnos. hotan d᾽ Isϑmon diakopsę̄ paptainōn, epi pantas iōn, pelagos diameipsas, kai tote ϑēra megan meteleusetai haima kelainon. ton de leont᾽ ediōxe kyōn olechonta nomēas. skēptra d᾽ aphairēsousi kai eis Aldao perēsei. . hēxei kai Rhodiois kakon hystaton, alla megiston,
Ah me, thrice-wretched, when shall I see that day … of you, Rome, and above all of all the Latins? Revel, if you will, with him who, from secret births in the land of Asia, mounted the Trojan chariot, having the spirit of a blazing one. But when he cuts through the Isthmus, peering about, going against all, having crossed the sea, then dark blood will pursue the great beast. And the dog pursued the lion that destroys shepherds. And they will take away his sceptres, and he will pass into Hades. There will come to the Rhodians too a last evil, but the greatest,
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl laments Rome's coming day and foretells the return of the emperor who cut through the Isthmus, and his end in Hades.
- The emperor who "cuts through the Isthmus" is Nero (who began a canal at Corinth); translated as written. One word in the second line is garbled and marked "…".
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.151 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-151).
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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.
8.161Geffcken GCS 8
καὶ Θήβῃσι κακή γε μένει μετόπισϑεν ἅλωσις. Αἴγυπτος δ᾽ ἀπολεῖται ὑφ᾽ ἡγεμόνων κακότητος. [ὡς δὲ καὶ οἱ μετόπισϑ᾽ ἔφυγον βροτοὶ αἰπὸν 028900», τρὶς μακαριστὸς ἔην καὶ τετράκις ὄλβιος ἀνήρ. 16 ἔσται καὶ Ῥώμη ῥύμη καὶ Δῆλος ἄδηλος καὶ “Σάμοε ἄμμος m ee ὕστερον * αὖ καὶ ἔπειτά γε τοὺς Πέρσας καχὸν ἥξει ἀνϑ᾽ ὑπερηφανίης, ἀπολεῖται ὕβρις ἅπασα. καὶ τότε (ὃ) ἁγνὸς ἄναξ πάσης γῆς σκῆπτρα κρατήσει εἰς αἰῶνας ἅπαντας (0) τοὺς φϑιμένους ἀνεγείρας.
kai Thēbę̄si kakē ge menei metopisϑen halōsis. Aigyptos d᾽ apoleitai hyph᾽ hēgemonōn kakotētos. [hōs de kai hoi metopisϑ᾽ ephygon brotoi aipon 028900», tris makaristos eēn kai tetrakis olbios anēr. 16 estai kai Rhōmē rhymē kai Dēlos adēlos kai “Samoe ammos m ee hysteron * au kai epeita ge tous Persas kachon hēxei anϑ᾽ hyperēphaniēs, apoleitai hybris hapasa. kai tote (ho) hagnos anax pasēs gēs skēptra kratēsei eis aiōnas hapantas (0) tous phϑimenous anegeiras.
and for Thebes too an evil capture awaits hereafter. And Egypt will perish through the wickedness of its rulers. Rome will be a lane, and Delos invisible, and Samos sand … . And afterwards evil will come upon the Persians in return for their arrogance; all insolence will perish. And then the holy King will hold the sceptres of all the earth for all ages, having raised the dead.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Dan 7:14 (echo, medium confidence) · Rev 11:15 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells the ruin of Thebes, Egypt, Rome, Delos, Samos, and Persia, and the everlasting reign of the holy King who raises the dead.
- Two lines that the editor sets in square brackets ("And as the mortals afterwards fled … thrice blessed was he and four times happy the man") are treated as deleted and not translated. "Rome a lane, Delos invisible, Samos sand" renders the Greek puns Ῥώμη ῥύμη, Δῆλος ἄδηλος, Σάμος ἄμμος; the rest of that line is lost in the OCR. A margin numeral is left out.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.161 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-161).
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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.
8.171Geffcken GCS 8
τρεῖς Ῥώμῃ Ὕψιστος ἄγοι οἰκτρῇ τότε μοίρῃ, πάντες δ᾽ ἄνϑρωποι μελάϑροις ἰδίοισιν ὀλοῦνται" ἀλλ᾽ οὐ μὴ πεισϑῶσιν, ὃ κεν πολὺ λώιον εἴη. ἀλλ ὁπόταν δὴ πᾶσιν ἐπαυξήσῃ κακὸν ἦμαρ λιμοῦ καὶ λοιμοῦ δυσανασχέτου ἠδὲ κυδοιμοῦ, καὶ τότ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ αὗτις κρείων ἔμπροσϑεν ὃ τλήμων συγκαλέσας βουλὴν βουλεύσεται, ds ἀπολέσσει ξηρὰ μὲν ἀνϑήσουσιν ὁμοῦ φύλλοισι φανέντα" οὐράνιον δ᾽ ἔδαφος Ἐδείξει ἢ στερεᾷ ἐπὶ πέτρῃ ὄμβρον τε φλογμόν Te πολύπνοιάν τ᾽ ἐπὶ γαῖαν
treis Rhōmę̄ Hypsistos agoi oiktrę̄ tote moirę̄, pantes d᾽ anϑrōpoi melaϑrois idioisin olountai" all᾽ ou mē peisϑōsin, ho ken poly lōion eiē. all hopotan dē pasin epauxēsę̄ kakon ēmar limou kai loimou dysanaschetou ēde kydoimou, kai tot᾽ epeit᾽ hautis kreiōn emprosϑen ho tlēmōn synkalesas boulēn bouleusetai, ds apolessei xēra men anϑēsousin homou phylloisi phanenta" ouranion d᾽ edaphos Edeixei ē stereą epi petrę̄ ombron te phlogmon Te polypnoian t᾽ epi gaian
Three … the Most High would bring upon Rome then, with piteous fate, and all men will perish in their own houses; but they will not be persuaded, which would be far better. But when the evil day increases for all, of famine and of unbearable plague and of tumult, then afterwards again the former wretched ruler, having called a council, will take counsel how he may destroy … . Dry things will blossom, appearing together with leaves; and the floor of heaven … upon the solid rock rain and burning heat and great winds upon the earth
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells famine, plague, and tumult at Rome and portents in nature in the last days.
- Several lines of this section are garbled in the OCR; gaps are marked "…" and the rest is translated by sense.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.171 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-171).
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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.
8.181Geffcken GCS 8
καὶ σπορίμων πληϑὺν ἰῶν κατὰ γαῖαν ἅπασαν. ἀλλὰ πάλιν πράξουσιν ἀναιδέα ϑυμὸν ἔχοντες, οὐ μήνιμα ϑεοῦ δειδιότες οὐδ᾽ ἀνϑρώπων, αἰδοίην προλιπόντες, ἀναιδείην ποϑέοντες, ἀστασίῃσι τύραννοι ἁμαρτωλοί τε βίαιοι ψεῦσται ἀπιστόφιλοι κακοπράγμονες οὐδὲν ἀληϑεῖς πιστολέται εὑρεσσίλογοι δύσφημα χέοντες" οὐδέ σφιν πλούτου κόρος ἔσσεται ἀλλὰ τ ἀναιδῶς πλείονα συλλέξουσι" τυραννωϑέντες ὀλοῦνται. ἄστρα “πεσεῖται ἅπαντα ϑαλάσσης ἀντίπρφρα,
kai sporimōn plēϑyn iōn kata gaian hapasan. alla palin praxousin anaidea ϑymon echontes, ou mēnima ϑeou deidiotes oud᾽ anϑrōpōn, aidoiēn prolipontes, anaideiēn poϑeontes, astasię̄si tyrannoi hamartōloi te biaioi pseustai apistophiloi kakopragmones ouden alēϑeis pistoletai heuressilogoi dysphēma cheontes" oude sphin ploutou koros essetai alla t anaidōs pleiona syllexousi" tyrannōϑentes olountai. astra “peseitai hapanta ϑalassēs antiprphra,
and a multitude of blights on the crops over the whole earth. But again they will act, having a shameless spirit, fearing neither the wrath of God nor that of men, having abandoned modesty, longing for shamelessness: tyrants in seditions, sinners and violent men, liars, lovers of faithlessness, evildoers, in nothing true, destroyers of faith, inventors of words, pouring out blasphemies; nor will they have their fill of wealth, but shamelessly will gather more; tyrannized, they will perish. All the stars will fall, facing the sea,
2 Tim 3:2 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 24:29 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl describes the shameless and greedy men of the last days and the falling of the stars.
- Echoes: 2 Tim 3:1–5; Matt 24:29.
Topics: Eschatology, Ethics
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.181 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-181).
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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.
8.191Geffcken GCS 8
πολλὰ μὲν ἑξῆς ἀστραῦ, καὶ ἀκτινόεντα κομήτην ἄνϑρωποι καλέουσι τὸν ἀστέρα, σῆμα πόνοιο πολλοῦ ἐπερχομένου, πολέμου καὶ δηιοτῆτος. μή ποτ᾽ ἐγὼ ζῴην, ὅτε ἡ μιαρὰ βασιλεύσει, τ ἀλλὰ τότ᾽, οὐρανίη ὅταν ἡ χάρις ἐμβασιλεύσῃ, καὶ ὁπόταν ἱερός ποτὲ παῖς ᾿δολοφῶν" ἁπάντων ἐξολέσῃ δεσμοῖς ὀλοόφρονα βυσσὸν ἀνοίγων, αἰφνίδιος δὲ βροτοὺς ξύλινος δόμος ἀμφικαλύψῃ. ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν ἡ δεκάτη γενεὴ δόμον Ἄιδος εἴσω, ϑηλυτέρης μετέπειτα «μέγα κράτος" ἢ καχὰ πολλά
polla men hexēs astrau, kai aktinoenta komētēn anϑrōpoi kaleousi ton astera, sēma ponoio pollou eperchomenou, polemou kai dēiotētos. mē pot᾽ egō zǭēn, hote hē miara basileusei, t alla tot᾽, ouraniē hotan hē charis embasileusę̄, kai hopotan hieros pote pais ᾿dolophōn" hapantōn exolesę̄ desmois oloophrona bysson anoigōn, aiphnidios de brotous xylinos domos amphikalypsę̄. all᾽ hotan hē dekatē geneē domon Aidos eisō, ϑēlyterēs metepeita «mega kratos" ē kacha polla
many in succession; and men call the star the radiant comet, a sign of much toil coming upon them, of war and slaughter. May I not be alive when the polluted woman reigns, but then, when the heavenly grace reigns, and when one day the holy child destroys … of all, opening the deadly abyss with bonds, and a wooden house suddenly covers mortals. But when the tenth generation goes within the house of Hades, afterwards the great power of a woman; … many evils
Rev 20:1 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells a comet as a sign of war, and wishes to live not under "the polluted woman" but when heavenly grace reigns and the holy child overcomes evil.
- Several words are garbled in the OCR; "the polluted woman" and "the holy child" are obscure figures, and the line about the holy child is translated by sense (one word marked "…").
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.191 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-191).
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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.
8.201Geffcken GCS 8
αὐξήσει ϑεὸς αὐτός, ὅταν βασιληίδα τιμήν στεψαμένη τετύχῃ" σύμπαν δ᾽ ἔτος ᾿ἥπιος" αἰών. ἠέλιος [μὲν] αὐχμηρὰ τρέχων νυχτερινὰ φαίνει, λείψει δ᾽ ἄστρα πόλον" πολλῇ δέ τε λαίλαπι ϑύων οοῦ γαῖαν ἐρημώσει" νεχρῶν δ᾽ ἐπανάστασις ἔσται" καὶ χωλῶν δρόμος ὠκύτατος καὶ κωφὸς ἀκούσει καὶ τυφλοὶ βλέψουσι, λαλήσουσ᾽ οὐ λαλέοντες, καὶ κοινὸς πάντεσσι βίος καὶ πλοῦτος ἐσεῖται. γαῖα δ᾽ ἴση πάντων οὐ τείχεσιν οὐ περιφραγμοῖς διαμεριζομένη καρπούς ποτε πλείονας οἴσει,
auxēsei ϑeos autos, hotan basilēida timēn stepsamenē tetychę̄" sympan d᾽ etos ᾿hēpios" aiōn. ēelios [men] auchmēra trechōn nychterina phainei, leipsei d᾽ astra polon" pollę̄ de te lailapi ϑyōn oou gaian erēmōsei" nechrōn d᾽ epanastasis estai" kai chōlōn dromos ōkytatos kai kōphos akousei kai typhloi blepsousi, lalēsous᾽ ou laleontes, kai koinos pantessi bios kai ploutos eseitai. gaia d᾽ isē pantōn ou teichesin ou periphragmois diamerizomenē karpous pote pleionas oisei,
God himself will increase, when she, crowned, has obtained the royal honour; and the whole year a gentle age. The sun, running a parched course, will shine by night, and the stars will leave the sky; and raging with a great whirlwind he will make the earth desolate; and there will be a resurrection of the dead; and the lame will run most swiftly, and the deaf will hear, and the blind will see, and those who do not speak will speak, and life and wealth will be common to all. And the earth, equal for all, not divided by walls or fences, will then bear more fruits,
Isa 35:6 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 11:5 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells the cosmic signs of the end, the resurrection of the dead, the healing of the lame, deaf, and blind, and a common life on an undivided earth.
- The first two lines are partly garbled in the OCR; "shine by night" is uncertain. The editor's square brackets around one small word (μέν) are treated as a deletion. Echoes: Isa 35:5–6; Matt 11:5; Acts 2:44.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.201 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-201).
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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.
8.211Geffcken GCS 8
πηγὰς δὲ γλυχεροῦ οἴνου λευκοῦ τε γάλακτος καὶ μέλιτος δώσει .......{{Ὸ᾿ καὶ *xoloıw* ἀϑανάτοιο BEOÖ......... ἀλλ᾽ ὅταν ἀλλάξῃ ϑεὸς καιροὺς ......... χεῖμα ϑέρος ποιῶν, τότε ϑέσφατα {πάντα τελεῖται). ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε κόσμος ὁλωλεν..... ER. Ἱδρώσει δὲ χϑών, κρίσεως σημεῖον ὅτ᾽ ἔσται. Ἥξει δ᾽ οὐρανόϑεν βασιλεὺς αἰῶσιν ὁ μέλλων, Σάρχα παρὼν πᾶσαν κρῖναι καὶ κόσμον ἅπαντα. Ὄψονται δὲ ϑεὸν μέροπες πιστοὶ καὶ ἄπιστοι
pēgas de glycherou oinou leukou te galaktos kai melitos dōsei .......{{O᾿ kai *xoloıw* aϑanatoio BEOO......... all᾽ hotan allaxę̄ ϑeos kairous ......... cheima ϑeros poiōn, tote ϑesphata {panta teleitai). all᾽ hote kosmos holōlen..... ER. Hidrōsei de chϑōn, kriseōs sēmeion hot᾽ estai. Hēxei d᾽ ouranoϑen basileus aiōsin ho mellōn, Sarcha parōn pasan krinai kai kosmon hapanta. Opsontai de ϑeon meropes pistoi kai apistoi
and will give springs of sweet wine and of white milk and of honey … and … of the immortal God … . But when God changes the seasons …, making winter summer, then all the oracles will be fulfilled. But when the world has perished … . The earth will sweat, when the sign of judgment comes. And from heaven will come the King who is to be for ages, present to judge all flesh and the whole world. And mortals, faithful and faithless, will see God,
Joel 3:18 (4:18 LXX) (echo, medium confidence) · Matt 24:30 (allusion, medium confidence) · Rev 1:7 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells the earth's abundance in the age to come and begins the acrostic oracle of the judgment: the earth will sweat, and the King will come from heaven to judge all flesh.
- Several lines are broken off in the edition and the OCR (marked "…"). From "The earth will sweat" begins the famous acrostic (8.217–250), whose initial letters spell ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΕΙΣΤΟΣ ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙΟΣ ΣΩΤΗΡ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣ ("Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, Cross"); it was quoted by Constantine (Oration to the Saints 18) and in Latin by Augustine (City of God 18.23).
- Echoes: Joel 3:18; Matt 24:30; 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 1:7.
Topics: Eschatology, Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.211 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-211).
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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.
8.231Geffcken GCS 8
Yıpıorov μετὰ τῶν ἁγίων ἐπὶ τέρμα χρόνοιο. Σαρκοφόρων δ᾽ ἀνδρῶν ψυχὰς ἐπὶ βήματι κρίνει, Χέρσος ὅταν ποτὲ κόσμος ὅλος καὶ ἄκανϑα γένηται. - Ῥίψουσιν δ᾽ εἴδωλα βροτοὶ καὶ πλοῦτον ἅπαντα. Ἐχκαύσει δὲ τὸ πῦρ γῆν οὐρανὸν ἠδὲ ϑάλασσαν ᾿Ἰχνεῦον, ῥήξει τε πύλας εἱρκτῆς ᾿Αίδαο. Σὰρξ τότε πᾶσα νεχρῶν ἐς ἐλευϑέριον φάος ἥξει Τῶν ἁγίων" ἀνόμους δὲ τὸ πῦρ αἰῶσιν ἐλέγξει. Ὁππόσα τις πράξας ἔλαϑεν, τότε πάντα λαλήσει"
Yıpıorov meta tōn hagiōn epi terma chronoio. Sarkophorōn d᾽ andrōn psychas epi bēmati krinei, Chersos hotan pote kosmos holos kai akanϑa genētai. - Rhipsousin d᾽ eidōla brotoi kai plouton hapanta. Echkausei de to pyr gēn ouranon ēde ϑalassan ᾿Ichneuon, rhēxei te pylas heirktēs ᾿Aidao. Sarx tote pasa nechrōn es eleuϑerion phaos hēxei Tōn hagiōn" anomous de to pyr aiōsin elenxei. Hopposa tis praxas elaϑen, tote panta lalēsei"
the Most High, with the saints at the end of time. And he will judge at his tribunal the souls of flesh-bearing men, when at last the whole world becomes waste land and thorns. And mortals will cast away their idols and all their wealth. And the fire will burn up earth, heaven, and sea, tracking them down, and will break the gates of the prison of Hades. Then all the flesh of the dead will come into the free light, the flesh of the saints; but the lawless the fire will convict for ages. Whatever deeds anyone did in secret, he will then tell them all;
2 Cor 5:10 (allusion, medium confidence) · 2 Pet 3:10 (allusion, medium confidence) · Luke 12:2 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 16:18 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The acrostic continues: Christ judges all souls, fire consumes the world and breaks open Hades, the saints rise, and every secret deed is told.
- Lines of the editor's apparatus at the head of this section in the OCR are removed by logged corrections. Echoes: 2 Cor 5:10; 2 Pet 3:10; Matt 16:18; Luke 12:2–3.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (lines of the editor's apparatus run into the text by the OCR; margin line numeral and OCR debris): Marc. Paris. πᾶσαν χρίνειν 2 χρῖναι πᾶσαν Const. Vat. — Vat. 1357. — χαὶ → ; 20. ὀ Ἐχκαύσει → Ἐχκαύσει.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.231 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-231).
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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.
8.241Geffcken GCS 8
Στιήϑεα γὰρ ζοφόεντα ϑεὸς φωστῆρσιν ἀνοίξει. Θρῆνος δ᾽ ἐκ πάντων ἔσται καὶ βρυγμὸς ὀδόντων. ξύλον ἐν πιστοῖς, τὸ κέρας τὸ nodovuevor ἔσται, Ἐχλείψει σέλας ἠελίου ἄστρων τε χορεῖαι. ᾿νδρῶν εὐσεβέων ζωή, πρόσχομμα δὲ κόσμου, Οὐρανὸν εἱλίξει" μήνης δέ τε φέγγος ὀλεῖται. Ὕδασι φωτίζον κλητοὺς ἐν δώδεκα πηγαῖς" Ὑψώσει δὲ φάραγγας, ὀλεῖ δ᾽ ὑψώματα βουνῶν, Ῥάβδος ποιμαίνουσα σιδηρείη 7ε κρατήσει. Ῥεύσει δ᾽ οὐρανόϑεν ποταμὸς πυρὸς ἠδὲ ϑεείου. Οὗτος ὁ νῦν προγραφεὶς ἐν «ἀκροστιχίοις ϑεὸς ἡμῶν Σῆμα δέ τοι τότε πᾶσι βροτοῖς, σφρηγὶς ἐπίσημος Σωτὴρ ἀϑάνατος βασιλεύς, ὃ παϑὼν ἕνεχ ἡμῶν.
Stiēϑea gar zophoenta ϑeos phōstērsin anoixei. Thrēnos d᾽ ek pantōn estai kai brygmos odontōn. xylon en pistois, to keras to nodovuevor estai, Echleipsei selas ēeliou astrōn te choreiai. ᾿ndrōn eusebeōn zōē, proschomma de kosmou, Ouranon heilixei" mēnēs de te phengos oleitai. Hydasi phōtizon klētous en dōdeka pēgais" Hypsōsei de pharangas, olei d᾽ hypsōmata bounōn, Rhabdos poimainousa sidēreiē 7e kratēsei. Rheusei d᾽ ouranoϑen potamos pyros ēde ϑeeiou. Houtos ho nyn prographeis en «akrostichiois ϑeos hēmōn Sēma de toi tote pasi brotois, sphrēgis episēmos Sōtēr aϑanatos basileus, ho paϑōn henech hēmōn.
For God will open dark hearts to the lights. And there will be lamentation from all, and gnashing of teeth. The brightness of the sun will fail, and the dances of the stars. He will roll up the heaven; and the light of the moon will perish. He will raise up the ravines, and destroy the heights of the hills. … And a river of fire and of sulphur will flow from heaven. And then there will be a sign for all mortals, a distinguished seal: the wood among the faithful, the horn that is longed for, the life of pious men, but a stumbling block to the world, enlightening the called with water in twelve springs; an iron rod that shepherds will prevail. This is our God, now set forth in the acrostic, the Savior, the immortal King, who suffered for our sake.
Matt 8:12 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 24:29 (allusion, high confidence) · Isa 34:4 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 40:4 (allusion, medium confidence) · Dan 7:10 (echo, medium confidence) · Rev 7:3 (echo, low confidence) · 1 Cor 1:23 (allusion, medium confidence) · Ps 2:9 (allusion, medium confidence) · Rev 2:27 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The acrostic concludes with the darkening of sun, moon, and stars, the river of fire, the sign of the cross for the faithful, and the declaration that this is our God, the Savior and immortal King who suffered for us.
- The OCR interleaves the lines of this part of the acrostic out of order, with the Latin of Augustine's version from the apparatus (removed by logged corrections); the lines are translated here in the order of the acrostic. About eight lines of the acrostic (between "He will raise up the ravines" and "a river of fire") are missing from the OCR; their place is marked "…".
- Echoes: Matt 8:12; Matt 24:29; Isa 34:4 and Rev 6:14; Isa 40:4; Dan 7:10; Ezek 9:4 and Rev 7:3 (seal); 1 Cor 1:23 (stumbling block); Rev 2:27 and Ps 2:9 (iron rod).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (Augustine's Latin, quoted in the editor's apparatus, run into the text by the OCR; margin line numeral): Horum autem Graecorum quinque verborum, quae sunt Ἰησοῦς Χρειστὸς Θεοῦ υἱὸς σωτήρ, quod est Latine Iesus Christus Dei filius salvator, si primas litteras iungas, erit ἐχϑύς, id est piscis, in quo nomine mystice intellegitur Christus... . (Im → ; 10 ξύλον → ξύλον.
Topics: Eschatology, Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.241 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-241).
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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.
8.251Geffcken GCS 8
ὃν Μωσῆς ἐτύπωσε προτείνας ὠλένας ayvas νικῶν τὸν ᾿“μαλὴκ πίστει, ἵνα λαὸς ἐπιγνῷ ἐκλεχτὸν παρὰ πατρὶ ϑεῷ καὶ τίμιον εἶναι τὴν ῥάβδον Δαυὶδ καὶ τὸν λίϑον, ὅνπερ ὑπέστη, εἰς ὃν ὃ πιστεύσας ζωὴν αἰώνιον ἕξει. οὐδὲ ‚rag ἐν δόξῃ, ἀλλ᾿ ὡς βροτὸς εἰς κτίσιν ἥξει οἰκτρὸς ἄτιμος ἄμορφος, ἵν᾽ οἰκτροῖς ἐλπίδα δώσει" καὶ φϑαρτῇ σαρκὶ μορφὴν καὶ πίστιν ἀπίστοις οὐράνιον δώσει καὶ μορφώσει τὸν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς ἄνϑρωπον πλασϑέντα ϑεοῦ παλάμαις ἁγίαισιν,
hon Mōsēs etypōse proteinas ōlenas ayvas nikōn ton ᾿“malēk pistei, hina laos epignǭ eklechton para patri ϑeǭ kai timion einai tēn rhabdon Dauid kai ton liϑon, honper hypestē, eis hon ho pisteusas zōēn aiōnion hexei. oude ‚rag en doxę̄, all᾿ hōs brotos eis ktisin hēxei oiktros atimos amorphos, hin᾽ oiktrois elpida dōsei" kai phϑartę̄ sarki morphēn kai pistin apistois ouranion dōsei kai morphōsei ton ap᾽ archēs anϑrōpon plasϑenta ϑeou palamais hagiaisin,
whom Moses prefigured, stretching out his holy arms, conquering Amalek by faith, so that the people might know that chosen and precious with God the Father is the rod of David and the stone that he promised, in whom whoever believes will have eternal life. For he will come into creation not in glory, but as a mortal, pitiable, without honour, without form, so that he may give hope to the pitiable; and he will give form to corruptible flesh and heavenly faith to the faithless, and will form anew the man fashioned from the beginning by the holy hands of God,
Exod 17:11 (allusion, high confidence) · Isa 11:1 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 28:16 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Pet 2:6 (allusion, medium confidence) · John 3:16 (allusion, high confidence) · Isa 53:2 (allusion, high confidence) · Gen 2:7 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl says that Moses with outstretched arms prefigured Christ, the rod of David and the chosen stone, who came in lowliness to renew the man God formed.
- Echoes: Exod 17:11–12; Isa 11:1; Isa 28:16 and 1 Pet 2:6; John 3:16; Isa 53:2–3; Gen 2:7.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.251 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-251).
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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.
8.261Geffcken GCS 8
ὃν τ᾽ ἐπλάνησεν ὄφις δολίως ἐπὶ μοῖραν ἀπελϑεῖν τοῦ ϑανάτου γνῶσίν τε λαβεῖν ἀγαϑοῦ τε κακοῦ τε, ὥστε ϑεὸν προλιπόντα λατρεύειν ἤϑεσι ϑνητοῖς. αὐτὸν γὰρ πρώτιστα λαβὼν σύμβουλον ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς εἶπεν ὁ παντοκράτωρ' “ποιήσωμεν, τέκνον, ἄμφω εἰκόνος ἡμετέρης ἀπομαξάμενοι βροτὰ φῦλα" νῦν μὲν ἐγὼ χερσίν, σὺ δ᾽ ἔ ἔπειτα λόγῳ ϑεραπεύσεις μορφὴν ἡμετέρην, ἵνα κοινὸν ἀνάστεμα δῶμεν» γνώμης οὖν ταύτης μεμνημένος ἐς κτίσιν ἥξει ἀντίτυπον μίμημα φέρων εἰς παρϑένον ἁγνήν,
hon t᾽ eplanēsen ophis doliōs epi moiran apelϑein tou ϑanatou gnōsin te labein agaϑou te kakou te, hōste ϑeon proliponta latreuein ēϑesi ϑnētois. auton gar prōtista labōn symboulon ap᾽ archēs eipen ho pantokratōr' “poiēsōmen, teknon, amphō eikonos hēmeterēs apomaxamenoi brota phyla" nyn men egō chersin, sy d᾽ e epeita logǭ ϑerapeuseis morphēn hēmeterēn, hina koinon anastema dōmen» gnōmēs oun tautēs memnēmenos es ktisin hēxei antitypon mimēma pherōn eis parϑenon hagnēn,
whom the serpent deceitfully led astray to go to the lot of death and to take knowledge of good and evil, so that, forsaking God, he served mortal ways. For having taken him first of all as counsellor from the beginning, the Almighty said: "Child, let us both make mortal races, copying them from our image; now I with my hands, and you afterwards with the word, will tend our form, so that we may give a common raising-up." Mindful, then, of this purpose, he will come into creation, bearing a corresponding likeness into a holy virgin,
Gen 3:5 (allusion, high confidence) · Gen 1:26 (allusion, high confidence) · Luke 1:27 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl tells how the serpent deceived Adam, and how the Almighty, taking the Son as counsellor, said "Let us make" man, and how the Son came, mindful of that purpose, through a holy virgin.
- The reading of Gen 1:26 as the Father's word to the Son is the oracle's; translated as written. Echoes: Gen 3:1–7; Gen 1:26; Luke 1:27.
Topics: Christology, Trinity
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.261 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-261).
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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.
8.271Geffcken GCS 8
ὕδατι φωτίζων διὰ πρεσβυτέρων ἅμα χειρῶν, πάντα λόγῳ πράσσων, πᾶσαν δὲ νόσον ϑεραπεύων. τοὺς ἀνέμους παύσειε λόγῳ, στορέσει δὲ ϑάλασσαν μαινομένην ποσὶν εἰρήνης πίστει τε πατήσας. 3 ἐκχ δ᾽ ἄρτων ἅμα πέντε καὶ ἰχϑύος εἰναλίοιο ἀνδρῶν χιλιάδας ἐν ἐρήμῳ πέντε κορέσσει, καὶ τὰ περισσεύοντα λαβὼν τότε κλάσματα πάντα δώδεκα πληρώσει κοφίνους εἰς ἐλπίδα λαῶν. καὶ καλέσει ψυχὰς μακάρων, οἰκτροὺς δ᾽ ἀγαπήσει, οἱ χαλὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ χλευαζόμενοι πρήξουσιν
hydati phōtizōn dia presbyterōn hama cheirōn, panta logǭ prassōn, pasan de noson ϑerapeuōn. tous anemous pauseie logǭ, storesei de ϑalassan mainomenēn posin eirēnēs pistei te patēsas. 3 ekch d᾽ artōn hama pente kai ichϑyos einalioio andrōn chiliadas en erēmǭ pente koressei, kai ta perisseuonta labōn tote klasmata panta dōdeka plērōsei kophinous eis elpida laōn. kai kalesei psychas makarōn, oiktrous d᾽ agapēsei, hoi chalon anti kakou chleuazomenoi prēxousin
enlightening with water through the hands of elders together, doing all things by a word, and healing every disease. He would stop the winds by a word, and calm the raging sea, treading it with feet of peace and with faith. And from five loaves together and a fish of the sea he will satisfy five thousand men in the wilderness, and then, taking all the fragments left over, he will fill twelve baskets for the hope of the peoples. And he will call the souls of the blessed, and love the pitiable, who, mocked, will do good in return for evil,
Matt 4:23 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 8:26 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 14:25 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 14:20 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 14:21 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 5:44 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells Christ's baptism, his healing, his calming of the sea, and the feeding of the five thousand.
- "Through the hands of elders" is obscure (perhaps of John the Baptist, or of the church's baptism). A margin numeral is left out. Echoes: Matt 4:23; Matt 8:26; Matt 14:25; Matt 14:17–21; Matt 5:44.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.271 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-271).
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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.
8.281Geffcken GCS 8
τυπτόμενοι μαστιζόμενοι πενίην ποϑέοντες. πάντα νοῶν καὶ πάντα βλέπων καὶ πάντ᾽ ἐπακούων σπλάγχνα κατοπτεύσει καὶ γυμνώσει πρὸς ἔλεγχον" αὐτὸς γὰρ πάντων ἀχοὴ καὶ νοῦς καὶ ὅρασις καὶ λόγος ὃ κτίζων μορφᾶς, ᾧ πάνϑ' ὑπακούει, καὶ νέχυας σῴζων, πᾶσαν δὲ νόσον ϑεραπεύων. εἰς ἀνόμων χεῖρας καὶ ἀπίστων ὕστερον ἥξει, δώσουσιν δὲ ϑεῷ ῥαπίσματα χερσὶν ἀνάγνοις καὶ στόμασιν μιαροῖς ἐμπτύσματα φαρμαχόεντα. δώσει δ᾽ εἰς μάστιγας ἀναπλώσας τότε νῶτον"
typtomenoi mastizomenoi peniēn poϑeontes. panta noōn kai panta blepōn kai pant᾽ epakouōn splanchna katopteusei kai gymnōsei pros elenchon" autos gar pantōn achoē kai nous kai horasis kai logos ho ktizōn morphas, hǭ panϑ' hypakouei, kai nechyas sǭzōn, pasan de noson ϑerapeuōn. eis anomōn cheiras kai apistōn hysteron hēxei, dōsousin de ϑeǭ rhapismata chersin anagnois kai stomasin miarois emptysmata pharmachoenta. dōsei d᾽ eis mastigas anaplōsas tote nōton"
beaten, scourged, longing for poverty. Perceiving all, seeing all, and hearing all, he will look into the inward parts and lay them bare for conviction; for he himself is the hearing and mind and sight of all, and the Word who creates forms, whom all things obey, saving the dead and healing every disease. Later he will come into the hands of the lawless and faithless, and they will give God blows with unholy hands and poisonous spittings with polluted mouths. And he will then spread out and give his back to the scourges;
Heb 4:13 (allusion, medium confidence) · John 1:3 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 26:67 (allusion, high confidence) · Isa 50:6 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 27:26 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl describes Christ as the all-seeing Word, creator and healer, who will be handed over to the lawless, struck, spat upon, and scourged.
- Echoes: Heb 4:12–13; John 1:3; Matt 26:67; Isa 50:6; Matt 27:26.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.281 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-281).
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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.
8.291Geffcken GCS 8
[αὐτὸς γὰρ κόσμῳ παραδώσει, παρϑένον ἁγνήν. καὶ κολαφιζόμενος σιγήσει, μή τις ἐπιγνῷ, τίς τίνος ὧν πόϑεν ἤλϑεν, ἵνα φϑιμένοισι λαλήσει. καὶ στέφανον φορέσει τὸν axavdıvov' ἐκ γὰρ ἀχανϑῶν τὸ στέφος ἐχλεχτῶν αἰώνιόν ἐστιν ἄγαλμα. πλευρὰς νύξουσιν καλάμῳ διὰ τὸν νόμον αὐτῶν" ἐκ καλάμων γὰρ σειομένων ὑπὸ πνεύματος *aALov* πρὸς χρίματα ἔψυχῆς" ἐτράφη ὀργῆς καὶ ἀμοιβῆς. ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε ταῦτά γε πάντα τελειωϑῇ ἅπερ εἶπον. 80) εἰς αὐτὸν τότε πᾶς λύεται νόμος, ὅστις ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς
[autos gar kosmǭ paradōsei, parϑenon hagnēn. kai kolaphizomenos sigēsei, mē tis epignǭ, tis tinos hōn poϑen ēlϑen, hina phϑimenoisi lalēsei. kai stephanon phoresei ton axavdıvov' ek gar achanϑōn to stephos echlechtōn aiōnion estin agalma. pleuras nyxousin kalamǭ dia ton nomon autōn" ek kalamōn gar seiomenōn hypo pneumatos *aALov* pros chrimata epsychēs" etraphē orgēs kai amoibēs. all᾽ hote tauta ge panta teleiōϑę̄ haper eipon. 80) eis auton tote pas lyetai nomos, hostis ap᾽ archēs
And, struck with fists, he will keep silent, so that no one may know who he is, whose son, and whence he came, so that he may speak to the dead. And he will wear the crown of thorns; for of thorns the crown of the elect is an eternal glory. They will pierce his sides with a reed because of their law; for from reeds shaken by the wind of another … … was nourished, of wrath and of requital. But when all these things that I have spoken are fulfilled, then every law is dissolved in him, which from the beginning
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Isa 53:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 27:29 (allusion, high confidence) · John 19:34 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 11:7 (echo, low confidence) · 1 Pet 3:19 (echo, medium confidence) · Matt 5:17 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells Christ's silence under blows, his crown of thorns, the piercing of his side, and the fulfilment of the law in him.
- The first line of the section, which the editor sets in square brackets ("For he himself will give over to the world a holy virgin"), is treated as deleted and not translated. Two lines are corrupt in the edition and the OCR (marked "…"). A margin numeral is left out.
- Echoes: Matt 26:67; Isa 53:7; 1 Pet 3:19; Matt 27:29; John 19:34; Matt 11:7; Matt 5:17–18.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.291 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-291).
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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.
8.301Geffcken GCS 8
δόγμασιν ἀνϑρώποις ἐδόϑη διὰ λαὸν ἀπειϑῆ. ἐχπετάσει χεῖρας καὶ κόσμον ἅπαντα μετρήσει. εἰς δὲ τὸ βρῶμα χολὴν καὶ πιεῖν ὄξος ἔδωκαν" τῆς ἀφιλοξενίης ταύτην δείξουσι τράπεζαν. 8ι᾽. γγαοῦ δὲ σχισϑῇ τὸ πέτασμα καὶ ἤματι μέσσῳ νὺξ ἔσται σχοτόεσσα πελώριος ἐν τρισὶν ὥραις. οὐχέτι γὰρ χρυφίῳ τε νόμῳ ναῷ τε λατρεύειν φαντασίαις κόσμου κεκαλυμμένον αὖτις ἐδείχϑη
dogmasin anϑrōpois edoϑē dia laon apeiϑē. echpetasei cheiras kai kosmon hapanta metrēsei. eis de to brōma cholēn kai piein oxos edōkan" tēs aphiloxeniēs tautēn deixousi trapezan. 8i᾽. ngaou de schisϑę̄ to petasma kai ēmati messǭ nyx estai schotoessa pelōrios en trisin hōrais. oucheti gar chryphiǭ te nomǭ naǭ te latreuein phantasiais kosmou kekalymmenon autis edeichϑē
was given to men in decrees because of a disobedient people. He will stretch out his hands and measure the whole world. And for food they gave gall, and vinegar to drink; this is the table of inhospitality that they will show. And the veil of the temple will be split, and at midday there will be dark and monstrous night for three hours. For no longer is it right to worship with a secret law and temple, that which, hidden by the phantoms of the world, was shown again
Isa 65:2 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 27:34 (allusion, high confidence) · Ps 69:21 (68:22 LXX) (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 27:51 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 27:45 (allusion, high confidence) · Eph 2:15 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells the crucifixion: Christ's outstretched hands, the gall and vinegar, the torn veil, and the three hours of darkness.
- Two lines of the editor's apparatus (citing the Gospel of Peter and the Acts of John) run into this section in the OCR and are removed by a logged correction. Echoes: Isa 65:2; Matt 27:34, 48; Ps 69:21 (68:22 LXX); Matt 27:45, 51; Eph 2:15; Col 2:14.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (lines of the editor's apparatus run into the text by the OCR): evangelium 8: ἕτεροι καλάμῳ ἔνυσσον αὐτόν.... Acta Johannis (Texts and Studies V 1 p. 16) za λόγχαις νύσσομαι καὶ καλάμοις. --- διὰ τὸν νόμον αὐτῶν: → .
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.301 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-301).
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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.
8.311Geffcken GCS 8
αὐϑέντου καταβάντος ἐπὶ χϑονὸς ἀέναοιο. :-. ἥξει δ᾽ εἰς ᾿Αίδην ἀγγέλλων ἐλπίδα πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις, τέλος αἰώνων καὶ ἔσχατον ἦμαρ, καὶ ϑανάτου μοῖραν τελέσει τρίτον ἤμαρ ὑπνώσας" καὶ τότ᾽ ἀπὸ φϑιμένων ἀναλύσας εἰς φάος ἥξει ἀϑανάτου πηγῆς ἀπολουσάμενος ὑδάτεσσιν πρῶτος ἀναστάσεως κλητοῖς ἀρχὴν ὑποδείξας, τὰς πρότερον κακίας, ἵνα γεννηϑέντες ἄνωϑεν μηκέτι δουλεύσωσιν ἀϑέσμοις ἤϑεσι κόσμου. πρῶτα δὲ τοῖς ἰδίοις φανερῶς τότε κύριος ὀφϑῇ σάρχινος, ὡς πάρος ἦν, χερσίν τε ποσίν τ᾽ ἐπιδείξει τέσσαρα τοῖς ἰδίοις ἴχνη πηχϑέντα μέλεσσιν,
auϑentou katabantos epi chϑonos aenaoio. :-. hēxei d᾽ eis ᾿Aidēn angellōn elpida pasin tois hagiois, telos aiōnōn kai eschaton ēmar, kai ϑanatou moiran telesei triton ēmar hypnōsas" kai tot᾽ apo phϑimenōn analysas eis phaos hēxei aϑanatou pēgēs apolousamenos hydatessin prōtos anastaseōs klētois archēn hypodeixas, tas proteron kakias, hina gennēϑentes anōϑen mēketi douleusōsin aϑesmois ēϑesi kosmou. prōta de tois idiois phanerōs tote kyrios ophϑę̄ sarchinos, hōs paros ēn, chersin te posin t᾽ epideixei tessara tois idiois ichnē pēchϑenta melessin,
when the Master came down upon the everlasting earth. And he will come to Hades, announcing hope to all the saints, the end of the ages and the last day, and he will fulfil the lot of death, having slept until the third day; and then, released from the dead, he will come to the light, having washed himself in the waters of the immortal spring, the first to show the called the beginning of resurrection, [washing away] their former evils, so that, born from above, they may no longer serve the lawless ways of the world. And then first the Lord will be seen openly by his own, in the flesh as he was before, and he will show in his hands and feet to his own the four marks fixed in his limbs,
1 Pet 3:19 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Cor 15:4 (allusion, high confidence) · 1 Cor 15:20 (allusion, medium confidence) · John 3:3 (allusion, medium confidence) · Luke 24:39 (allusion, high confidence) · John 20:27 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells Christ's descent to Hades with hope for the saints, his rising on the third day as the first-fruits of resurrection, and his appearing in the flesh with the marks of the nails.
- "Washing away" is supplied by sense for a construction that lacks its verb. Echoes: 1 Pet 3:19; 1 Cor 15:4, 20; John 3:3; Luke 24:39; John 20:20, 27.
Topics: Christology, Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.311 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-311).
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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.
8.321Geffcken GCS 8
ἀντολίην TE δύσιν τὲ μεσημβρίην τε καὶ ἄρχτον᾽ τόσσαι γὰρ κόσμου βασιληίδες ἐχτελέσουσι» πρᾶξιν τὴν ἀϑέμιστον ἐπίψογον εἰς τύπον ἡμῶν. χαῖρ᾽, ἁγνὴ ϑύγατερ Σιών, TI πολλὰ παϑοῦσα᾽᾿ αὐτός σου βασιλεὺς ἐπιβὰς ἐπὶ πῶλον ἐσάγει ἔπρᾶος πᾶσι φανείς, ἵνα Too) ζυγὸν ἡμῶν" δοῦλον δυσβάστακτον ἐπ᾿ αὐχένι κείμενον ἄρῃ καὶ ϑεσμοὺς ἀϑέους λύσῃ δεσμούς τε βιαίους. αὐτόν σου γίνωσκε ϑεὸν ϑεοῦ υἱὸν ἐόντα" τοῦτον δοξάζουσα καὶ ἐν στέρνοισιν ἔχουσα
antoliēn TE dysin te mesēmbriēn te kai archton᾽ tossai gar kosmou basilēides echtelesousi» praxin tēn aϑemiston epipsogon eis typon hēmōn. chair᾽, hagnē ϑygater Siōn, TI polla paϑousa᾽᾿ autos sou basileus epibas epi pōlon esagei epraos pasi phaneis, hina Too) zygon hēmōn" doulon dysbastakton ep᾿ aucheni keimenon arę̄ kai ϑesmous aϑeous lysę̄ desmous te biaious. auton sou ginōske ϑeon ϑeou huion eonta" touton doxazousa kai en sternoisin echousa
east and west and south and north; for so many royal powers of the world will accomplish the lawless and blameworthy deed, as a type for us. Rejoice, holy daughter of Zion, who have suffered much; your King himself, mounted on a colt, comes in, appearing gentle to all, so that he may lift our yoke, slavish and hard to bear, that lies upon our neck, and undo godless ordinances and violent bonds. Know him as your God, being the Son of God; glorify him and hold him in your breast,
Zech 9:9 (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 21:5 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 11:30 (echo, medium confidence) · Acts 15:10 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The four marks of the nails signify the four quarters of the world; the Sibyl bids the daughter of Zion rejoice at her gentle King, the Son of God, who comes on a colt to lift her yoke.
- Echoes: Zech 9:9; Matt 21:5; Matt 11:29–30; Acts 15:10; Gal 5:1.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.321 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-321).
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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.
8.331Geffcken GCS 8
&x ψυχῆς ἀγάπα καὶ τοὔνομα βάστασον αὐτοῦ. τοὺς “προτέρους δ᾽ ἀπόϑου καὶ λοῦσον ἀφ᾽ αἵματος αὐτοῦ" οὐ γὰρ σαῖς οἴμαις ἱλάσκεται οὐδὲ λιταῖσιν, οὐ ϑυσίαις προσέχει φϑαρταῖς ἄφϑαρτος ὑπάρχων" HAAN ὕμνον στομάτων συνετῶν τότε ᾿ἐκπροφέροντες ἢ γνῶϑιε, τίς ἔσϑ᾽ οὗτος, καὶ τὸν γενετῆρα τότ᾽ ὄψει. τὸ: * χηρεύσει τότε πάντα χρόνῳ στοιχεῖα τὰ κόσμου, ἀὴρ γαῖα ϑάλασσα φάος πυρὸς αἰϑομένοιο" καὶ πόλος οὐράνιος καὶ νὺξ καὶ ἤματα πάντα
&x psychēs agapa kai tounoma bastason autou. tous “proterous d᾽ apoϑou kai louson aph᾽ haimatos autou" ou gar sais oimais hilasketai oude litaisin, ou ϑysiais prosechei phϑartais aphϑartos hyparchōn" HAAN hymnon stomatōn synetōn tote ᾿ekpropherontes ē gnōϑie, tis esϑ᾽ houtos, kai ton genetēra tot᾽ opsei. to: * chēreusei tote panta chronǭ stoicheia ta kosmou, aēr gaia ϑalassa phaos pyros aiϑomenoio" kai polos ouranios kai nyx kai ēmata panta
love him from your soul, and bear his name. Put away your former things, and wash yourself with his blood; for he is not appeased by your songs or by your prayers, nor does he heed corruptible sacrifices, since he is incorruptible; but, bringing forth then the hymn of understanding mouths, know who this is, and then you will see the Begetter. … Then all the elements of the world will be bereaved in time, air, earth, sea, the light of blazing fire, and the vault of heaven, and night, and all the days
Rev 7:14 (echo, medium confidence) · Ps 51:16 (50:18 LXX) (echo, medium confidence) · 2 Pet 3:10 (allusion, medium confidence) · John 14:9 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl bids Zion love Christ, be washed in his blood, and praise him with understanding, and foretells the dissolution of all the elements.
- A line of OCR debris is marked "…". Echoes: Rev 7:14; Ps 51:16–17; 2 Pet 3:10–12; John 14:9.
Topics: Christology, Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.331 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-331).
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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.
8.341Geffcken GCS 8
εἰς ἕν συρρήξουσι͵ καὶ εἰς μορφὴν πανέρημον. ἄστρα γὰρ οὐρανόϑεν φωστήρων πάντα πεσεῖται. κοὐχέτι δὴ πτήσονται ἐπ᾽ ἀέρος εὔπτεροι ὄρνεις οὐδὲ βάσις γαίης" ϑῆρες γὰρ ἅπαντες ὀλοῦνται. κοὐκ ἀνδρῶν φωναί, οὐ ϑηρῶν, οὐ πετεηνῶν. κόσμος ἄτακτος ἐὼν οὐ χρήσιμον ἦχον ἀκούσει" ἠχήσει δὲ βαϑὺς πόντος μέγαν ἦχον ἀπειλῆς ζῷά τε νηχτὰ τρέμοντα ϑαλάσσης πᾶντα ϑανεῖται" καὶ ναῦς φόρτον ἔχουσ᾽ ἐπὶ κύμασιν οὐχέτι πλεύσει. μυχήσει δὲ χϑὼν αἱμασσομένη πολέμοισιν" πᾶσαι δ᾽ ἀνϑρώπων ψυχαὶ βρύξουσιν ὀδοῦσιν
eis hen syrrēxousi͵ kai eis morphēn panerēmon. astra gar ouranoϑen phōstērōn panta peseitai. koucheti dē ptēsontai ep᾽ aeros eupteroi orneis oude basis gaiēs" ϑēres gar hapantes olountai. kouk andrōn phōnai, ou ϑērōn, ou peteēnōn. kosmos ataktos eōn ou chrēsimon ēchon akousei" ēchēsei de baϑys pontos megan ēchon apeilēs zǭa te nēchta tremonta ϑalassēs panta ϑaneitai" kai naus phorton echous᾽ epi kymasin oucheti pleusei. mychēsei de chϑōn haimassomenē polemoisin" pasai d᾽ anϑrōpōn psychai bryxousin odousin
will crash together into one, into a form wholly desolate. For all the stars of the luminaries will fall from heaven. And no longer will well-winged birds fly in the air, nor will there be any treading of the earth; for all beasts will perish. No voices of men, nor of beasts, nor of birds. The world, being without order, will hear no useful sound; but the deep sea will echo a great sound of threat, and all the swimming creatures of the sea, trembling, will die; and no ship with cargo will sail on the waves any longer. And the earth, bloodied by wars, will bellow; and all the souls of men will gnash their teeth
Matt 24:29 (allusion, medium confidence) · Zeph 1:3 (echo, medium confidence) · Matt 13:42 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl describes the end of the world: the stars fall, all living creatures perish, the sea roars, and men gnash their teeth.
- Echoes: Matt 24:29; Zeph 1:3; Matt 13:42.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.341 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-341).
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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.
8.351Geffcken GCS 8
[τῶν ἀνόμων “ψυχῶν ὀλολυγμοῖσίν τε φόβῳ τε, τηκόμεναι δίψει λιμῷ λοιμῷ τε φόνοις τε καὶ καλέσουσι καλὸν τὸ ϑανεῖν καὶ φεύξετ᾽ ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν" οὐχέτι γὰρ ϑάνατος κείνους, οὐ νὺξ ἀναπαύσει" πολλὰ δ' ἐρωτήσουσι μάτην. ϑεὸν ὑψιμέδοντα, καὶ τότ᾽ ἀποστρέψει φανερῶς. τὸ πρόσωπον ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν. ἑπτὰ γὰρ αἰώνων μετανοίας ἤματ᾽ ἔδωκεν ἀνδράσι πλαζομένοις διὰ χειρῶν παρϑένου ἁγνῆς. αὐτός μοι τάδε πάντα ϑεὸς vom ἐγκατέδειξεν 8.0 καὶ de ἐμοῦ στόματος τὰ λελεγμένα πάντα τελέσσει"
[tōn anomōn “psychōn ololygmoisin te phobǭ te, tēkomenai dipsei limǭ loimǭ te phonois te kai kalesousi kalon to ϑanein kai pheuxet᾽ ap᾿ autōn" oucheti gar ϑanatos keinous, ou nyx anapausei" polla d' erōtēsousi matēn. ϑeon hypsimedonta, kai tot᾽ apostrepsei phanerōs. to prosōpon ap᾽ autōn. hepta gar aiōnōn metanoias ēmat᾽ edōken andrasi plazomenois dia cheirōn parϑenou hagnēs. autos moi tade panta ϑeos vom enkatedeixen 8.0 kai de emou stomatos ta lelegmena panta telessei"
wasting away with thirst, hunger, plague, and slaughter, and they will call death good, and it will flee from them; for no longer will death or night give them rest. And they will ask many things in vain of God who rules on high, and then he will openly turn his face away from them. For he gave seven ages of days for repentance to wandering men, through the hands of a holy virgin. God himself showed me all these things in my mind, and he will fulfil all that has been spoken through my mouth.
Rev 9:6 (allusion, high confidence) · Mic 3:4 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl foretells the torment of the wicked, who will long for death in vain, though God gave time for repentance, and affirms that God revealed all this to her.
- The first line of the section, which the editor sets in square brackets ("the souls of the lawless, with wailings and fear"), is treated as deleted and not translated. A margin numeral is left out. Echoes: Rev 9:6; Mic 3:4.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.351 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-351).
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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.
8.361Geffcken GCS 8
Οἶδα δ᾽ ἐγὼ ψάμμου τ᾽ ἀριϑμὸν καὶ μέτρα ϑαλάσοσης, οἶδα μυχοὺς γαίης καὶ Τάρταρον ἠερόεντα, οἷδ᾽ ἀριϑμοὺς ἄστρων καὶ δένδρεα καὶ πόσα φῦλα τετραπόδων νηχτῶν τε καὶ ὀρνίϑων πετεηνῶν καὶ μερόπων ὄντων τε καὶ ἐσσομένων νεκύων τε" αὐτὸς γὰρ μορφὰς καὶ νοῦν ἀνδρῶν ἐτύπωσα, καὶ λόγον ὀρϑὸν ἔδωκα ἐπιστήμην τ᾽ ἐδίδαξα, ὀφϑαλμοὺς ὁ πλάσας καὶ ὦτα, βλέπων καὶ ἀκούων καὶ πᾶν ἐνθύμημα νοῶν καὶ πᾶσι συνίστωρ ἐντὸς ἐὼν σιγῶ καὶ ὕστερον αὐτὸς ἐλέγξω
Oida d᾽ egō psammou t᾽ ariϑmon kai metra ϑalasosēs, oida mychous gaiēs kai Tartaron ēeroenta, hoid᾽ ariϑmous astrōn kai dendrea kai posa phyla tetrapodōn nēchtōn te kai orniϑōn peteēnōn kai meropōn ontōn te kai essomenōn nekyōn te" autos gar morphas kai noun andrōn etypōsa, kai logon orϑon edōka epistēmēn t᾽ edidaxa, ophϑalmous ho plasas kai ōta, blepōn kai akouōn kai pan enthymēma noōn kai pasi synistōr entos eōn sigō kai hysteron autos elenxō
I know the number of the sand and the measures of the sea; I know the recesses of the earth and murky Tartarus; I know the numbers of the stars, and the trees, and how many races of four-footed beasts and of swimming creatures and of winged birds, and of mortals, living and yet to be, and of the dead; for I myself formed the shapes and the mind of men, and gave them right reason and taught them knowledge; I who fashioned eyes and ears, seeing and hearing, and perceiving every thought, and witness of all, being within, I keep silent, and afterwards I myself will convict
Ps 94:9 (93:9 LXX) (allusion, high confidence) · Ps 147:4 (146:4 LXX) (allusion, medium confidence) · Ps 139:2 (138:2 LXX) (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God speaks through the Sibyl as the one who knows all creatures and every thought, who formed men and will convict them.
- From here God speaks in the first person. Echoes: Job 38–39; Ps 94:9 (93:9 LXX); Ps 139:1–4; Ps 147:4.
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.361 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-361).
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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.
8.371Geffcken GCS 8
ἱκάχπράξων SS ὅσσα λαϑών γε βροτῶν τις ἔπραξεν, Ἐξλϑὼν καὶ ἐπὶ βῆμα ϑεοῦ ϑνητοῖσι λαλήσων.)" καὶ κωφοῦ ξυνίημι καὶ οὐ λαλέοντος ἀκούω καὶ πόσον ἐστὶ τὸ πᾶν ἀπὸ γῆς εἰς οὐρανὸν ὕψος, 8τὸ᾽ ἀρχὴν καὶ τέλος οἶδα, ὃς οὐρανὸν ἔχτισα καὶ γῆν. [πάντα γὰρ ἐξ αὐτοῦ, τὰ an’ ἀρχῆς εἰς τέλος οἶδε! μοῦνος γὰρ ϑεός εἰμι καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ϑεὸς ἄλλος. εἰκόνα ϑεσπίζουσιν ἐμὴν πλασϑεῖσαν ἀφ᾽ ὕλης, χερσί τε μορφώσαντες ἕαῖς εἴδωλον ἄναυδον 880. δοξάζουσι λιταῖς καὶ ϑρησκχείῃσιν avayvoıc.
hikachpraxōn SS hossa laϑōn ge brotōn tis epraxen, Exlϑōn kai epi bēma ϑeou ϑnētoisi lalēsōn.)" kai kōphou xyniēmi kai ou laleontos akouō kai poson esti to pan apo gēs eis ouranon hypsos, 8to᾽ archēn kai telos oida, hos ouranon echtisa kai gēn. [panta gar ex autou, ta an’ archēs eis telos oide! mounos gar ϑeos eimi kai ouk estin ϑeos allos. eikona ϑespizousin emēn plasϑeisan aph᾽ hylēs, chersi te morphōsantes heais eidōlon anaudon 880. doxazousi litais kai ϑrēskcheię̄sin avayvoıc.
… whatever any mortal did in secret, coming even to the tribunal of God to speak to mortals. And I understand the mute, and hear the one who does not speak, and I know how great is the whole height from earth to heaven; I know the beginning and the end, I who created heaven and earth. For I alone am God, and there is no other god. They make oracles of an image of me fashioned from matter, and, having shaped with their own hands a voiceless idol, they glorify it with prayers and unholy worship.
Rev 21:6 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 45:5 (allusion, high confidence) · Isa 44:9 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God declares that he alone is God, knowing every secret deed, and condemns the making of voiceless idols.
- A line that the editor sets in square brackets ("For all things are from him; he knows the things from beginning to end") is treated as deleted and not translated. The first word of the section is garbled in the OCR (marked "…"); margin numerals are left out. Echoes: Rev 21:6; Isa 45:5, 21; Isa 44:9–20.
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.371 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-371).
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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.
8.381Geffcken GCS 8
τὸν κτίστην προλιπόντες ἀσελγείαις ἐλάτρευσαν πάντες δ᾽ αὐτοῦ" ἔχοντες ἀχρήστοις δῶρα διδοῦσιν Ἐχαὶ ὡς ἐμὰς" τιμὰς τάδε χρήσιμα πάντα δοχοῦσιν ϑοίνῃ κγνισσοῦντες, ὡς τοῖς ἰδίοις νεκύεσσιν. 88. σάρχας γὰρ καίουσι καὶ ὀστέα μυελόεντα ϑύοντες βωμοῖς καὶ δαίμοσιν αἷμα χέουσιν καὶ λύχνους ἅπτουσιν ἐμοὶ τῷ φῶτα διδόντι, χὼς διψῶντι ϑεῷ ϑνητοὶ σπένδουσι τὸν οἶνον εἰς οὐδὲν μεϑύοντες ἐπ᾿ εἰδώλοισιν ἀχρήστοις. οὐ χρήζω ϑυσίης ἢ σπονδῆς ὑμετέρηφιν,
ton ktistēn prolipontes aselgeiais elatreusan pantes d᾽ autou" echontes achrēstois dōra didousin Echai hōs emas" timas tade chrēsima panta dochousin ϑoinę̄ kgnissountes, hōs tois idiois nekyessin. 88. sarchas gar kaiousi kai ostea myeloenta ϑyontes bōmois kai daimosin haima cheousin kai lychnous haptousin emoi tǭ phōta didonti, chōs dipsōnti ϑeǭ ϑnētoi spendousi ton oinon eis ouden meϑyontes ep᾿ eidōloisin achrēstois. ou chrēzō ϑysiēs ē spondēs hymeterēphin,
Forsaking the Creator, they served in licentiousness; and all of them … give gifts to useless things, and think all these things useful, as honours to me, making feasts savoury with burnt fat, as to their own dead. For they burn flesh and marrowy bones, sacrificing on altars, and pour out blood to demons, and light lamps for me, who give the light, and as to a thirsty god mortals pour out wine, getting drunk for nothing over useless idols. I have no need of your sacrifice or libation,
Rom 1:25 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Cor 10:20 (allusion, medium confidence) · Ps 50:13 (49:13 LXX) (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God condemns those who forsake the Creator for sacrifices, lamps, and libations offered to idols and demons.
- One word is garbled in the OCR and marked "…"; a margin numeral is left out. Echoes: Rom 1:25; 1 Cor 10:20; Ps 50:12–13.
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.381 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-381).
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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.
8.391Geffcken GCS 8
οὐ “κνίσσης μιαρῆς, οὐχ αἵματος ἐχϑίστοιο. ταῦτα γὰρ ἐς μνήμην βασιλήων ἠδὲ τυράννων δαίμοσι ποιήσουσι νεχροῖς, ος οὐρανίοισιν, ϑρησχείαν ἄϑεον καὶ ὀλέϑριον ἐχτελέοντες. καὶ καλέουσι ϑεοὺς ἄϑεοι τὰς εἰχόνας αὐτῶν τὸν κτίστην προλιπόντες, ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἐλπίδα πᾶσαν καὶ ζωὴν νομίσαντες ἔχειν, κωφοῖς καὶ ἀναύδοις ἐς τὸ κακὸν πιστοὶ ἀγαϑὸν τέλος ἀγνοιοῦσιν. αὐτὸς ὁδοὺς προέϑηκα δύο, ζωῆς ϑανάτου τε, καὶ γνώμῃ προέϑηκ᾽ ἀγαϑὴν ζοὴν προελέσϑαι
ou “knissēs miarēs, ouch haimatos echϑistoio. tauta gar es mnēmēn basilēōn ēde tyrannōn daimosi poiēsousi nechrois, os ouranioisin, ϑrēscheian aϑeon kai oleϑrion echteleontes. kai kaleousi ϑeous aϑeoi tas eichonas autōn ton ktistēn prolipontes, ap᾿ autōn elpida pasan kai zōēn nomisantes echein, kōphois kai anaudois es to kakon pistoi agaϑon telos agnoiousin. autos hodous proeϑēka dyo, zōēs ϑanatou te, kai gnōmę̄ proeϑēk᾽ agaϑēn zoēn proelesϑai
nor of polluted savour, nor of most hateful blood. For these things they will do in memory of kings and tyrants, to dead demons, as to heavenly beings, performing a godless and destructive worship. And the godless call their images gods, forsaking the Creator, thinking to have from them all hope and life, trusting in the deaf and voiceless for evil, ignorant of a good end. I myself set before them two ways, of life and of death, and set it before their judgment to choose the good life;
Deut 30:15 (allusion, high confidence) · Deut 30:19 (allusion, high confidence) · Jer 21:8 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God condemns worship of dead kings as gods, and declares that he set before men the two ways of life and death.
- Echoes: Wis 14:15–21 (idols of dead kings); Deut 30:15, 19; Jer 21:8; Did. 1.1 (the two ways).
Extrabiblical texts: Wis 14:15 (Wisdom of Solomon [in RC, EO, ETH canons]; echo); Did. 1.1 (Didache; echo)
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.391 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-391).
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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.
8.401Geffcken GCS 8
αὐτοὶ δ᾽ ἐς ϑάνατον καὶ πῦρ αἰώνιον ἧξαν. εἰκών ἐστ᾽ ἄνϑρωπος ἐμὴ λόγον 0090» ἔχουσα τούτῳ ϑὲς καϑαρὰν καὶ ἀναίμακτον σὺ τράπεζαν πληρώσας ἀγαϑῶν καὶ δὸς πεινῶντι τὸν ἄρτον 406 καὶ διψῶντι ποτὸν καὶ εἵματα σώματι γυμνῷ ἐκ μόχϑων ἰδίων πορίσας ἁγναῖς παλάμῃσιν. ϑλιβόμενον κτῆσαι καὶ τῷ κάμνοντι παράστα καὶ ζῶσαν ϑυσίαν ἐμοὶ τῷ ζῶντι πόριζε, σπείρων νῦν ἐς ὕδωρ, ἵνα σοι κἀγώ ποτε δώσω καρποὺς ἀϑανάτους, καὶ φῶς αἰώνιον ἕξεις
autoi d᾽ es ϑanaton kai pyr aiōnion hēxan. eikōn est᾽ anϑrōpos emē logon 0090» echousa toutǭ ϑes kaϑaran kai anaimakton sy trapezan plērōsas agaϑōn kai dos peinōnti ton arton 406 kai dipsōnti poton kai heimata sōmati gymnǭ ek mochϑōn idiōn porisas hagnais palamę̄sin. ϑlibomenon ktēsai kai tǭ kamnonti parasta kai zōsan ϑysian emoi tǭ zōnti porize, speirōn nyn es hydōr, hina soi kagō pote dōsō karpous aϑanatous, kai phōs aiōnion hexeis
but they themselves rushed to death and eternal fire. Man is my image, possessing right reason. For him set a pure and bloodless table, filling it with good things, and give bread to the hungry, and drink to the thirsty, and garments to the naked body, providing them from your own labours with holy hands. Take the afflicted to yourself, and stand by the weary, and offer a living sacrifice to me, the living one, sowing now upon the water, so that I too may one day give you immortal fruits, and you will have eternal light
Gen 1:27 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 58:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 25:35 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 25:36 (allusion, high confidence) · Rom 12:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Eccl 11:1 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God teaches that man is his image, and that the true sacrifice is a bloodless table: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and helping the afflicted.
- A margin numeral is left out. Echoes: Gen 1:27; Isa 58:7; Matt 25:35–36; Rom 12:1; Eccl 11:1.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.401 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-401).
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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.
8.411Geffcken GCS 8
καὶ ζωὴν ἀμάραντον, ὅταν πυρὶ πάντας ἐλέγξω. χωνεύσω γὰρ ἅπαντα καὶ εἰς καϑαρὸν διαλέξω, οὐρανὸν εἱλίξω, γαίης κευϑμῶνας ἀνοίξω, καὶ τότ᾽ ἀναστήσω νεχροὺς μοῖραν ἀναλύσας καὶ Havarov κέντρον, καὶ ὕστερον εἰς κρίσιν ἥξω κρίνων εὐσεβέων καὶ δυσσεβέων βίον ἀνδρῶν" καὶ κριὸν κριῷ καὶ ποιμένι ποιμένα ϑήσω καὶ μόσχον μόσχῳ πέλας ἀλλήλων ἐς ἔλεγχον"
kai zōēn amaranton, hotan pyri pantas elenxō. chōneusō gar hapanta kai eis kaϑaron dialexō, ouranon heilixō, gaiēs keuϑmōnas anoixō, kai tot᾽ anastēsō nechrous moiran analysas kai Havarov kentron, kai hysteron eis krisin hēxō krinōn eusebeōn kai dyssebeōn bion andrōn" kai krion kriǭ kai poimeni poimena ϑēsō kai moschon moschǭ pelas allēlōn es elenchon"
and unfading life, when I test all men by fire. For I will smelt all things and sift them out into purity; I will roll up the heaven, I will open the hidden places of the earth, and then I will raise the dead, undoing fate and the sting of death, and afterwards I will come to judgment, judging the life of pious and of impious men; and I will set ram beside ram and shepherd beside shepherd and calf beside calf, near one another, to be tested.
1 Cor 3:13 (allusion, medium confidence) · Mal 3:3 (echo, medium confidence) · Isa 34:4 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Cor 15:55 (allusion, high confidence) · Ezek 34:17 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 25:32 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God foretells that he will test all by fire, raise the dead, destroy the sting of death, and judge the pious and the impious.
- Two lines of the editor's apparatus (noting that Lactantius, Divine Institutes 2.10.4, quotes "Man is my image") run into the text in the OCR and are removed by a logged correction. Echoes: 1 Cor 3:13; Mal 3:2–3; Isa 34:4; 1 Cor 15:55; Ezek 34:17; Matt 25:32.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (lines of the editor's apparatus run into the text by the OCR): 402 Lactant. div. inst. II 10, 4 denique Plato humanam formam ϑεοειδῆ esse ait, etSibylla quae dieit: eixwv.....— 403 ἀναίμακτον Lev. 17, 10. Act. 15, 20. → .
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.411 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-411).
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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.
8.421Geffcken GCS 8
οἵτινες ὑψώϑησαν ἐλεγχόμενοι ὑπ᾽ ἐλέγχῳ καὶ στόμα παντὸς ἔφραξαν, ἵν᾿ αὐτοὶ ζηλώσαντες τοὺς ὁσίως πράσσοντας ἴσως καταδουλώσουσιν σιγᾶν προστάσσοντες, ἐπειγόμενοι διὰ κέρδος. Ἐχαὶ δόκιμοι παρ᾽ ἐμοὶ τότε χωρήσουσιν ἅπαντες, οὐκ ἐχϑὲς γέγονεν" οὐχ ἤματα πολλὰ μεριμνᾷς, κοὐχέτι λοιπὸν ἐρεῖς λυπούμενος, αὔριον ἔσται᾽, οὐκ ἔαρ, οὐ χειμῶν᾽, οὔτ᾽ ἂρ ϑέρος, οὐ μετόπωρον, οὐ δύσιν ἀντολίην" ποιήσω γὰρ μαχρὸν ἤμαρ. εἰς δ᾽ αἰῶνα τὸ φῶς “ > --- πεποϑημένον ἔσται. 3 ᾿ » ), >, ’ αὐτογένητος, ἄχραντος, ἀένναος ἀϊίδιός τε,
hoitines hypsōϑēsan elenchomenoi hyp᾽ elenchǭ kai stoma pantos ephraxan, hin᾿ autoi zēlōsantes tous hosiōs prassontas isōs katadoulōsousin sigan prostassontes, epeigomenoi dia kerdos. Echai dokimoi par᾽ emoi tote chōrēsousin hapantes, ouk echϑes gegonen" ouch ēmata polla merimnąs, koucheti loipon ereis lypoumenos, aurion estai᾽, ouk ear, ou cheimōn᾽, out᾽ ar ϑeros, ou metopōron, ou dysin antoliēn" poiēsō gar machron ēmar. eis d᾽ aiōna to phōs “ > --- pepoϑēmenon estai. 3 ᾿ » ), >, ’ autogenētos, achrantos, aennaos aïidios te,
those who were exalted, convicted by conviction, and stopped everyone's mouth, so that, being jealous, they might perhaps enslave those who act with holiness, commanding them to be silent, hastening for gain. … and all who are approved by me will then go forward. It has not happened yesterday; you do not care for many days, and no longer will you say, grieving, "It will be tomorrow," no spring, no winter, nor summer, no autumn, no setting, no rising; for I will make a long day. And into eternity the longed-for light will be … . Self-begotten, undefiled, everlasting, eternal,
Zech 14:7 (allusion, medium confidence) · Rev 22:5 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: God foretells the judgment of those who silenced the holy for gain, and the endless day of light for the approved; a hymn to the eternal God begins.
- Several words are garbled in the OCR (marked "…"), and a line of misread accent marks is left out. Echoes: Zech 14:7; Rev 21:23–25; Rev 22:5.
Topics: Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.421 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-421).
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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.
8.431Geffcken GCS 8
Ἐοὐρανοῦχος ἰσχύι μετρῶν ἔπυρόεσσαν αὐτμήν καὶ πατάγου ὄχῆπτρον κατέχει σὺν ἀπηνέι πυρσῷ, πρηῦνει τὲ βαρυχτυπέων δουπήματα βροντῶν, γῆν κλονέων κατέχει ῥοιζήματα ....... κἀστεροπῶν μάστιγας ἀπαμβλύνει πυροφεγγεῖς ομβρωῶν δ᾽ ἄσπετα χεύματ᾽ ἔχει ῥιπάς τε χαλάζης χρυμαλέης νεφελῶν τε βολὰς καὶ χείματος ὁρμάς. αὐτοὶ μὲν γὰρ ἕχαστα νόῳ διατεχμαίρονται͵ ὅσσα περ αὐτῷ σοι δοκέει πρήσσειν τ᾽ ἐπινεύεις. ἐσῷ παιδὶ πρὸ κτίσεως πάσης στέρνοις ἴσοισι πεφυκώς" σύμβουλος, πλάστης μερόπων κτίστης τε βίοιο.
Eouranouchos ischui metrōn epyroessan autmēn kai patagou ochēptron katechei syn apēnei pyrsǭ, prēunei te barychtypeōn doupēmata brontōn, gēn kloneōn katechei rhoizēmata ....... kasteropōn mastigas apamblynei pyrophengeis ombrōōn d᾽ aspeta cheumat᾽ echei rhipas te chalazēs chrymaleēs nephelōn te bolas kai cheimatos hormas. autoi men gar hechasta noǭ diatechmairontai͵ hossa per autǭ soi dokeei prēssein t᾽ epineueis. esǭ paidi pro ktiseōs pasēs sternois isoisi pephykōs" symboulos, plastēs meropōn ktistēs te bioio.
who holds heaven, measuring with his strength the fiery breath, and holds the sceptre of the thunder-crash with relentless fire, and calms the din of heavy-roaring thunders; shaking the earth, he holds back the rushing … , and blunts the fire-bright whips of the lightnings, and holds the countless streams of rains, and the gusts of icy hail, and the casting of clouds, and the onsets of winter. For they discern each thing with mind, whatever seems good to you to do, and to which you give your nod. Your Child, begotten before all creation, of one heart with you, counsellor, fashioner of mortals, and creator of life.
Ps 147:16 (147:5 LXX) (echo, medium confidence) · Col 1:15 (allusion, high confidence) · Col 1:16 (allusion, medium confidence) · Prov 8:30 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: A hymn praises the self-begotten, eternal God who rules thunder, lightning, rain, and hail, and his Child, begotten before all creation, counsellor and creator.
- "Of one heart with you" renders στέρνοις ἴσοισι πεφυκώς ("born with equal breast"); the line is obscure in the edition and the OCR. "They" in "they discern each thing" may be the angels; uncertain. Echoes: Job 37–38; Ps 147:8, 16–18; Col 1:15–16; Prov 8:22–30.
Topics: Christology, Trinity
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.431 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-431).
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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.
8.441Geffcken GCS 8
ὃν πρώτῃ στόματος γλυχερῇ προσφϑέγξαο φωνῇ" “ποιήσωμεν ἰδοὺ πανομοίιον ἀνέρα μορφῇ ἡμετέρῃ καὶ δῶμεν ἔχειν ζωαρχέα πνοιήν᾽ © ϑνητῷ περ ἐόντι τὰ κοσμικὰ πάντα λατρεύσει καὶ χοικῷ πλασϑέντι τὰ πάνϑ᾽ ὑποτάξομεν αὐτῷ᾽. ταῦτα δ᾽ ἔφησϑα Λόγῳ, τῇ σῇ φρενὶ πάντα δ᾽ ἐτύχϑη" πάντα δ᾽ ὁμοῦ στδιχεῖα κελεύσματι πείϑετο τῷ σῷ, ἠέλιος μήνη, χορὸς ἄστρων "οῦρεα RN
hon prōtę̄ stomatos glycherę̄ prosphϑenxao phōnę̄" “poiēsōmen idou panomoiion anera morphę̄ hēmeterę̄ kai dōmen echein zōarchea pnoiēn᾽ © ϑnētǭ per eonti ta kosmika panta latreusei kai choikǭ plasϑenti ta panϑ᾽ hypotaxomen autǭ᾽. tauta d᾽ ephēsϑa Logǭ, tę̄ sę̄ phreni panta d᾽ etychϑē" panta d᾽ homou stdicheia keleusmati peiϑeto tǭ sǭ, ēelios mēnē, choros astrōn "ourea RN
to whom first you spoke with the sweet voice of your mouth: "Behold, let us make a man wholly like our form, and let us give him life-giving breath to have; him, though he is mortal, all the things of the world will serve, and to him, fashioned from dust, we will subject all things." These things you said to the Word, and by your mind all things came to be; and all the elements together obeyed your command: sun, moon, the chorus of stars, mountains, …
Gen 1:26 (allusion, high confidence) · Gen 2:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Ps 8:6 (8:7 LXX) (allusion, medium confidence) · John 1:3 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The hymn tells how God said to the Word, "Let us make man in our form," and how all the elements obeyed his command.
- Lines of the editor's apparatus (a parallel from Theophilus, To Autolycus 1.6) run into this section in the OCR and are removed by a logged correction. The end of the last line is garbled (marked "…"). Echoes: Gen 1:26–28; Gen 2:7; Ps 8:6; John 1:3.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (lines of the editor's apparatus run into the text by the OCR): Autol. 1 6, 10 οὗτος ϑεὸς μόνος ὁ ποιήσας ἐκ σχότους φῶς, ταμεῖά τε νότου καὶ ϑησαυροὺς ἀβύσσου καὶ ὅρια ϑαλασσῶν χιόνων TE καὶ χαλαζῶν ϑησαυρούς.... ὁ ἀποστέλλων τὴν βροντὴν εἰς φόβον καὶ προχαταγγέλλων τὸν χτύπον τῆς → .
Topics: Christology, Trinity
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.441 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-441).
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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.
8.451Geffcken GCS 8
εὐφρόνη ἡμέρη ὕπνος ἔγερσις πνεῦμα καὶ ὁρμή, ψυχὴ καὶ σύνεσις, τέχνη φωνή τε καὶ ἀλκή ζῴων τ᾽ ἄγρια φῦλα τὰ »νηκτῶν καὶ πετεηνῶν καὶ κτίσις ‚aldıog συνετάσσετο πλάσματι ϑνητῷ, πεζῶν τ᾽ ἀμφιβίων τε καὶ ἑρπυστῶν διφυῶν TE‘ οὐρανὸς ἀὴρ πῦρ χϑὼν γῆ καὶ χεῦμα ϑαλάσοης, “ὃ πάντα γὰρ αὐτός σοι συνετάσσετο σῇ ὑπ᾽ ἀγωγῇ. ' ὑστατίοις τε χρόνοις χϑόν ἀμείψατο καὶ βραχὺς ἐλϑών παρϑένου ἐκ Μαρίας λαγόνων ἀνέτειλε νέον φῶς, οὐρανόϑεν δὲ μολὼν βροτέην ἐνεδύσατο μορφήν. πρῶτα μὲν οὖν Γαβριὴλ σϑεναρὸν δέμας ἁγνὸν ἐδείχϑη; δεύτερα καὶ κούρην ἀρχάγγελος ἔννεπε φωνῇ" -
euphronē hēmerē hypnos egersis pneuma kai hormē, psychē kai synesis, technē phōnē te kai alkē zǭōn t᾽ agria phyla ta »nēktōn kai peteēnōn kai ktisis ‚aldıog synetasseto plasmati ϑnētǭ, pezōn t᾽ amphibiōn te kai herpystōn diphyōn TE‘ ouranos aēr pyr chϑōn gē kai cheuma ϑalasoēs, “ho panta gar autos soi synetasseto sę̄ hyp᾽ agōgę̄. ' hystatiois te chronois chϑon ameipsato kai brachys elϑōn parϑenou ek Marias lagonōn aneteile neon phōs, ouranoϑen de molōn broteēn enedysato morphēn. prōta men oun Gabriēl sϑenaron demas hagnon edeichϑē? deutera kai kourēn archangelos ennepe phōnę̄" -
night, day, sleep, waking, spirit and impulse, soul and understanding, art, voice and strength, and the wild races of living things, of swimming creatures and of birds, and the eternal creation was ordered together for the mortal creature, of walkers and amphibians and creeping things and two-natured ones, heaven, air, fire, the land, the earth, and the flood of the sea; for all things were ordered together for you under your guidance. And in the last times he passed to the earth, and coming small, from the womb of the virgin Mary he rose up as a new light, and, coming from heaven, he put on mortal form. First, then, Gabriel's strong and holy body was shown; and second, the archangel spoke to the maiden with his voice:
Gal 4:4 (allusion, medium confidence) · Luke 1:26 (allusion, high confidence) · Luke 1:28 (allusion, high confidence) · Phil 2:7 (allusion, medium confidence) · Isa 9:2 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The hymn tells how all creation was ordered for man, and how in the last times the Word came from heaven, took mortal form of the virgin Mary, and Gabriel was sent to her.
- Three lines of the editor's apparatus (a parallel from Theophilus, and references to Athenagoras, Diognetus, and Melito) are interleaved with the verse in the OCR and are removed by logged corrections. Echoes: Gal 4:4; Luke 1:26–28; Phil 2:7; Isa 9:2.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (a line of the editor's apparatus interleaved with the verse by the OCR): βροντῆς διὰ τῆς ἀστραπῆς, ἵνα μὴ ψυχὴ αἰφνιδίως ταραχϑεῖσα ἐχψύξῃ, ἀλλὰ → ; μὴν καὶ τῆς ἀστραπῆς τῆς κατερχομένης ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν τὴν αὐτάρχειαν ἐπιμετ- → ; ρῶν πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐκκαῦσαι τὴν γῆν. Athenag. Leg 13. Ep. ad Diogn. 7. [Melito:] → .
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.451 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-451).
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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.
8.461Geffcken GCS 8
“δέξαι ἀχράντοισι ϑεὸν σοῖς, παρϑένε, κόλποις᾽. ὡς εἰπὼν ἔμπνευσε ϑεὸς χάριν *Nd αἰεὶ" κούρῃ" τὴν δᾶρα τάρβος ὁμοῦ ϑάμβος 9 ἕλεν εἰσαΐουσαν, στῆ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑποτρομέουσα᾽ νόος δέ οἱ ἐπτοίητο παλλομένης χραδίης ὑπ᾿ ἀγνώστοισιν ἀκουαῖς. αὖτις δ᾽ εὐφράνϑη καὶ ἰάνϑη κέαρ αὐδῇ, κουρίδιον δ᾽ ἐγέλασσεν, ξὴν δ᾽ ἐρύϑηνε παρειήν χάρματι τερπομένη καὶ ϑελγομένη φρένας αἰδοῖ, καί οἱ ϑάρσος ἐπῆλϑεν. ἔπος δ᾽ εἰσέπτατο νηϑδύν, “τὸ σαρχωϑὲν δὲ χρόνῳ καὶ γαστέρι ζῳογονηϑέν
“dexai achrantoisi ϑeon sois, parϑene, kolpois᾽. hōs eipōn empneuse ϑeos charin *Nd aiei" kourę̄" tēn dara tarbos homou ϑambos 9 helen eisaïousan, stē d᾽ ar᾽ hypotromeousa᾽ noos de hoi eptoiēto pallomenēs chradiēs hyp᾿ agnōstoisin akouais. autis d᾽ euphranϑē kai ianϑē kear audę̄, kouridion d᾽ egelassen, xēn d᾽ eryϑēne pareiēn charmati terpomenē kai ϑelgomenē phrenas aidoi, kai hoi ϑarsos epēlϑen. epos d᾽ eiseptato nēϑdyn, “to sarchōϑen de chronǭ kai gasteri zǭogonēϑen
"Receive God, virgin, in your undefiled bosom." So saying, God breathed grace into the maiden … ; and fear and amazement together seized her as she heard, and she stood trembling; and her mind fluttered, her heart quivering at the unknown tidings. But again she was gladdened, and her heart was warmed by the voice, and she laughed like a maiden, and her cheek reddened, delighting in joy and her mind charmed with modesty, and courage came upon her. And the Word flew into her womb, and, having been made flesh in time and brought to life in the womb,
Luke 1:29 (allusion, high confidence) · Luke 1:35 (allusion, high confidence) · Luke 1:38 (allusion, medium confidence) · John 1:14 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The hymn tells of the annunciation: Gabriel bids the virgin receive God; she trembles, then rejoices, and the Word enters her womb and is made flesh.
- One phrase in the second line is garbled in the OCR (marked "…"). Echoes: Luke 1:29–38; John 1:14.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.461 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-461).
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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.
8.471Geffcken GCS 8
ἐπλάσϑη βροτέην ἰδέην καὶ κοῦρος ἐτύχϑη παρϑενικοῖς τοκετοῖς" τόδε γὰρ μέγα ϑαῦμα βροτοῖσιν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν μέγα ϑαῦμα ϑεῷ πατρὶ καὶ ϑεῷ υἱῷ. τικτόμενον δὲ βρέφος ποτὶ δ᾽ ἔπτατο γηϑοσύνη χϑών, οὐράνιος δ᾽ ἐγέλασσε ϑρόνος καὶ ἀγάλλετο κόσμος. καινοφαὴς δὲ μάγοισι σεβάσϑη ϑέσφατος ἀστήρ, σπειρωϑὲν δὲ βρέφος δείχϑη ϑεοπειϑέσι φάτνῃ βουπελάταις τε καὶ αἰγονόμοις καὶ ποιμέσιν ἀρνῶν" καὶ Λόγου ἡ Βηϑλεὲμ πατρὶς ϑεόκλητος ἐλέχϑη. ω * ἐν κραδίῃ τε FOREIRORDORERN, πικρὰ τέρματα μισεῖν
eplasϑē broteēn ideēn kai kouros etychϑē parϑenikois toketois" tode gar mega ϑauma brotoisin, all᾽ ouden mega ϑauma ϑeǭ patri kai ϑeǭ huiǭ. tiktomenon de brephos poti d᾽ eptato gēϑosynē chϑōn, ouranios d᾽ egelasse ϑronos kai agalleto kosmos. kainophaēs de magoisi sebasϑē ϑesphatos astēr, speirōϑen de brephos deichϑē ϑeopeiϑesi phatnę̄ boupelatais te kai aigonomois kai poimesin arnōn" kai Logou hē Bēϑleem patris ϑeoklētos elechϑē. ō * en kradię̄ te FOREIRORDORERN, pikra termata misein
he was formed in mortal shape and became a boy by a virgin birth; for this is a great wonder to mortals, but no great wonder to God the Father and God the Son. When the babe was born, the earth leapt for joy, and the heavenly throne laughed, and the world exulted. And the new-shining star, foretold by God, was revered by the Magi, and the babe in swaddling clothes was shown in a manger to those who obey God, to ox-herds and goatherds and shepherds of lambs; and Bethlehem was called the God-named fatherland of the Word. … and in the heart … to hate bitter ends
Isa 7:14 (echo, medium confidence) · Matt 2:2 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 2:9 (allusion, high confidence) · Luke 2:7 (allusion, high confidence) · Luke 2:16 (allusion, high confidence) · Mic 5:2 (5:1 LXX) (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The hymn tells of the virgin birth, the joy of heaven and earth, the star of the Magi, the babe in the manger shown to the shepherds, and Bethlehem the homeland of the Word.
- The last two lines are garbled in the OCR and marked "…". Echoes: Isa 7:14; Matt 2:2, 9–11; Luke 2:7–16; Mic 5:2.
Topics: Christology
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.471 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-471).
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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.
8.481Geffcken GCS 8
καὶ πάντων ἀγαπᾶν τὸν πλησίον ὥσπερ ξαυτόν᾽ καὶ ϑεὸν ἐκ ψυχῆς φιλέειν, αὐτῷ δὲ λατρεύειν. Tovvex ἄρ᾽ ἡμεῖς καὶ ὁσίης Χριστοῖο γενέϑλης οὐρανίης πεφυῶτες ἐπικλεόμεσϑα σύναιμοι 46 μνῆστιν ἐυφροσύνης ἐπὶ ϑρησκείῃσιν ἔχοντες, εὐσεβίης τε καὶ ἀτρεκίης βαίνοντες ἀταρπούς. οὔποτε πρὸς νηῶν ἀδύτοις ἐώμεσϑα πελάζειν, οὐ ξοάνοις σπένδειν, οὐδ᾽ εὐχωλῇσι γεραίρειν, - οὐδ᾽ ὀὁδμαῖς ἀνϑῶν πολυτερπέσιν οὐδὲ μὲν αὐγαῖς λαμπτήρων, ἀτὰρ οὐδ᾽ “ἄρα τοὺς" ἀναϑήμασι κοσμεῖν,
kai pantōn agapan ton plēsion hōsper xauton᾽ kai ϑeon ek psychēs phileein, autǭ de latreuein. Tovvex ar᾽ hēmeis kai hosiēs Christoio geneϑlēs ouraniēs pephyōtes epikleomesϑa synaimoi 46 mnēstin euphrosynēs epi ϑrēskeię̄sin echontes, eusebiēs te kai atrekiēs bainontes atarpous. oupote pros nēōn adytois eōmesϑa pelazein, ou xoanois spendein, oud᾽ euchōlę̄si gerairein, - oud᾽ hoodmais anϑōn polyterpesin oude men augais lamptērōn, atar oud᾽ “ara tous" anaϑēmasi kosmein,
and to love the neighbour of all as oneself, and to love God from the soul and to serve him. Therefore we, born of the holy, heavenly race of Christ, are called his kinsmen, keeping a remembrance of gladness in our worship, and treading the paths of piety and truth. We are never permitted to approach the inner shrines of temples, nor to pour libations to images, nor to honour them with vows, nor with the delightful scents of flowers, nor with the gleam of lamps, nor indeed to adorn them with offerings,
Matt 22:37 (allusion, high confidence) · Matt 22:39 (allusion, high confidence) · Lev 19:18 (allusion, medium confidence) · Deut 6:5 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Pet 2:9 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Sibyl says that Christians, kin of Christ's heavenly race, love God and neighbour and do not approach temples or honour images with libations, flowers, lamps, or offerings.
- A margin numeral is left out. Echoes: Matt 22:37–39; Lev 19:18; Deut 6:5; 1 Pet 2:9.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.481 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-481).
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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.
8.491Geffcken GCS 8
οὐ λιβάνου ἀτμοῖσιν ἀνιεῖσιν φλόγα “βωμόν Ὁ" οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ ταυροϑύτοις μηλόσφαγα αἵματα λοιβαῖς λυτροχαρεῖς πέμπειν, χϑονίας μειλίγματα ποινῆς" οὐδ᾽ ἀπὸ σαρχοβύόροιο πυρῆς κνισσώδεϊ καπνῷ καὶ μιαραῖς πνοιῇσι μιαίνειν αἰϑέρος αὐγήν" ἀλλ᾽ ἁγναῖς πραπίδεσσι γεγηϑότες εὔφρονι ϑυμῷ ἀφνειαῖς τ᾽ ἀγάπῃσι καὶ εὐδώροις παλάμῃσιν μειλιχίοις ψαλμοῖσι ϑεοπρεπέεσοσί TE μολπαῖς ἄφϑιτον ἐξυμνεῖν σε καὶ ἄψευστον κελόμεσϑα, 5800 παγγενετῆρα ϑεόν, πινυτόφρονα .........-.
ou libanou atmoisin anieisin phloga “bōmon Ho" oud᾽ epi tauroϑytois mēlosphaga haimata loibais lytrochareis pempein, chϑonias meiligmata poinēs" oud᾽ apo sarchobyoroio pyrēs knissōdeï kapnǭ kai miarais pnoię̄si miainein aiϑeros augēn" all᾽ hagnais prapidessi gegēϑotes euphroni ϑymǭ aphneiais t᾽ agapę̄si kai eudōrois palamę̄sin meilichiois psalmoisi ϑeoprepeesosi TE molpais aphϑiton exymnein se kai apseuston kelomesϑa, 5800 pangenetēra ϑeon, pinytophrona .........-.
nor to send up flame to the altar with the vapours of frankincense, nor, at sacrifices of bulls, to send the blood of slaughtered sheep in libations, delighting in ransom, as appeasements of earthly punishment; nor, with the savoury smoke of a flesh-devouring pyre and with polluted breaths, to defile the light of the aether; but, rejoicing with holy hearts and a glad spirit, with abundant love and generous hands, with gentle psalms and songs fitting for God, we are bidden to hymn you, the imperishable and the one without falsehood, God, begetter of all, wise of mind … .
Eph 5:19 (allusion, high confidence) · Col 3:16 (allusion, medium confidence) · Heb 13:15 (allusion, medium confidence) · Heb 13:16 (allusion, medium confidence) · Titus 1:2 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The Eighth Book ends: instead of incense and blood sacrifice, Christians are bidden to praise the imperishable God, begetter of all, with pure hearts, love, generous hands, and psalms.
- The last line breaks off in the edition and the OCR (marked "…"); a margin numeral is left out. Echoes: Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; Heb 13:15–16; Titus 1:2.
Cite (SBL): Sib. Or. 8.491 (Geffcken GCS 8; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/oracula-sibyllina-christiana/8-1/#p-8-491).
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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.