Pistis Sophia: The Second Book

Pistis Sophia: The Second Book

Translated by G. R. S. Mead

3rd century

The second book of Pistis Sophia in Mead’s English version, the longest part of the work. Jesus tells the story of Sophia’s deliverance, describes the orders of the invisibles and the light-world, and answers the questions of Mary, Martha, Salome and the apostles about the mysteries, the forgiveness of sins, the fate of souls after death and the punishments of the dungeons. A short extract from the Books of the Saviour stands in the middle. It is a third-century Coptic Gnostic gospel, not scripture.

Section 1: John further explaineth the same scripture

1 And John also came forward and said: "Master, bid me as well expound the interpretation of the words which thy light-power prophesied of old through David." And Jesus answered and said unto John: "To thee also, John, I give commandment to expound the interpretation of the words of which my light-power prophesied by David, saying, 'Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth hath flourished on the earth, and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.'" John answered and said: "This is the word which thou didst say unto us John once on a time, 'I came forth from the further height, I entered into Sabaôth the good; I embraced the light-power which was in him.' Now, therefore, mercy is thyself, who wast sent from the regions of the height by thy father, the first mystery, looking within, which sent thee to have mercy on the whole world. Truth also is that power of Sabaôth the good, which was implanted in thee, which thou hast sent forth to the left, thou the first mystery looking within. And the little Sabaôth the good, hath received it; he sent it forth into matter and into Barbêlô, and became the herald of the regions of truth, in all the regions of those of the left. The matter of Barbêlô, then, is that which is in thy body to-day.

2 "'Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.' Righteousness is thyself, who didst bring all the mysteries, by order of thy father, the first mystery looking within; and thou didst baptise this power of Sabaôth the good, and thou didst go into the region of all the rulers; thou didst give them the mysteries of the height; they have become righteous, they have become good. "Peace is also the power of Sabaôth, which indeed is thy soul, which entered into the matter of Barbêlô, and all the rulers of the six æons, or Iabraôth, made peace with the mystery of the light. "And 'truth which hath flourished on the earth' is that power of Sabaôth the good, which came forth from the region of the right, which is without the treasure of light, and came into the region of those of the left, it entered into the matter of Barbêlô, and proclaimed unto them the mysteries of the region of truth.

3 "Righteousness also which 'looked down from heaven,' is thyself the first mystery looking without, come forth from the spaces of the height, with the mysteries of the kingdom of light; and thou didst descend upon this light-vesture, which thou didst receive from the hands of Barbêlô, which [vesture] is Jesus, our saviour, descending upon him like a dove." The first mystery, then, continued: "It came to pass, therefore, that this power which had come forth from the height, that is to say, myself, whom my father sent to rescue Pistis Sophia from chaos, [that] I, therefore, [as Jesus, the saviour] with this other power which had issued from me, and the soul which I had taken from the hands of Sabaôth the good, we went all together, forming but a single stream of light, which shone exceedingly. I summoned Gabriel from above, from the æons, and also Michael, by order of my father, the first mystery looking within. I gave unto them the light-stream, and made them descend into chaos, to rescue Pistis Sophia, and seize upon the light-powers which the emanations of Arrogant had taken from her, in order to take them from them and give them unto Pistis Sophia.

4 "And the moment that the light-stream was led into chaos, it lit up mightily the whole of chaos, and extended itself in all their regions. And the emanations of Arrogant, when they had seen the great light of this stream, were terror-stricken one after the other; and the light-stream drew forth from them all the light-powers which they had taken from Pistis Sophia. The emanations of Arrogant durst not possess themselves of this light-stream in dark chaos; nor could they possess themselves of it [even] with the art of Arrogant, who rules over the emanations. "And Gabriel and Michael led the light-stream over the material body of Pistis Sophia; they infused into it all the light-powers which had been taken from her. And her material body became shining throughout; and also all the powers which were in her, and from which the light had been taken, became radiant; they ceased to lack their light, for the light had been taken back from those who had taken it away, and had been given back again by my interposition. And Michael and Gabriel—they were in attendance upon me, and had led the light-stream into chaos, to give them the mysteries of light; for it was to them that the light-stream had been entrusted, [the same] which I gave unto them and brought into chaos—and Michael and Gabriel took no light for themselves from the light-powers of Sophia which they took from the hands of the emanations of Arrogant.

5 "It came to pass, therefore, when the light-stream had infused into Pistis Sophia all her light-powers, which it had taken from the hands of the emanations of Arrogant, that she became entirely radiant; and the other light-powers which were in Pistis Sophia, those which the emanations of Arrogant had not taken away, were also joyful, and full of light. And the light-powers which had been infused into Pistis Sophia vivified her material body, in which there had been no light; which was to perish, and had perished. They vivified all her powers which were not to perish. These powers also became light-powers; they became as they were originally. They were also exalted in their perceptions of the light, and all the light-powers of Sophia knew one another by the intervention of the light-stream; they were saved by the light of that stream. And when my light-stream had taken away the light-powers from the hands of the emanations of Arrogant, [the powers] which they had taken away from Pistis Sophia, it infused them into Pistis Sophia, and turned itself about and ascended in chaos."

6 This, then, is what the first mystery spake unto his disciples, concerning what had happened to Pistis Sophia in chaos. He continued, and said: "Understand ye how I speak unto you?"

Section 2: Peter interpreteth the narrative from the Odes of Solomon

1 And Peter came forward, and said: "Master, concerning the interpretation of the words which thou hast spoken, thy light-power hath prophesied concerning them of old, through Solomon, in his Odes, [saying]: "A flood hath taken place; it hath become a great stream, strong and wide; it hath carried all away. It hath turned towards the temple, nor could they hold it in with enclosures and structures. The skill of them that check the waters could not stop it; it spread over the whole land, and seized upon all of them. They that were in the sand of the desert have drunk; their thirst departed and was quenched, when they had received the draught from on high. Blessed are the ministers of that draught, to whom hath been entrusted the water of the lord. They have refreshed the parched lips. They who were perishing, have felt their heart rejoice; they who were breathing their last, have plucked up courage so as not to die. They have raised up the limbs which were fallen; they have given power to their countenance, and have given light to their eyes, for all of them know each other in the lord, and have been saved by the water of life everlasting.'

2 "Hearken, therefore, my Master, that I may utter the word in freedom, as thy power prophesied, through Solomon. 'A flood hath come forth; it hath become a great stream, strong and wide'; this is the light-stream which spread itself in chaos, in all the region of the emanations of Arrogant. "And the word which thy power hath again uttered through Solomon, 'It hath carried all away; it poured them over the temple'; that is to say, it carried away all the light-powers from the emanations of Arrogant, which they had taken from Pistis Sophia, and it poured them again into Pistis Sophia. "And the word thy power again hath said, 'The enclosures and structures have not been able to hold it in'; that is to say, the emanations of Arrogant have not been able to hold the light-stream within the walls of the darkness of chaos. "And the word which it also uttered, 'It spread over the whole land, and filled everything'; that is to say, when Gabriel and Michael led it over the body of Pistis Sophia, it poured into Sophia all the light-powers which the emanations of Arrogant had taken from her, and her material body became radiant.

3 "And the word which it also spake, 'They who were in the parched land have drunk'; that is to say, all that were in Pistis Sophia have been illuminated, [the powers] from which the light had previously been taken away. "And the word which it uttered, 'Their thirst hath departed and is quenched'; that is to say, her powers ceased to lack their light, for they had had restored to them the light which had been taken away. "And, again, as to the utterance of thy power, 'They have given them a draught from on high'; that is, the light hath been given unto them by the light-stream 'which came forth from myself, [who am] the first mystery.' "And as to the saying of thy power, 'Blessed are the ministers of that draught,' that is the word which thou hast spoken, 'Gabriel and Michael, they who were in attendance, led the stream into chaos and also brought it forth again.' The mysteries of light which had been entrusted to the light-stream will be given unto them.

4 "And as to the further utterance of thy power, 'They have refreshed the parched lips'; that is, Gabriel and Michael have taken nothing for themselves from the light-powers of Pistis Sophia, [the powers] which they had wrested from the emanations of Arrogant, but infused them into Pistis Sophia. "And again the word which it spake, 'They who were fainting, have felt their heart rejoice'; that is, all the other powers of Pistis Sophia, which had not been taken away by the emanations of Arrogant, rejoiced greatly; they were filled with light by their light-fellows, for they were infused into them. "And the word which thy power again uttered, 'They have revived the souls which were breathing their last, that they might not die'; that is, when they had poured their light into Pistis Sophia, they vivified her material body from which the light had previously been taken, but which was not destined to perish.

5 "And again the word which thy power spake, 'They have raised up firmly the limbs which were fallen, so that they might not perish'; that is, when they had poured into her her light-powers, they confirmed all the powers which [otherwise] would have perished. "And again as to the saying of thy light-power, 'They have had their light renewed, and they have become what they were of old,' and also the word which it spake, 'They have given light to their eyes'; that is, they have gained perception in the light, and have known the light-stream, for it was [previously] hidden in the height. "And again the word which it spake, 'And all knew each other in the lord'; that is, all the powers of Pistis Sophia knew one another through the light-stream. "And again the word which it uttered, 'They have been saved by the water of life everlasting; it hath drawn them over the temple'; that is, when the light-stream had taken all the light-powers of Pistis Sophia, and had wrested them from the emanations of Arrogant, it poured them into Pistis Sophia, and turned itself about, and departed from the chaos; it came upon thee, for thou art the temple.

6 "This is the interpretation of all the words which thy light-power spake in the Ode of Solomon." It came to pass, therefore, when the first mystery had heard all these words which Peter had spoken, that he said unto him: "Well said, O blessed Peter; this is the interpretation of the words which have been spoken."

Section 3: The emanations of Arrogant cry aloud to him for help

1 The first mystery continued, and said: "It came to pass, therefore, as Pistis Sophia had not yet [entirely] ascended out of chaos, because my father, the first mystery, looking within, had not yet given her commandment, that then, when the emanations of Arrogant discovered that my light-stream had taken unto itself the light-powers, which they had taken from Pistis Sophia, and had poured them again into Pistis Sophia, when they saw again Pistis Sophia radiant as she had been in former times, they were enraged against Pistis Sophia, they cried out, moreover, to Arrogant to make him come and help them, that they might again take away all the powers which were in Pistis Sophia. "And Arrogant sent from on high, from the thirteenth æon, he sent another great light-power. It descended into chaos like a winged arrow, to help his emanations, that they might once more take away the light-powers of Pistis Sophia. And when this power had descended, the emanations of Arrogant, which were in chaos and had caused Pistis Sophia all her woe, were mightily encouraged. They persecuted Pistis Sophia afresh with great fears and mighty pains; and some of the emanations of Arrogant constrained her. One of them changed itself into the form of a monster serpent; another changed itself also into the form of a seven-headed basilisk; another changed itself into the form of a dragon. Moreover, the first power of Arrogant, the lion-faced, and all his emanations, in mighty multitude, assembled together; they constrained Pistis Sophia, they brought her again into the lower regions of chaos, and harassed her afresh exceedingly.

2 " It came to pass, thereafter, that there looked down from the height of the twelve æons, Adamas the tyrant, he who had been enraged against Pistis Sophia, because she had desired to enter into the light of lights, which was above them all, and therefore was he wroth against her. It came to pass, therefore, when Adamas the tyrant had looked down from the height of the twelve æons, that he saw the emanations of Arrogant which were constraining Pistis Sophia until they should take from her all the light-powers which were in her. It came to pass, when the power of Adamas descended into chaos unto the emanations of Arrogant, it came to pass, therefore, when this dæmonial power descended into chaos, that it dashed Pistis Sophia to the earth; and the lion-faced power, and also the basilisk-headed one, and the dragon-faced, and all the emanations of Arrogant, in mighty multitude, surrounded Pistis Sophia all together, seeking to take from her again the powers which were in her; they mightily constrained Pistis Sophia, and threatened her. It came to pass, therefore, when they constrained her and harassed her mightily, that she cried out to the light, and sang a song unto it, saying:

3 " 'O light, tis thou who didst rescue me. Let thy light descend upon me, for thou hast received me unto thyself, and I was going unto thee, O light. I trust in thee, O light; for thou art my saviour against the emanations of Arrogant, and against Adamas the tyrant. Thou shalt relieve me from all his violent threats.' " And when Pistis Sophia had said this, then, by order of my father, the first mystery looking within, I sent again Gabriel and Michael, and that great light-stream, that they might rescue Pistis Sophia. I gave order to Gabriel and Michael to bear Pistis Sophia in their hands, so that her feet should not touch the lower darkness; and I gave them commandment further to guide her in the regions of chaos, from which they were taking her. " It came to pass, therefore, when the messengers descended into chaos, they and the light-stream, when all the emanations of Arrogant and the emanations of Adamas again saw the light-stream which shone mightily, there being no measure to the light therein, that they became terror-stricken and left Pistis Sophia. And the great light-stream surrounded Pistis Sophia on every side, on the right and on the left, on every side, and became a crown of light upon her head.

Section 4: The transfiguration of Sophia

1 "It came to pass, therefore, when the light-stream had surrounded Pistis Sophia, that she took courage most exceedingly, and the stream ceased not to surround her on every side; and Pistis Sophia no longer feared the emanations of Arrogant, which were in chaos, nor did she any more fear that new power of Arrogant, which he had cast into chaos like a winged arrow; nor did she tremble before the dæmonial power of Adamas, which had come from the æons. "And again, by my order, [by order of] the first mystery looking without, the light-stream which had surrounded Pistis Sophia on all sides, became most exceedingly radiant; and Pistis Sophia was tabernacled in the midst of the light, a mighty light being on her left and on her right, and on all sides, forming a crown on her head. And all the emanations of Arrogant could no longer change their appearance, nor could they stand the shock of the great light of the stream which formed a crown on the head of Sophia; and all the emanations of Arrogant collapsed, a host of them at its right, because of its mighty radiance, and other hosts of them at its left. They could no longer at all draw nigh unto Pistis Sophia because of the great light; but they fell all one on the other, and could do no harm unto Pistis Sophia, because she had trusted in the light.

2 "And by order of my father, the first mystery looking within, I also descended into chaos, shining most exceedingly; I directed my attack against that lion-faced power, which was shining exceedingly, and took from it all its light; I prevented all the emanations of Arrogant from entering from that hour into their region, which is the thirteenth æon; I took away the power of all the emanations of Arrogant, and they all fell into chaos powerless. And I led forth Pistis Sophia, who was on the right of Gabriel and Michael; and the great light-stream entered into them. And Pistis Sophia gazed upon her enemies, from whom I had taken their light-power. And I led Pistis Sophia forth from chaos, treading under foot the serpent-headed emanation of Arrogant, and the seven-headed basilisk emanation, the lion-faced power, and the dragon-faced. I made Sophia stand upon the seven-headed basilisk emanation of Arrogant, which was more powerful than all of them in his evil doings. And I, the first mystery, stood over it; I took all the powers which were in it, and destroyed all its matter, so that no seed should arise from it from that hour."

3 The first mystery, having spoken these things unto his disciples, continued, and said: "Understand ye how I speak unto you?" And James came forward, and said: "Master, concerning the interpretation of the words which thou hast said, thy light-power prophesied concerning them of old, through David, in the ninetieth Psalm, saying: 4 "Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the God of heaven. He will say unto the lord, Thou hast received me unto thyself; [thou art] my place of refuge." He is my God in whom I have trusted; for he shall save me from the snares of the hunters and from them that utter violent words. He shall shelter thee beneath his breast, and thou shalt take courage beneath his wings. His truth shall surround thee like a breast-plate; thou shalt not be afraid for the terror of the night nor for the arrow which flieth by day, for the thing that strideth in darkness, that proceedeth from the destruction of the dæmonial one at mid-day. A thousand shall fall on thy left, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but they shall not come nigh thee. Thou shalt gaze upon them, thou shalt see them receive the payment of sinners; for thou, O lord, art my hope. Thou hast established for thyself places of refuge in the height; no one shall come nigh thee, no plague come nigh thy dwelling; for he hath given commandment to his messengers concerning thee to keep thee in all thy ways, to bear thee in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt mount on the serpent and basilisk; thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon. Because he hath trusted in me, I will save him; I will shelter him, because he hath known my name. He will cry unto me, and I shall hear him; I am with him in his afflictions, and I will save him to glorify him, and increase him with wealth of days, and teach him my salvation.'

5 "This, my Master, is the interpretation of the words which thou hast said. Hearken, therefore, that I may expound it unto thee in freedom. "The word, then, which thy power spake, through David, 'Who dwelleth under the defence of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the God of heaven'; that is, when Sophia trusted in the light, she abode under the light of the light-stream which came down from the height from thee. "And the word which thy power uttered, through David, 'I will say unto the lord, Thou hast received me unto thyself," and my place of refuge is my God, in whom I have trusted'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake in her song, 'Thou hast received me unto thyself, and I was going unto thee.' "And, again, the word which thy power uttered, 'My God, I trusted in thee; for thou shalt save me from the snares of the hunters, and from them that utter violent words'; this is what Pistis Sophia said, 'O light, I have trusted in thee; for thou shalt save me from the emanations of Arrogant and from those of tyrant Adamas; thou, moreover, shalt save me from all their violent threats.'

6 "And, again, the word which thy power spake through David, 'He shall shelter thee under his breast, and thou shalt take courage beneath his wings,' meaneth that Pistis Sophia hath dwelt in the light of that light-stream which came forth from thee, and she was astonished in heart by the light which was on her left, and that which was at her right, that is to say, the wings of the light-stream. "And the word which thy light-power prophesied through David, 'Truth shall surround thee like a breast-plate'; that is, the light of the light-stream which surrounded Pistis Sophia like a breast-plate. "And the word which thy power uttered, He shall not be afraid for the terror of the night'; that is, that Pistis Sophia was not afraid before the terrors and troubles into which she had been sent in chaos, which is night. "And the word which thy power spake, 'He shall not be afraid of the arrow which flieth by day'; that is, that Pistis Sophia was not afraid before that power which Arrogant had sent from the top of the heights, and which descended into chaos like a flying arrow, just as thy light-power prophesied, 'Thou shalt not be afraid of the arrow that flieth by day'; for this power came forth from the thirteenth æon which is lord of the twelve æons; he it is who is light for all the æons. Therefore he [David] hath used the word 'day.'

7 "And again the word which thy power uttered, 'He shall not be afraid of the thing that strideth in darkness'; that is, that Sophia did not fear before the serpent-headed emanation, which made her afraid in chaos, which is 'darkness.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'He will not fear for the destruction, the dæmonial one at mid-day'; that is, that Pistis Sophia was not afraid before the dæmonial emanation of tyrant Adamas, which cast Pistis Sophia to the earth in great destruction, that which came forth from Adamas, from the twelfth æon. Therefore, thy power prophesied, 'He will not fear the destruction of the dæmonial one at mid-day'; mid-day, because it came forth from the twelfth æon, which is mid-day [the twelfth hour]; and again because it descended into chaos, which is night, or rather the night which descended from the twelfth æon which is between the two. Therefore, thy light-power spake of mid-day, because the twelve æons are between the thirteenth and chaos.

8 "And again the word which thy light-power spake through David, 'A thousand shall fall on thy left, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but they shall not come nigh thee'; that is to say, when the emanations of Arrogant, which were very many in number, could not stand the great light of the light-stream, a host of them fell on the left hand of Pistis Sophia, and a host at her right, and they could not at all come nigh her to do her harm. "And the word which thy power spake through David, 'But thou shalt gaze upon them, and thou shalt see the reward of sinners; for thou, O lord, art my hope'; that is, that Pistis Sophia looked upon her enemies, which are the emanations of Arrogant, who had fallen all the one on the other; and not only did she gaze upon them in this state, but thou also, my Master, the first mystery, thou didst take away the light-power which was in that lion-faced power, and further thou didst take away the power of all the emanations of Arrogant, and moreover thou didst prevent them from that hour entering their own region from chaos. Therefore did Pistis Sophia look on her enemies; that is to say, the emanations of Arrogant just precisely as David prophesied concerning her, saying, 'But thou shalt look upon them, and thou shalt see the payment of the sinners.' Not only did she look upon them fallen the one on the other, but she also beheld the payment which they have received. Just as the emanations of Arrogant thought to take away the light which was in Pistis Sophia, so hast thou recompensed them; thou hast paid them their payment, and thou hast taken the light-power which was in them, instead of the light of Sophia who had trusted in the light of the height.

9 "And as thy light-power spake through David, 'Thou hast established the height for thyself as a place of refuge; no evil shall come nigh thee, no plague shall enter into thy house'; that is to say, when Pistis Sophia trusted in the light, and when she was in peril, she sang unto it a song, and the emanations of Arrogant could not do her any harm, they could not injure her, they could not at all come nigh her. "And the word which thy light-power uttered through David, 'He will give commandment to his messengers concerning thee, to keep thee in all thy ways, to bear thee in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone'; that is to say also, thou hast given commandment to Gabriel and Michael to guide Pistis Sophia in all the regions of chaos, to bear her in their hands until they had helped her rise up, so that her feet should not touch the lower darkness, and they of the lower darkness should not seize hold of her.

10 "And the word which thy light-power spake through David, 'Thou shalt trample on the serpent and the basilisk, and thou shalt tread under foot the lion and the dragon; because he hath had trust in me, I will save him, and I will shelter him, because he hath known my name'; that is to say, when Pistis Sophia was just leaving chaos, she trod under foot the emanations of Arrogant; she trampled on them that had serpent heads, and basilisk heads, and seven heads; and she trod under foot that lion-faced power, and that dragon-headed one, because she had trusted in the light, and it had saved her from them all. "This, O Master, is the interpretation of the words which thou hast said." It came to pass, when the first mystery had heard these words, that he said: "Well said, James, thou well beloved."

Section 5: Sophia singeth a song of praise

1 And the first mystery again continued in his conversation, and said to his disciples: "It came to pass, when I had led Pistis Sophia out of chaos, that she cried out anew, saying: "'I have been rescued from chaos; I have been loosed from the bonds of darkness. I have come unto thee, O light, for thou hast been for me light on all sides, preserving and helping me. And the emanations of Arrogant, which fought against me, thou hast kept therefrom by thy light, and they have not been able to draw nigh unto me; for thy light was with me and preserved me through thy light-stream, because the emanations of Arrogant constrained me, they took away my power, and cast me into chaos deprived of my light, and I became as gross matter before them. Then came forth the power of the light-stream unto me from thee to save me; it shone on my left and on my right, surrounding me on all sides, so that no part of my being was without light, and thou didst hide me in the light of thy stream. Thou didst purge in me all my evil matters, and I rose superior to all my matters, because of thy light and of thy light-stream, which hath raised me up, and hath kept far from me the emanations of Arrogant which constrained me. I became stout of heart in thy light, and in the pure light of thy stream. And the emanations of Arrogant which constrained me withdrew themselves from me, and I became radiant in thy great power. Thou hast saved me and hast preserved me for ever.'

2 "This is the repentance which Pistis Sophia uttered, when she came forth from chaos and was freed from the bonds of chaos. Now, therefore, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear." It came to pass, therefore, when the first mystery had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that Thomas came forward, and said: "Master, my light-dweller hath ears, and my spirit understandeth the words which thou hast said. Now, therefore, give commandment unto me to expound clearly the interpretation of the words." The first mystery answered, and said unto Thomas: "I give thee commandment to expound the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia sang in my honour." Thomas answered, and said: "My Master, concerning the song which Pistis Sophia uttered, because she was preserved from chaos, thy light-power prophesied of old concerning thee, through Solomon, the son of David, in his Odes, saying: 3 "'I have been loosed from my bonds; I have run unto thee, O lord, for thou wert at my right hand preserving me, preserving and helping me. Thou hast prevented them that fought against me, and they did not show themselves because thy countenance was with me, preserving me by its beauty. I was despised before the crowd, and have been cast out; I was as lead in their presence. But a power came forth unto me from thee, helping me; for thou hast set lamps on my right hand and on my left, so that no part of my being should be without light. Thou didst shelter me under the shadow of thy mercy, and I was placed above the coats of skin. Thy right hand hath raised me up, and hath taken my sickness from me. I have become strong in thy truth, pure in thy righteousness. They that fought against me have withdrawn themselves from me, and I have been justified by thy goodness, for thy rest is from eternity to eternity.'

4 "This, O Master, is the interpretation of the repentance which Pistis Sophia spake, when she was preserved from chaos. Hearken, therefore, while I expound it in freedom. "The word, then, which thy power spake through Solomon, 'I have been loosed from bonds, I have run unto thee, O lord'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'I have been loosed from the bonds of darkness; I have come unto thee, O light.' "And the word which thy power uttered, 'Thou wert at my right hand, preserving and helping me'; this is again the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou hast been a light for me on all sides, and thou hast helped me.' "And the word which thy light-power spake, 'Thou hast prevented them that fought against me, and they did not show themselves'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And the emanations of Arrogant, which fought against me, thou hast prevented by thy light, and they have not been able to draw nigh unto me.'

5 "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thy countenance was with me, preserving me by its beauty'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thy light was with me, preserving me in thy light-stream.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'I was despised before the crowd, and have been cast out'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'The emanations of Arrogant constrained me, they took away my power, and I became for them an object of derision; they cast me into chaos, deprived of my light.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'I was as lead in their presence'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'When they had taken away my light-powers, I became as gross matter before them.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'But a power came forth unto me from thee, helping me'; this is again the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And then the power of the light-stream came forth unto me from thee, preserving me.'

6 "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thou hast set lamps on my right hand and on my left, so that no part of my being should be without light'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thy power shone on my right and on my left hand, surrounding me on all sides, so that no part of my being was without light.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thou didst shelter me under the shadow of thy mercy'; this is again the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And thou didst clothe me in the light of thy stream.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'I was placed above the coats of skin'; this is again the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And they have purged in me all my evil matters, and I rose superior to them by thy light.' "And the word which thy power spake through Solomon, 'Thy right hand hath raised me up, and hath taken my sickness from me'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia said, 'And thy light-stream hath raised me up in the light, and hath removed from me the emanations of Arrogant, who constrained me.'

7 "And the word which thy power spake, 'I have become strong in thy truth, and pure in thy righteousness'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'I became stout of heart in thy light, and I am become a pure light in thy light-stream.' And the word which thy power spake, 'They that fought against me, have withdrawn themselves from me'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And the emanations of Arrogant which constrained me, withdrew themselves from me.' "And the word which thy power spake through Solomon, 'And I have been justified by thy goodness, for thy rest is from eternity to eternity'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'I have been preserved in thy goodness; for thou dost preserve the whole world.' "This, then, O my Master, is the whole interpretation of the repentance which Pistis Sophia uttered, when she had been rescued from chaos and freed from the bonds of darkness."

8 It came to pass, when the first mystery had heard Thomas utter these words, that he said: "Well said; it is well, Thomas, thou blessed one. This is the interpretation of the song sung by Pistis Sophia."

Section 6: Sophia singeth another song of praise

1 The first mystery continued in his conversation, and said unto his disciples: "Pistis Sophia continued, and sung a song unto me, saying: "I sing a song unto thee, unto thee, who, by thy commandment, hast led me forth from a high æon which is above; and thou hast made me come into the lower regions; and again, by thy commandment, thou hast preserved me from the lower regions. By thy grace thou hast removed the matter which was in my light-power, and I have seen. Thou hast scattered far from me the emanations of Arrogant, which constrained me and were my enemies. Thou hast given me power to unloose the bonds of the emanations of Adamas; and thou hast smitten the sevenheaded basilisk-serpent. Thou hast cast it far from my hands; and thou hast set me above its matter. Thou hast caused it to perish, so that its seed should not arise from this hour forth.

2 Thou wert with me, giving me power in all this [affliction]. And thy light hath surrounded me in all the region. And of thyself thou didst make all the emanations of Arrogant powerless; for thou hast taken away the light-power which was in them. Thou hast made straight my path to lead me out of chaos. Thou hast carried me far from this material darkness, and thou hast taken from it all my powers, from which the light had been taken. Thou hast infused into them a pure light, and unto my limbs, which had no light, thou hast given a pure light from the light of the height. Thou hast made straight the way before them, and the light of thy countenance hath become for me a life that can never be destroyed. Thou hast brought me forth from the higher part of chaos, the region of chaos and of destruction, in order that all the matters that were therein, might be scattered, [the matters] which are in that region. And, in order that all my powers might be renewed and thy light be in them all, thou hast set the light of thy stream in me; I have become a pure light-power.'

3 "This is the second song which Pistis Sophia uttered. Now, therefore, let him who understandeth the repentance come forward, and expound it." It came to pass, when the first mystery had finished speaking those words, that Matthew came forward, and said: "I have understood the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia uttered. Now, therefore, give commandment unto me, to expound it in freedom." The first mystery answered, and said: "I give thee commandment, O Matthew, to expound the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia uttered." And Matthew answered, and said: "Concerning the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia spake, thy light-power prophesied of old concerning it, through Solomon, saying: 4 "He who hath made me to descend from the lofty regions of heaven, and who hath led me into the regions which are in the lower foundation; who hath taken therefrom them that were in the middle region, and who hath instructed them; who hath scattered my enemies and my adversaries; who hath given me power against the bonds to unloose them; who hath smitten the seven-headed serpent in my hands, and set me up upon his root, that I may blot out his seed—he is thyself who wert with me, and helped me in every region. Thy name hath surrounded me; thy right hand hath destroyed the venom of the speaker of evils; thy right hand hath opened the path for thy righteous; thou hast preserved them in the tombs, and hast borne them from the midst of the corpses. Thou hast taken dead bones, and hast clothed them with a body, and to them that stirred not thou hast given the energy of life. Thy way is void of destruction, and so also thy countenance. Thou hast led thine æon into destruction, that all might be destroyed and be again renewed, and that thy light might become a foundation for them all. Thou hast poured out thy wealth upon them, and they have become a holy place.'

5 "This is the interpretation, O Master, of the song which Pistis Sophia uttered. Hearken, therefore, that I may expound it openly. "The word which thy power spake through Solomon, 'He who hath made me to descend from the lofty regions of heaven, and who hath, moreover, made me enter into the regions of the lower foundation'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'I sing a song unto thee, O thou, who, by thy commandment, hath made me come forth from this high æon above the heaven, and who hath led me into the lower regions; and thou hast preserved me also by thy commandment, thou hast made me rise up from the lower regions.' "And the word which thy power spake through Solomon, 'Who hath taken therefrom them that were in the middle region, and hath instructed me'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And also by thy commandment, thou hast caused the matter which was in the midst of my power to be purified; and I have seen it.'

6 "And also the word which thy power spake through Solomon, 'Who hath scattered my enemies and my adversaries'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou hast scattered far from me the emanations of Arrogant, which constrained me, and were my enemies.' "And also the word which thy power spake, 'Who hath given me wisdom over the bonds to unloose them'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'He hath given me wisdom to unloose the bonds of these emanations.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'Who hath smitten the seven-headed serpent in my hands, and set me up upon his root, that I may blot out his seed'; this is the word that Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou hast smitten the seven-headed serpent by my hands, and thou hast set me up above his tribes; thou hast caused it to perish, so that its seed should not arise from this hour.'

7 "And the word which thy power spake, 'But thou wert with me, helping me'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou wert with me, giving me power in all this [affliction].' "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thy name hath surrounded me in every region'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And thy light hath surrounded me in all the regions.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thy right hand hath destroyed the venom of the speakers of evils'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And of thyself thou didst make all the emanations of Arrogant powerless; for thou hast taken from them their power.' "And the word which thy power hath said, 'Thy right hand hath opened the path for thy faithful'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou hast made straight my path to lead me out of chaos, for I have trusted in thee.'

8 "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thou hast rescued them from the tombs, and thou hast borne them from the midst of the corpses'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou hast rescued me from chaos, thou hast carried me far from this material darkness which is the murky emanation of chaos, from which thou hast taken away the light.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thou hast taken dead bones and hast clothed them with a body, and to them that stirred not thou hast given the energy of life'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And thou hast taken all my powers which had no light in them, and hast infused into them a pure light, and unto all my limbs which had no light in them, thou hast given a living light from on high.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thy way is void of destruction, and so also thy countenance'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou hast made straight thy way for me and the light of thy countenance; they have been a way void of destruction unto me.'

9 "And the word which thy power spake, 'Thou hast led thine æon into destruction, that all might be destroyed and be again renewed'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou hast brought me, thy power, into chaos and destruction, that all the matters which were in that region might be dissolved, and all my power be renewed in the light.' "And the word which thy power spake, 'And thy light hath become a foundation for them all'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'And thy light hath been in them all.' "And the word which thy light-power uttered through Solomon, 'Thou hast poured out thy wealth upon him, and he hath become a place of holy habitation'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'Thou hast concentrated the light of thy stream upon me, and I have become a pure light-power.' This, then, my Master, is the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia spake."

10 It came to pass, when the first mystery had heard these words which Matthew had uttered, that he said: "Well said, Matthew; it is well, O well-beloved. This is the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia spake."

Section 7: Sophia continueth to sing

1 And the first mystery continued in his conversation, and said: "'I will declare that it is thou, O light most high, that hast preserved me, and hast brought me unto thee; who hast prevented the emanations of Arrogant, which were my enemies, from taking my light, O light of light. I have sung a song unto thee; thou hast preserved me, O light; thou hast brought my power out of chaos; thou hast preserved me from them that descend into the darkness.' "These words Pistis Sophia uttered. Now, therefore, let him who hath a comprehending mind, and who hath understood the words uttered by Pistis Sophia, come forward and expound their interpretation." It came to pass, therefore, when the first mystery had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary came forward, and said: "Master, my mind is ever comprehending, so that I could come forward every time and expound the interpretation of the words which she spake; but I fear Peter, for he hath threatened me, and hateth our sex."

2 And when she had spoken these words, the first mystery said unto her: "No one shall prevent whosoever shall be filled with the spirit of light from coming forward and expounding the interpretation of what I say. Now, therefore, O Mary, expound the interpretation of the words uttered by Pistis Sophia." And Mary answered and said unto the first mystery in the midst of the disciples: "Master, concerning the interpretation of the words uttered by Pistis Sophia, thy light-power prophesied of old, through David, saying: "I will magnify thee, O lord, for thou hast received me unto thyself, and thou hast not let mine enemies rejoice over me. O lord, my God, I have cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O lord, thou hast drawn my soul forth from hell, thou hast saved me from them that descend into the pit.'" When Mary had spoken these things, the first mystery said unto her, "Well said; it is well, Mary, thou blessed one."

3 He continued in his conversation, and said unto his disciples: "And Sophia continued in her song, and said: "'The light hath been a saviour unto me; it hath changed my darkness into light; it hath cleft the darkness that surrounded me, and hath girded me with light.'" It came to pass, therefore, when the first mystery had finished speaking these words, that Martha came forward, and said: "Master, thy power hath prophesied of old through David, concerning this word, saying: "'The Lord hath been my succour; he hath changed my song of mourning into joy. He hath rent my sackcloth, and girded me with joy.'" It came to pass, when the first mystery had finished hearing the words which Martha had uttered, that he said: "Well said; it is well, Martha." And the first mystery continued in his conversation, and said unto his disciples: "Pistis Sophia further continued with her song, and said:

4 "'Sing a song, O my power, to the light, and forget not all the light-powers which it hath given unto thee, and all the powers which are in thee. Sing the name of his holy mystery, which remitteth every transgression; [of him] who saveth thee from all the afflictions with which the emanations of Arrogant have constrained thee; who hath preserved their light from all the emanations of Arrogant, which are numbered for destruction; who hath bestowed a crown of light upon thy head to preserve thee; who hath filled thee with pure light, and thy source shall be renewed as an invisible of the heights.' "These words Pistis Sophia said, in that she had been preserved and remembered all things which had been done unto her." It came to pass, therefore, when the first mystery had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that he said unto them: "Let him who understandeth the interpretation of these words come forward and expound it in freedom."

Section 8: Mary interpreteth from the Psalms

1 Then Mary came forward, and said: "My Master, concerning the words which Pistis Sophia uttered in her song, thy light-power prophesied of old, through David, saying: "'Praise the lord, O my soul; let all that is within me praise his holy name and forget not all his recompenses; [for he it is] who remitteth all thy iniquities; who healeth all thy infirmities; who saveth thy life from destruction; who putteth on thy head a crown of mercy and loving kindness; who satisfieth thy desire with good things. Thy childhood shall be renewed like an eagle's.' "That is to say, Sophia shall be like those invisibles who are in the heights, for he said, 'like an eagle,' for the dwelling of an eagle is in the heights, and the invisibles are also in the heights; that is to say, that Pistis Sophia shall become radiant like the invisibles, just as she was in the beginning."

2 It came to pass, therefore, when the first mystery had heard these words which Mary had spoken, that he said: "Well said, Mary, thou blessed one." It came to pass, therefore, after this, that the first mystery continued again in his conversation, and said unto his disciples: "I took Pistis Sophia, I led her into a region below the thirteenth æon, and I gave unto her a new mystery which was not that of her own æon, [the mystery of] the invisible region. And I gave unto her also a song of light, so that from that hour the rulers of the æons should not prevail against her. And I left her in that region until I should come again to find her, and bring her into her region which is in the heights. It came to pass, when I had left her in that region, that she again uttered her song, saying:

3 "In faith have I trusted in the light; it hath accomplished my desire, it hath brought my power out of chaos and from the lower darkness of every matter. It hath led me on high, it hath set me in an æon lofty and firm. It hath set me on the path which leadeth to my region, and hath given unto me a new mystery, which is not that of my æon. It hath given unto me a song of light. Now, therefore, O light, the rulers shall see what thou hast done; they shall fear, and they shall believe in the light.' "This song, therefore, Pistis Sophia uttered, rejoicing that she had been led out of chaos and brought into regions below the thirteenth æon. Now, therefore, let him whose mind is stirred, and who understandeth the interpretation of the meaning of the song, which Pistis Sophia uttered, come forward and expound it."

4 And Andrew came forward and said: "My Master, this is what thy light-power prophesied of old concerning thee through David, saying: "'With tarrying I waited for the lord, and he hath inclined his ear unto me, and hath heard my prayer. He hath brought my soul out of the pit of wretchedness, and from the mire of the mud; he hath stablished my feet on a rock, and hath directed my steps. He hath put in my mouth a new song and benediction for our God. Many shall see and shall fear, and shall hope in the lord.'" It came to pass, when Andrew had expounded the meaning [of the song] of Pistis Sophia, that the first mystery said unto him: "Well said, Andrew, thou blessed one." He continued again in his conversation, and said unto his disciples: "These are all the things which befell Pistis Sophia. It came to pass, therefore, when I had brought her to the region which is below the thirteenth æon, that I was about to enter into the light and cease to busy myself concerning her. She said unto me:

5 " 'O light of lights, thou art about to go to the light and to cease to busy thyself concerning me, and tyrant Adamas will know that thou hast ceased to busy thyself on my behalf; he will know that he who should preserve me, is no longer [here], and he will come again to this region, he and all his rulers who hate me, and Arrogant will again give power unto his lion-faced emanation; they will all come and will constrain me together to take away all the light which is in me, that I may become powerless and again without light. Now, therefore, O light of my light, take from them their light, that they may no longer from this hour be able to constrain me.' "It came to pass, when I had heard these words which Pistis Sophia spake unto me, that I answered her, and said: 'My father, who caused me to emanate forth, hath not yet given me commandment to take their light from them; but I will seal the regions of Arrogant and of all his rulers who hate thee. And I will also seal the regions of Adamas and of his rulers, so that none of them may be able to fight against thee until their time is fulfilled, and until even the time hath come when my father shall give me commandment to take away their light.'

6 "Then I further said unto her: 'Hearken that I may tell unto thee their time, when that which I have just said unto thee shall come to pass. It shall come to pass when three times shall be accomplished.'

Section 9: How Sophia shall know that the time of her final deliverance hath come

1 "Pistis Sophia answered and said unto me: 'O light, how shall I know that three times are accomplished, so that I may rejoice, and be in gladness in that my time shall be nigh for thee to bring me into my region? Moreover, I shall rejoice when thou shalt take the lightpower from all them that hated me, for I have trusted in thy light.' "And I answered and said unto her: 'When thou shalt see the gate of the treasure of the great light—it openeth in the thirteenth æon, and is to the left— when this gate shall be opened, then will the three times be accomplished.' Pistis Sophia continued and said: 'O light, how shall I know in this region, that that gate is opened?' 2 "And I answered and said unto her: 'When that gate shall be opened, all who are in the æons will know thereof, because of the great light which will stream into all their regions. Lo, then, I have set them so, that none shall venture any ill against thee, until the three times are accomplished. And thou shalt have the power of going into their twelve æons, whenever thou mayest wish, and also of returning into thy [own] region, which is below the thirteenth æon, and in which thou now art; but thou shalt not have the power of passing through the gate of the height, which is in the thirteenth æon, to come into thy region whence thou didst come forth [in the beginning]. Moreover, when the three times shall be fulfilled, Arrogant and all his rulers shall constrain thee, to take away the light that is in thee, being enraged against thee, thinking that it is thou who hast kept his power in chaos, and also that it is thou who didst take away the light which was in it. He will be enraged against thee to take from thee thy light and cast it into chaos, and give it to his emanation, in order that it may have the power to come forth from chaos and go into its own region. And Adamas will aid it in this; but I will take away all the light-powers which are in him, and I will give them unto thee; and I will come to take them away. Now, therefore, when they shall constrain thee at that time, sing a song to the light; I will hasten unto thy help; I will quickly come unto thee from the regions below thee; I will come to this region where I shall have left thee, and which is below the thirteenth æon, until I shall make thee once more quickly enter into thy region, whence thou didst come forth.'

3 "It came to pass, therefore, when Pistis Sophia had heard these words which I spake, that she rejoiced with great rejoicing. And so I left her in the region below the thirteenth æon; I passed into the light, and ceased to busy myself about her." All these things, therefore, the first mystery spake unto his disciples, for they had happened unto Pistis Sophia; he was seated on the Mount of Olives, narrating all these things in the midst of his disciples. He continued, therefore, in his conversation, and said unto them: "It came to pass, therefore, after all these things, when I was in the world of men, sitting beside the way, that is to say, in the place which is the Mount of Olives, before they had sent unto me my [first] vesture, which I had placed in the four and twentieth mystery of the interior, which is the first of the exterior, that is to say, the great uncontainable, from which I came forth, and before I had entered into the height, to receive my other two vestures, when I was seated near you in this place, which is the Mount of Olives, that the time of which I had spoken unto Pistis Sophia—' Adamas with all his rulers will constrain thee'—was fulfilled.

Section 10: The time for the final deliverance of Sophia is fulfilled

1 "It came to pass, therefore, when this time was fulfilled, that I was in the world of men, sitting near you, on this hill, which is the Mount of Olives. Adamas looked down from the height of the twelve æons; he saw his dæmonial power, which was in chaos, without any light at all in it; for I had taken from it its light. He saw that it was dark, and had not the strength to come to its own region, which is the twelfth æon. [Then] Adamas thought again on Pistis Sophia; he became most mightily enraged against her, thinking that it was she who had kept his power in chaos, thinking that it was she who had taken away its light; and he was exceedingly wroth, he piled rage on rage, he sent forth from himself an emanation of darkness, and also a little chaos exceedingly malignant, to plague Pistis Sophia therewith. And he created a region of darkness in his region, in order to constrain Pistis Sophia therein. He assembled the hosts of his rulers; they pursued after Pistis Sophia to make her enter into the dark chaos which [Adamas] had created, and to constrain her in that region, in order that the two emanations of darkness, which Adamas had created, might plague her, until they had taken from her all the light which was in her, and until Adamas should take the light from Pistis Sophia, and give it unto his two dark and malignant emanations, that they might carry it into the great lower chaos which is the darkness, and cast it into his power which is there, thinking that so it might come into its own region, for it was [now] exceedingly dark, because I had taken from it its light.

2 "It came to pass, therefore, when they pursued after her, that Pistis Sophia cried aloud, she sang a song to the light, for I had said unto her, 'If thou art constrained, sing unto me a song, and I will come in haste to aid thee.' It came to pass, therefore, when they constrained her—I was seated near you in this place, that is to say, on the Mount of Olives—that she sang a song to the light, saying: "'O light of lights, I have trusted in thee, save me from all these rulers who pursue after me, and preserve me, lest they should take from me my light, as that lion-faced power [once did]; for thy light is no longer with me, nor thy light-stream to preserve me. Nay, Adamas is enraged against me, saying, Tis thou who hast kept my power in the chaos." Now, therefore, O light of lights, if I have done so, if I have kept it there, if I have done the least violence to that power, or if I have constrained it as it constrained me, let all these rulers which pursue after me, take away my light, let them leave me empty; let Adamas my foe pursue after my power, let him seize upon it, let him take from me my light, let him cast it into his dark power, which is in chaos, let him put my power in chaos. Now, therefore, O light, raise thou me up in thy [just] wrath, lift up thy power above mine enemies, who have raised themselves up against me unto the end. Haste thee, restore me, as thou saidst unto me, "I will help thee."

3 It came to pass, therefore, when the first mystery had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that he said: "Let him who hath understood the words which I have spoken, come forward and expound their interpretation."

Section 11: James interpreteth the song from Psalm vii

1 And James came forward, and said: "Master, concerning this song which Pistis Sophia sang, thy light-power prophesied of old, through David, in the seventh Psalm, saying: "'O lord, my God, in thee I have put my trust; save me from them that persecute me, and deliver me, lest they should tear my soul in pieces, like lions; for there is no saviour and no deliverer. O lord, my God, if I have done any such thing, if there hath been any malice in my hands, if I have exacted retribution from them that have recompensed me with evils; [then] let me fall beneath my enemies, and be empty; let mine enemy persecute my soul, let him seize it, let him trample down my life on the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. (Diapsalma.) Arise, O lord, in thy wrath; raise up thy power above my enemies; arise in the statute which thou hast decreed.'"

2 It came to pass, therefore, when the first mystery had heard the words which James had spoken, that he said unto him: "Well said, James, thou well-beloved." The first mystery continued again in his conversation, and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass, therefore, when Pistis Sophia had finished uttering the words of her song, that she turned herself round to see whether Adamas and his rulers had turned themselves back to re-enter their æon; and she saw them pursuing after her. So she turned unto them and said: "'Why run ye after me, saying that I have no help to be preserved from you? Now, therefore, my judge is the light, and he is strong. He waiteth patiently until the time of which he said unto me, I will come to thy help." Shall he not pour out his wrath upon you in this very hour? Now is the time of which he spake unto me. Now, therefore, if ye turn not back, if ye cease not to pursue after me, the light will prepare his power, he will make ready with all his powers, he will be ready in his power to take from you all that is light in you, and ye shall be dark. He hath created his powers to take from you your power which is in you, that ye may perish.'

3 "When Pistis Sophia had said these words, she turned her gaze towards the region of Adamas; she saw the region of darkness and of chaos which he had created; she saw also the two exceedingly malignant emanations of darkness, which Adamas had sent forth to seize upon Pistis Sophia and cast her into the chaos which he had created, to constrain her in that region and plague her until they had taken from her her light. It came to pass, therefore, when Pistis Sophia had seen these two emanations of darkness and the dark region which Adamas had created, that she feared exceedingly, and cried aloud to the light, saying: "'O light, Adamas, the worker of injustice, is enraged against me; he hath created an emanation of darkness, and he hath also sent forth another chaos; he hath created another region of darkness and of chaos, and hath made it ready. Now, therefore, O light, in the [very] chaos which he hath created in order to cast me therein and then take from me my light, take from him his own; and for the plan that he devised to take away my light, his own shall be taken from him; and for the injustice of which he spake, to take away the light-powers which are in me, all of his shall be taken from him.'

4 "These are the words which Pistis Sophia uttered in her song. Now, therefore, let him who is sober in mind come forward, and expound the interpretation of Pistis Sophia in her song."

Section 12: Martha interpreteth the words of Sophia from Psalm vii

1 And Martha came forward and said: "I am sober in my mind, and I understand the words which thou hast said. Now, therefore, give unto me commandment to expound their interpretation in freedom." The first mystery answered, and said unto Martha: "I give unto thee commandment, O Martha, to expound the interpretation of the words which Pistis Sophia uttered in her song." And Martha answered and said: "My Master, these are the words which thy light-power prophesied of old through David, in the seventh Psalm, saying: "God is a righteous judge, strong and patient, who showeth not his wrath every day. But if ye will not turn, he shall whet his sword, he shall bend his bow; he hath made it ready, he hath made ready therefor instruments of death. He hath created his arrows to burn them up. Behold, injustice hath been in labour, she hath conceived pain, she hath brought forth mischief. She hath digged a pit, she hath digged it deep. She shall fall into the pit which she hath digged; her pains shall fall on her own head, and her injustice on the midst thereof."

2 And when Martha had uttered these words, the first mystery looking without said unto her: "Well said; it is well, Martha, thou blessed one." It came to pass, therefore, when Jesus had finished narrating to his disciples all the things which had befallen Pistis Sophia when she was in chaos, and how she had sung a song to the light until it had rescued her, and brought her forth from chaos, and led her into the twelve æons, and also how she had been preserved from all the afflictions with which the rulers of chaos had constrained her, because she had sought to go to the light, that Jesus continued in his conversation and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass, after these things, that I took Pistis Sophia, and led her into the thirteenth æon, shining most exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which was in me. I entered into the region of the four and twentieth invisible, shining most exceedingly. They were distressed with great perturbation; they looked and saw Sophia, who was with me. Her they recognised, but they knew not who I was, they thought that I was some emanation of the light-world.

3 "It came to pass, therefore, when Pistis Sophia saw her fellow invisibles, that she rejoiced with great joy, and was exceedingly glad. She longed to tell them of the wonderful things which I had done for her below in the world of men, until I had rescued her; [and so] she came forward into the midst of the invisibles, and in their midst she sang a song unto me, saying: "I will confess thee, O light, for thou art a saviour, thou art a deliverer for all time. I will utter this song to thy light, for it hath rescued me, and freed me from the hand of the rulers, mine enemies. Thou hast preserved me in all the regions, thou hast preserved me in the heights and in the depths of chaos, and in all the æons of the rulers of the sphere. And when I came forth from the heights, I gazed into regions where there is no light; nor could I return to the thirteenth æon, my abode, because there was no light in me, and no power, for my power was utterly afflicted; but the light hath preserved me in all my afflictions. I sang a song unto the light; it heard me when I was constrained, it guided me in the world of the æons, to bring me into the thirteenth æon, my abode.

4 "I will confess thee, O light, for thou hast preserved me, and thy wonderful works in the race of men. When I had need of my power, thou didst give my power unto me; and when I had need of my light, thou didst fill me with pure light. I have been in the darkness and the shadow of chaos, bound in the hard bonds of chaos, without light in me, for I had provoked the statute of light; I had transgressed, I had made wroth the statute of light, because I had come forth from my own region. And when I had descended, I was destitute of my light, and became without light, and there was no one to rescue me. And when they constrained me, I cried out unto the light, and it preserved me from all my afflictions. It also broke asunder all my bonds, and brought me forth from darkness and the anguish of chaos.

5 "'I will confess thee, then, O light, for thou hast preserved me, and thy wonders have been wrought in the race of men; thou hast shattered the proud gates of darkness and the hard bolts of chaos, and thou hast turned me away from the region where I had transgressed, and when they had taken my light away from me, because I had transgressed and had ceased to perform my mystery. I have come forth from the gates of chaos, and when I was constrained, I sang a song to the light. It hath preserved me from all my afflictions. Thou hast sent unto me thy stream; it hath given me power, and hath saved me from all my anguish. "'I will confess thee, O light, for thou hast preserved me, and thy wonders have been done in the race of men.' "This, then, is the song which Pistis Sophia uttered, in the midst of the four and twenty invisibles, desiring to tell them of all the wonderful things which I had done with her, that they might know that I had descended into the world of men, and had given unto them the mysteries of the height. Now, therefore, let him who is exalted in his understanding, come forward, and expound the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia uttered."

Section 13: Philip interpreteth the song from Psalm cvi

1 It came to pass, therefore, when Jesus had finished speaking these words, that Philip came forward and said: "Jesus, my Master, my understanding is exalted, and I have understood the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia uttered, and David, the prophet, prophesied concerning it of old, in the one hundred and sixth Psalm, saying: " 'Confess ye the lord, for he is gracious, for his mercy endureth for ever; let them speak it forth whom the lord hath preserved, for it is he who hath preserved them from the hand of their enemies. He hath gathered them together into their own land, from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the sea. They wandered in the desert, in a place where there is no water; they found not the way to the city where was their abode. They were hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them; he hath saved them from their constraints. They cried unto the lord, and he hath heard them in their danger. He hath led them into a straight way that they might come to the place of their abode.

2 " 'Let them confess the lord in his mercies, and his wonders among the children of men; for he satisfieth the hungry soul; he hath filled the hungry soul with good things. They who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, they who were bound in misery and chains, because they had provoked the word of the lord, and had made wroth the counsel of the highest—their heart is humbled in their suffering, they have become powerless, and there was no one to help them. They cried unto the lord when they were in peril, and he hath saved them out of their constraints; he hath brought them forth from darkness and the shadow of death, and hath broken their chains. "'Let them confess the lord in his mercies and his wonders among the children of men; for he hath broken the gates of brass, he hath smitten the bolts of iron asunder. He hath received them unto himself in the way of their iniquity. For when they had been brought low because of their iniquities, their heart abhorred all nourishment, they were near to the gates of death. They cried unto the lord in their peril, —he preserved them from their afflictions.

3 "'Let them confess the lord in his mercies, and his wonders among the children of men.' "This, then, my Master, is the interpretation of the song, which Pistis Sophia uttered. Hearken, therefore, Master, that I may expound it clearly. The word, verily, which David spake, 'Confess ye the lord, for he is gracious, for his mercy endureth for ever'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'I will confess thee, O light, for thou art a saviour and a deliverer for all time.' And the word which David spake, 'Let them whom the lord hath preserved say, He hath preserved us from the hand of our enemies"'; this is the word which Pistis Sophia spake, 'I will utter this song to the light, for it hath preserved me and freed me from the hand of the rulers, mine enemies.' And so for the rest of the Psalm. "This, then, my Master, is the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia uttered in the midst of the four and twenty invisibles, desiring to tell them of all the wonders which thou hadst done for her, and that they might know that thou hast given thy mysteries to the race of men."

4 It came to pass, therefore, when Jesus had heard these words which Philip had spoken, that he said: "Well said, Philip, thou blessed one; this is the interpretation of the song uttered by Pistis Sophia."

Section 14: Mary questioneth Jesus

1 It came to pass, therefore, after these things, that Mary came forward; she worshipped the feet of Jesus, and said unto him: "Master, be not wroth with me questioning thee, for we question concerning everything with earnestness and confidence. For thou hast said unto us aforetime, 'Seek that ye may find, knock that it may be opened unto you; for every one that seeketh shall find, and to whomsoever knocketh, it shall be opened.' Now, therefore, O Master, from whom shall we seek, or at whose door shall we knock? Who hath the power to give out the revelation of the words on which we question thee? Who knoweth the power of the words concerning which we make the questioning? For 'tis thou who has given us in our minds a mind of light; thou hast given unto us the highest perception and conception. Therefore, is there no one in the world of men, there is no one in the height of the æons, who can give out the revelation of the words on which we make our questionings, save thee alone, who knowest all, who art perfect in all; for I put not my questions like the men of the world, but we seek in the science of the height, which thou hast given unto us; and we frame our questions on the type of the excellent questioning which thou hast taught us, that we might frame our questions thereon. Now, therefore, Master, be not wroth with me, but reveal unto me the matter on which I question thee."

2 It came to pass, when Jesus had heard the words which Mary Magdalene had spoken, that he answered and said unto her: "Ask what thou wilt, and I will reveal it unto thee with earnestness and confidence. Amen, amen, I say unto you, rejoice with great rejoicing, and be in exceeding great gladness, questioning me concerning everything with diligence; and I shall be in exceeding great gladness, because ye question me on every matter with earnestness, and that ye question in the manner in which ye ought to question. Now, therefore, ask what thou wilt, and I will reveal it unto thee with joy." It came to pass, when Mary had heard the words which the saviour spake, that she rejoiced with great joy, and was in exceeding great gladness; she said unto Jesus: "My Master and saviour, how, then, are the four and twenty invisibles; of what type, of what quality; or of what quality is their light?"

3 And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "What is there in this world which is comparable to them; or what region in this world is like unto them? Now, therefore, to what shall I liken them; or what shall I say concerning them? for there is nothing in this world with which I can compare them; nor is there a single form to which I can liken them. Indeed, there is nothing in this world which is of the quality of heaven. Amen, I say unto you, every one of the invisibles is nine times greater than the heaven and the sphere above it, and the twelve æons all together, as I have already told you on another occasion. [Again] there is no light in this world which is superior to that of the sun. Amen, amen, I say unto you, the four and twenty invisibles are more radiant than the light of the sun which is in this world, ten thousand times, as I have told you before on another occasion; for the light of the sun in its true form is not of this world, since its light has to pierce through a host of veils of [various] regions. But the light of the sun in its true form, which is in the region of the virgin of light, is more radiant than the four and twenty invisibles, and the great invisible forefather, and also the great triple-powered god, ten thousand times more radiant, as I have already told you on another occasion.

4 "Now, therefore, O Mary, there is no form in this world, nor any light, nor any shape, like unto the four and twenty invisibles, and with which I could compare them. Yet a little while and I will bring thee and thy fellow disciples, thy brethren, into the three spaces of the first mystery, but only as far as the space of the ineffable, and ye shall see all their configurations as they really are and without similitude. "And when I bring you into the height, you shall see the glory of them in the height; and ye shall be in most mighty wonderment. "And when I bring you into the regions of the rulers of the fate, ye shall see the glory in which they are, and compared with their greatly superior glory, ye will regard this world as the darkness of darkness; and when ye gaze down on the whole world of men, it will be as a speck of dust for you, because of the enormous distance by which [the fate-sphere] will be distant from it, and because of the enormous superiority of its quality over it.

Section 15: Of the twelve æons

1 "And when I shall have brought you into the twelve æons, ye shall see the glory in which they are; and compared with their greatly superior glory, the region of the rulers of the fate will appear to you as the darkness of darkness, and will become as a speck of dust for you, because of the enormous distance it will be distant from you, and because of the enormous superiority of the quality of the æons over it, as I have already said unto you on another occasion. "And, again, when I shall have brought you into the thirteenth æon, there shall ye see the glory in which [its inhabitants] are; the twelve æons shall appear to you like the darkness of darkness, and ye shall gaze down upon the twelve æons, and they will seem to you like a speck of dust because of the enormous distance they will be separated from you, because of the enormous superiority of its quality over them

2 "And when I shall have brought you to the region of them of the midst, ye shall see the glory in which they are; the thirteen æons shall seem to you like the darkness of darkness, and ye shall moreover look down on the twelve æons; and all the fate, and all the ordering, and all the spheres, and all the others which are in them all, shall be for you as a speck of dust, because of the enormous distance they will be distant, and because of the enormous superiority of its quality. "And when I shall have brought you into the region of them of the right, ye shall see the glory in which they are; the region of them of the midst shall seem to you like the night in this world of men; and when ye look down on the midst, it will seem to you like a speck of dust because of the enormous distance which the region of them of the right is distant from it.

3 "And when I shall have brought you to the light-world, which is the treasure of light, ye shall see the glory of them that dwell there; the region of them of the right shall seem to you like the mid-day light in the world of men, when there is no sun; and when ye look down on the region of them of the right, it shall seem to you like a speck of dust because of the enormous distance it is distant from the treasure of light. "And when I shall have brought you into the region of them that have received the inheritance, of them that have received the mysteries of light, ye shall see the glory of the light in which they are; the light-world shall seem to you like the light of the sun which is in the world of men; and when ye look down on the light-world, it will seem to you like a speck of dust because of the enormous distance the light-world is distant, and because of the magnitude with which it transcends it."

4 It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these things unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward, and said: "O Master, be not wroth with me if I question thee, for we question concerning every matter with earnestness." And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "Ask what thou wilt, and I will reveal it to thee freely, without parable; and everything which thou askest, I will tell unto thee with earnestness and certainty. I will perfect you in every power and every perfection, from the interior of the interiors, to the exterior of the exteriors, from that ineffable to the darkness of darkness, that ye may be called perfections perfected in every wisdom. Now, therefore, Mary, ask what thou wilt, and I will reveal it to thee with great joy and great gladness." It came to pass, when Mary had heard these words which the saviour had said, that Mary again she rejoiced exceedingly and was glad, Jesus. and said: "Master, will the men of this world, who have received the mysteries of light, be higher than the emanations of the treasure in thy kingdom? For I have heard thee say, 'When I shall have brought you to the region for receiving the mysteries, the region of the light-world will seem to you like a speck of dust, because of the great distance that it will be [from you], and because of the great light which is in it'—[far greater than that of] the world of the treasure of light, the region in which are the emanations. Will, then, my Master, the men who shall have received the mysteries, be higher than the light-world, and will they be any higher than them in the kingdom of light?"

5 Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "Excellently, indeed, dost thou question concerning every matter with earnestness and confidence. But hearken, O Mary, that I may explain unto thee the completion of the æon and the ascension of the pleroma. There would be no place for this, had I not said unto you, 'When I shall have brought you into the region of the inheritances of those who shall have received the mystery of the light of the treasure of light, the region of the emanations shall seem to you like a speck of dust, and like the simple light of the day sun.'

Section 16: Of the twelve saviours and their regions in the inheritance

1 "It hath been said, 'These things shall come to pass at the time of the completion of the æon and of the ascension of the pleroma.' The twelve saviours of the treasure, and the twelve orders of each of them, which are the emanations of the seven voices and of the five trees, shall be with me in the region of the inheritance of light; they shall be kings with me in my kingdom, each being king over his emanations, and each being king according to his glory, the great according to his greatness, and the little according to his littleness. "And the saviour of the emanations of the first voice shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the first mystery of the first mystery in my kingdom. "And the saviour of the emanations of the second voice shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the second mystery of the first mystery.

2 "In like manner, the saviour of the emanations of the third voice shall be in the region of the souls of them who shall have received the third mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of light. "And the saviour of the emanations of the fourth voice of the treasure of light shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the fourth mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of the light. "And the fifth saviour of the fifth voice of the treasure of light shall be in the region of the souls who shall have received the fifth mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of the light. "And the sixth saviour of the emanations of the sixth voice of the treasure of light shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the sixth mystery of the first mystery.

3 "And the seventh saviour of the emanations of the seventh voice of the treasure of light shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the seventh mystery of the first mystery in the treasure of light. "And the eighth saviour, that is to say the saviour of the emanations of the first tree of the treasure of light, shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the eighth mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of light. "And the ninth saviour, who is the saviour of the emanations of the second tree of the treasure of light, shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the ninth mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of light. "And the tenth saviour, who is the saviour of the emanations of the third tree of the treasure of light, shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the tenth mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of light.

4 "In the same manner, again, the eleventh saviour, who is the saviour of the fourth tree of the treasure of light, shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the eleventh mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of light. "And the twelfth saviour, who is the saviour of the emanations of the fifth tree of the treasure of light, shall be in the region of the souls of them that shall have received the twelfth mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of light. "And the seven amens, and the five voices, and the three amens, shall be on my right, being kings in the inheritance of light. And the saviour of the twins, that is to say, the child of the child, and the nine guardians shall remain also at my left, being kings in the inheritance of light. "And each of the saviours shall be king over the orders of his emanations in the inheritances of light, in the manner in which they are also in the treasure of light.

5 "And the nine guardians of the treasure of light shall be higher than the saviours in the inheritance of light. And the twin saviours shall be higher than the nine guardians in the kingdom [of light]. And the three amens shall be higher than the twin saviours in the kingdom [of light]. And the five trees shall be higher than the three amens in the inheritance of light. "And Ieou, with the guardian of the veil of the great light, and the receivers of light, and the two great leaders, and the great Sabaôth, the good, [all] shall be kings in the first saviour of the first voice of the treasure of light, who shall be in the region of them that shall have received the first mystery of the first mystery; for Ieou, and the guardian of the region of them that are to the right, and Melchisedec, the great receiver of light, and the two great leaders emanated from the select and ever exceedingly pure light of the first tree up to the fifth.