Pistis Sophia 67–70

English translation by G. R. S. Mead (1921); the original is not shown

disciples, he answered and said: “Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you? “James came forward and said: “My Lord, concerning then the solution of the words which thou hast said, thus hath thy light-power prophesied thereon aforetime through David in the ninetieth Psalm: “‘ 1. Whoso then dwelleth under the help of terpreteth the Most High, will abide under the shadow of the God of heaven. “‘ 2. He will say unto the Lord: Thou art my succour and my place of refuge, my God, in whom I trust. “’ 3. For he will save me out of the snare of the hunters and from mighty word, “‘ 4. He will shade thee with his breast, and thou shalt have trust beneath his wings; his truth shall surround thee as a shield. “‘ 5. Thou wilt not be afraid of terror by night nor of an arrow which flieth by day, “6. Of a thing which slinketh in the darkness, of a mischance and a demon at mid-day. “‘ 7. A thousand will fall on thy left, and ten at thy right hand; but they shall not nigh thee. “‘ 8. Nay rather with thine eyes wilt thou behold thou wilt see the requital of the sinners. “‘ 9. For thou, O Lord, art my hope. Thou hast established the Most High for thyself as “’ 10. Harm will not come nigh unto thee; will not come nigh thy dwelling. “‘ 11. For he will give commandment to angels on thy behalf that they guard thee on thy ways, “‘ 12. And bear thee on their hands, that thou never strike with thy foot against a “‘ 13. Thou wilt stride over the serpent and and tread on lion and dragon. “’ 14. Because he hath trusted in me, I will him; I will overshadow him, because he known my name. “‘ 15. He will cry unto me and I shall hearken unto him; I am at his side in his tribulation and will save him and honour him, “16. And increase him with many days and him my salvation.’ “This, my Lord, is the solution of the words thou hast said. Hearken therefore, that may say it in openness. “The word then which thy power hath spoken David: ‘Whoso then dwelleth under the help of the Most High, will abide under the shadow of the God of heaven,’—that is: When Sophia had trusted in the Light, she abode under the light of the light-stream, which through thee came out of the Height. “And the word which thy power hath spoken through David: ’ I will say unto the Lord: Thou art my succour and my refuge, my God, in whom I trust,’ — it is the word with which Pistis Sophia hath sung praises: ‘Thou art my succour, and I come unto thee.’ “And again the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘My God, in whom I trust, thou wilt save me out of the snare of the hunters and from mighty word,’ — it is what Pistis Sophia hath said: ’ O Light, I have faith in thee, for thou wilt save me from the emanations of Self-willed and from those of Adamas, the Tyrant, and thou wilt save me also from all their mighty threats.’ “And again the word which thy power hath spoken through David: ’ He will shade thee with his breast, and thou wilt have trust beneath his wings,’ — that is: Pistis Sophia hath been in the light of the light-stream, which hath come from thee, and hath continued in firm trust in the light, that on her left and that on her right, which are the wings of the light-stream. “And the word which thy light-power hath prophesied through David: ‘Truth will surround thee as a shield,’ — it is the light of the light-stream which hath surrounded Pistis Sophia on all her sides as a shield. “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘He will not be afraid of terror by night,’ — that is: Pistis Sophia hath not been afraid of the terrors and alarms into which she had been planted in the chaos, which is the ’ night.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘He will not be afraid of an arrow which flieth by day,’ —that is: Pistis Sophia hath not been afraid of the power which Self-willed hath sent last of all out of the height, and which hath come into the chaos as it were a flying arrow. Thy light-power therefore hath said: ’ Thou wilt not be afraid of an arrow which flieth by day,’—for that power hath come out of the thirteenth æon, it being that which is lord over the twelve æons, and which giveth light unto all the æons; wherefor hath he [David] said ’ day.’ “And again the word which thy power hath spoken: ’ He will not be afraid of a thing which slinketh in the darkness,’ — that is: Sophia hath not been afraid of the lion-faced emanation, which caused fear for Pistis Sophia in the chaos, which is the ‘darkness.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘He will not be afraid of a mischance and of a demon at mid-day,’ — that is: Pistis Sophia hath not been afraid of the demon emanation of Tyrant Adamas, which hath cast Pistis Sophia to the ground in a great mischance, and which hath come forth out of Adamas out of the twelfth æon; wherefor then hath thy power said: ‘He will not be afraid of the demon mischance at mid-day,’ — ’ mid-day,’ because it hath come out of the twelve æons, which is ‘mid-day ’; and again [ ‘night,’ because] it hath come out of the chaos, which is the ’ night,’ and because it hath come out of the twelfth æon which is in the midst between both; therefore hath thy light-power said ‘midday,’ because the twelve æons lie in the midst between the thirteenth æon and the chaos. “And again the word which thy light-power hath spoken through David: ‘A thousand will fall on his left, and ten thousand at his right hand, but they shall not come nigh him,’ — that is: When the emanations of Self-willed, which are exceedingly numerous, could not bear the great light of the Light-stream, many of them fell on the left hand of Pistis Sophia and many at her right, and they could not come nigh her, to do her [harm]. “And the word which thy light-power hath spoken through David: ‘Nay rather with thine eyes wilt thou behold, and wilt see the requital of the sinners, for thou, O Lord, art my hope,’ — that is the word: Pistis Sophia hath with her eyes beheld her foes, that is the emanations of Self-willed, who all have fallen one on another; not only hath she with her eyes beheld this, but thou also thyself, my Lord, the First Mystery, hast taken the light-power which is in the lion-faced power, and hast moreover taken the power of all the emanations of Self-willed and moreover thou hast imprisoned them in that chaos, [so that] from henceforth they have not gone forth to their own region. Therefore then hath Pistis Sophia with her eyes beheld her foes, that is the emanations of Self-willed, in all which David hath prophesied concerning Pistis Sophia, saying: ‘Nay rather with thine eyes wilt thou behold, and thou wilt see the requital of the sinners.’ Not only hath she with her eyes beheld, how they fall one on another in the chaos, but she hath also seen the requital with which it was requited them. Just as the emanations of Self-willed have thought to take away the light of Sophia from her, so hast thou requited them and repaid them in full, and hast taken the light-power in them instead of the Lights of Sophia, who hath had faith in the Light of the Height. “And as thy Light-power hath spoken through David: ‘Thou hast established the Most High for thyself as refuge; harm will not come nigh unto thee, scourge will not come nigh thy dwelling,’ — that is: When Pistis Sophia had had faith in the Light and was afflicted, she sang praises unto it, and the emanations of Self-willed could not inflict on her any harm, nor could they [injure] her, nor could they at all come nigh her. “And the word which thy light-power hath spoken through David: ’ He will give commandment to his angels on thy behalf, that they guard thee on all thy ways and bear thee on their hands, that thou mayest never strike with thy foot against a stone,’ — it is again thy word: Thou hast given commandment to Gabriel and Michael, that they guide Pistis Sophia in all the regions of the chaos, until they lead her forth and that they uplift her on their hands, so that her feet do not touch the darkness beneath, and [that] on the other hand they of the lower darkness do not seize hold of her. “And the word which thy light-power hath spoken through David: ‘Thou wilt tread on serpent and basilisk and tread on lion and dragon; because he hath trusted in me, I will save him and I will overshadow him, because he hath known my name,’ — that is the word: When Pistis Sophia was on the point of coming forth out of the chaos, she trod on the emanations of Self-willed, and she trod on the serpent-faced ones and on the basilisk-faced ones, which have seven heads; and she trod on the Lion-faced power and on the dragon-faced one. Because she had had faith in the Light, is she saved from all of them. “This, my Lord, is the solution of the words which thou hast spoken.”

English translation by G. R. S. Mead (1921); the original is not shown

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had heard these words, that he said: “Well said, James, beloved one.” And the First Mystery continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: “It came to pass, when I had led Pistis Sophia out of the chaos, that she cried out again and said: “’ 1. I am saved out of the chaos and loosed from the bonds of the darkness. I am come unto thee, O Light. “’ 2. For thou wert light on all sides of me, saving me and helping me. “‘ 3. And the emanations of Self-willed, which fought against me, thou hast hindered through thy light, and they could not come nigh me; for thy light was with me and saved me through thy light-stream. “‘ 4. Because in sooth the emanations of Self-willed constrained me, they took from me my power and cast me out into the chaos with no light in me. So I became as heavy-weighing matter in comparison with them. “‘ 5. And thereafter came a light-stream unto me through thee which saved me; it shone on my left and on my right and surrounded me on all sides of me, so that no part of me was without light. “‘ 6. And thou hast covered me with the light of thy stream and purged from me all my evil matters; and I shall be relieved of all my matters because of thy light. “‘ 7. And it is thy light-stream which hath raised me up and taken from me the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me. “‘ 8. And I I have become sure-trusting in thy light and purified light in thy stream. “‘ 9. And the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me, have withdrawn themselves from me; and I shone in thy great power, for thou savest for ever.’ “This is the repentance which Pistis Sophist hath uttered, when she came forth out of the chaos and was freed from the bonds of the chaos. Now, therefore, who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

English translation by G. R. S. Mead (1921); the original is not shown

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that Thomas came forward, and said: “My Lord, my light-dweller hath ears and my mind hath understood the words which thou hast said. Now, therefore, give commandment unto me to set forth clearly the solution of the words.” And the First Mystery answered and said unto Thomas: “I give thee commandment to set forth the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia sang unto me.” Thomas answered and said: “My Lord, concerning the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, because she was saved out of the chaos, thy light-power prophesied aforetime thereon through Solomon, Solomon the son of David, in his Odes: “’ 1. I am saved from the bonds and am fled unto thee, O Lord. 2. For thou hast been on my right hand, saving me and helping me. “‘ 3. Thou hast hindered my adversaries and they have not been revealed, because thy face was with me, saving me in thy grace. “‘ 4. I was despised in the sight of many and cast out; I have become as lead in their sight. “‘ 5. Through thee I have gotten a power which helped me; for thou hast set lamps on my right and on my left, so that no side of me may be without light. “‘ 6. Thou hast overshadowed me with the shadow of thy grace, and I was relieved of the coats of skin. “‘ 7. It is thy right hand which hath raised me up, and thou hast taken the sickness from me. 8. I have become powerful in thy truth and purified in thy righteousness. “‘ 9. My adversaries have withdrawn themselves from me, and I am justified by thy goodness, for thy rest endureth unto all eternity.’ “This then, my Lord, is the solution of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, when she was saved out of the chaos. Hearken, therefore, that I may say it in openness. “The word then which thy light-power hath spoken through Solomon: ‘I am saved from the bonds and am fled unto thee, O Lord,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘I am loosed from the bonds of the darkness and am come unto thee, O Light.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ’ Thou wert on my right hand, saving and helping me,’ — it is again the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘Thou art become a light on all sides of me, [saving me] and helping me.’ “And the word which thy light-power hath spoken: ‘Thou hast hindered my adversaries and they have not been revealed,’—it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘And the emanations of Self-willed which fought against me, thou hast hindered through thy light, and they could not come nigh me.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘Thy face was with me, saving me in thy grace,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘Thy light was with me, saving me in thy light-stream.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘I was despised in the sight of many and cast out,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘The emanations of Self-willed constrained me and took my power from me, and I have been despised before them and cast out into the chaos, with no light in me.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ’ I have become as lead in their sight,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ’ When they had taken my light from me, I became as heavy- weighing matter before them.’ “And moreover the word which thy power hath spoken: ’ Through thee I have gotten a power for me which helped me,’ — it is again the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ’ And thereafter came a light-power unto me through thee which saved me.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ’ Thou hast set lamps on my right and on my left, so that no side of me may be without light,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘Thy power shone on my right and on my left and surrounded me on all sides of me, so that no part of me was without light.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘Thou hast overshadowed me with the shadow of thy grace,’—it is again the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘And thou hast covered me with the light of the stream.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘I was relieved of the coats of skin,’ — it is again the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘And they have purified me of all my evil matters, and I raised myself above them in thy light.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken through Solomon: ‘It is thy right hand which hath raised me up, and hath taken the sickness from me,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘And it is thy light-stream which hath raised me up in thy light and hath taken from me the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me.’ I “And the word which thy power hath spoken: ’ I have become powerful in thy truth and purified in thy righteousness,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ’ I have become powerful in thy light and purified light in thy stream.’ And the word which thy power hath spoken: ‘My adversaries have withdrawn themselves from me,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ‘The emanations of Self-willed which constrained me, have withdrawn themselves from me.’ “And the word which thy power hath spoken through Solomon: ‘And I am justified in thy goodness, for thy rest endureth unto all eternity,’ — it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: ’ I am saved in thy goodness; for thou savest every one.’ “This then, O my Lord, is the whole solution of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, when she was saved out of the chaos and loosed from the bonds of the darkness.”

English translation by G. R. S. Mead (1921); the original is not shown

It came to pass then when the First Mystery had heard Thomas say these words, that he said unto him: “Well said, finely, Thomas, blessed one. This is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered.” And the First Mystery continued again and said unto the disciples: “And Pistis Sophia continued and sang praises unto me, saying: “’ 1. I sing a song unto thee; through thy commandment hast thou led me down out of the higher æon which is above, and hast led me up to the regions which are below. “’ 2. And again through thy commandment thou hast saved me out of the regions which are below, and through thee hast thou taken there the matter in my light-powers, and I have seen it. “‘ 3. And thou hast scattered far from me the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me and were hostile to me, and hast bestowed power on me to loose myself from the bonds of the emanations of Adamas. “‘ 4. And thou hast smitten the basilisk with the seven heads and cast it out with my hands and hast set me above its matter. Thou hast destroyed it, so that its seed may not raise itself up from now on. 5. And thou wert with me, giving me power in all this, and thy light surrounded me in all regions, and through thee hast thou made all the emanations of Self-willed powerless. “’ 6. For thou hast taken the power of their light from them and made straight my way to lead me out of the chaos. “’ 7. And thou hast removed me from the material darknesses and taken from them all my powers, from which the light had been taken. “‘ 8. Thou hast put into them purified light and unto all my limbs, in which was no light, thou hast given purified light from the Light of the Height. “’ 9. And thou hast made straight the way for them [sc, my limbs], and the light of thy face hath become for me life indestructible. “‘ 10. Thou hast led me forth above the chaos, the region of chaos and extermination, in order that all the matters in it which are in that region, might be unloosed and all my powers be renewed in thy light, and thy light be in them all. “‘ 11. Thou hast deposited the light of thy stream in me and I am become purified light.’ “This again is the second song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Who then hath understood this repentance, let him come forward and speak it.”