aright in the enquiring which is good, and thou givest light upon
everything in accuracy and in exactness. Now therefore I shall not hide
anything from you from this hour, but I shall reveal [33^a] everything
to you in accuracy and in boldness. Hear therefore, Maria and listen all
ye disciples. Before that I preached to all the Rulers of the Aeons and
with all the Rulers of the Destiny with the Sphere, they were all being
bound in their bonds and in their Spheres and in their seals, according
as bound them from at first Ieou the overseer of the Light: and each of
them was continuing in his array, and each one was walking according to
his course, according as put them Ieou the overseer of the Light: and
whenever should come the time of the number of Melkhisedek, the great
Receiver of Light is wont to come unto [33^b] the midst of the Aeons
with all the Rulers who are bound in the Sphere and in the Destiny, and
he is wont to take away the purgation of the light from all the Rulers
of the Aeons and from all the Rulers of the Destiny with those of the
Sphere. For he was wont to take away there that which disturbed them.
And he is wont to put in motion the task-master who is over them, and
cause them to be turned in their orbit quickly; and he is wont to take
away their power which is in them, with the breath of their mouth, and
with the tears of their eyes and with the sweat of their bodies. And
Melkhisedek the Receiver of the Light is wont to purify those powers,
and carry their light unto the Treasury of the Light: and all their
matter, whatever it be, they are wont to gather it in, the Ministers of
all the Rulers, [34^a] and are wont to take them the Ministers of all
the Rulers of the Destiny, with the Ministers of the Sphere, these who
(are) below the Aeons, and make them souls of man and of beast and of
creeping thing and wild-beast and bird, and send them unto this World of
the mankind: and further the Receiver of the sun, with the Receiver of
the moon, whenever they should look unto the heaven and see the forms of
the courses of the Aeons, with the forms of the Destiny, with those of
the Sphere, and he is wont to take away the power of the light from
them, and the Receivers of the sun are wont to prepare and put it
(down), until they give it to the Receiver of Melkhisedek the purifier
of light; and their material purgations they are wont to take it unto
the Sphere which is below the Aeons [34^b], and make it for soul of man;
and also they are wont to put it for creeping thing and beast and
wild-beast and bird according to the cycle of the Rulers of that Sphere,
and according to all the forms of its turning. And they cast them unto
this World of the mankind, and they become for soul in that Place
according as I finished saying to you. These therefore, they were
completing, continuously, before that their power diminished in them,
and they (were) impaired and they became weak, or they became powerless.
It happened therefore, they having become powerless, and their power
began to cease in them, and they became weak in their power, and ceased
their light which becometh in their Place, and their kingdom dissolved
and the Universe was caught up [35^a] quickly. It happened therefore,
they having known these (things) in the time, and whenever became the
number of the ticket, of Melkhisedek, the Receiver was wont to come out
also and go in unto the midst of the Rulers of all the Aeons, and unto
the midst of all the Rulers of the Destiny, with those of the Sphere,
and he is wont to disturb them and cause them to put away indeed their
cycles quickly, and then they are wont to be distressed, and sow the
power outside of them, out of the breath of their mouth and out of the
tears of their eyes, and out of the sweat of their bodies. And is wont
to purify them Melkhisedek the Receiver of the Light according as he is
wont to do, continuously; and [35^b] to take their Light unto the
Treasury of the Light: and the matter of their purgation all the Rulers
of Aeon and the Rulers of the Destiny with those of the Sphere are wont
to surround it and swallow it (down); and they are not wont to let them
come to make soul in the World; they are wont therefore to swallow
(down) their matter, that they should not become powerless and weak, and
their power should cease in them, and their kingdom be dissolved, but
they are wont to swallow it (down) that they should not be dissolved,
but that they should tarry and spend much time, having not been
completed the number of the perfect souls, these which will become in
the Treasury of the Light. It happened therefore while the Rulers of the
Aeons, with those of the Destiny, with those of the Sphere are abiding,
doing this kind (of thing) [36^a] turning them round, eating the
purgation of their matter, having not been allowed to make souls in the
World of the mankind, that they should tarry being kings and spend much
time outside this, namely the powers; these in which become the powers,
namely the souls; these therefore remained making themselves for two
cycles, continuously. It happened therefore, I having come, about to go
up unto the service, having been invited because of it by the command of
the First Mystery, I came up unto the midst of the Tyrants of the Rulers
of the twelve Aeons, my vesture of light being upon me, enlightening
greatly greatly, there not being measure for the light which was
becoming from me. It happened therefore, they having seen the great
light which becometh from me those Tyrants [36^b] the great Adamas the
Tyrant with all the Tyrants of the twelve Aeons, they all began to war
with the light of my vesture, wishing to hold (it) down together with
them, that they should tarry still in their kingdom. These (things)
therefore they were doing, not knowing with whom they were warring. They
therefore having rebelled, having warred with the light, then I
according to the command of the First Mystery I altered the paths with
the courses of their Aeons, with the paths of their Destiny with their
Sphere; and I caused them to spend six months looking unto (the) Left
(hand) three-corners and unto the four-corners and unto those who were
in front of them, and unto their eight-figure according as indeed they
were at [37^a] first. But their turning, or their looking, I altered it
unto other array; and I caused them to spend six other months looking at
the works of their influences in the Right (hand) four-corners and in
their three-corners and in those who are in front of them and in their
eight-figure. And I caused them to be confused in great confusion, and I
caused them to stray in straying even the Rulers of Aeons, and all the
Rulers of the Destiny, with those of the Sphere; and I disturbed them
greatly; and they were not able to prevail any more from this hour to
turn them unto the purgation of their matter, for them to swallow it
(down), that their Places should tarry continually, and that they should
spend much time being kings. But having taken away a third part of their
power, [37^b] I altered their Spheres for them to spend time looking to
(the) Left, and to spend another time looking to (the) Right. I altered
all their path with all their course, and I caused it to hasten even
their path of their course, that should be purged quickly and be caught
up quickly; and I shortened their orbit, and I caused to go more easily
their path: and they hastened greatly, and they were confused in their
path, and they prevailed not from this hour to swallow (down) the matter
of the purgation of the purifying of their light: and also I shortened
their periods with their times, that should be completed quickly the
perfect number of the souls which will receive mysteries, these which
will become in the Treasury of the Light. Except therefore that I
altered [38^a] their courses, and except that I shortened their times,
they would not have let any of the souls come unto the World, because of
the matter of their purgation which they swallow (down), and they would
have destroyed a multitude of souls. Because of this therefore I said to
you once, that I shortened the times because of my chosen (ones),
otherwise there is not any soul able to be saved. But I shortened the
periods with the times because of the perfect number of the souls, which
will receive mysteries, namely the chosen (ones): and if I did not
shorten their times, there is not any material soul (which) will be
saved. But they would have been consumed in the fire, this which
becometh in the flesh of the Rulers. This therefore is the word about
which thou enquirest of me in accuracy.
[38^b] But it happened, Jesus having finished saying these words unto
his disciples, they all prostrated together, they worshipped to him, and
said they to him, We are happy (ones) beyond every man, thou having
revealed to us these great grandeurs.
Added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, Hear, hear
concerning the words which became to me among the Rulers of the twelve
Aeons, with all their Rulers, with their Lords, with their Authorities,
with their Angels with their Archangels. They having seen therefore the
vesture of light which (is) upon me, they with their Unpaired (ones)
every one of them saw the mystery of their name becoming in my vesture
of light, this [39^a] which (is) upon me, they prostrated all one after
another, they worshipped to the vesture of light which (is) upon me, and
they all cried out together, saying, How did the Lord of the Universe
pass through us, we having not known (it). And they all hymned together
unto the inward part of the inward parts. And all their Triple powers,
with their great Forefather and their Unbegotten (ones) with their
Self-begotten (ones) with their Begotten (ones) with their Gods with
their sparks with their luminaries, in one word, with all their great
(ones) they saw the Tyrants of their Places abiding in feebleness,
having their power diminished in them, and they became themselves in
great weakness, and they became also in great fear, there being no
measure unto it. And they were [39^b] beholding the mystery of their
name in my vesture, and they had begun to come and worship the mystery
of their name, which (is) in my vesture: and they were not able to
prevail because of the great light which becometh with me. But they
worshipped distant from me a little: but they worshipped the light of my
vesture, and they all cried out together hymning unto the inward part of
the inward parts. It happened therefore, these having happened, to the
Tyrants, who become among the Rulers, they were all weakened, they fell
down in their Aeons, and they became as the men of the world who are
dead, having not breath in them, as also they did at the hour (in) which
I took away their power from them. It happened therefore after these
(things) I having come out to those Aeons, each [40^a] one of all those
who become in the twelve Aeons, they were all bound in unto their
arrays, and they completed their works according as I put them, for to
spend six months turned to the Left, doing their works in their
four-corners with their three-corners, with those who (are) in front of
them.
And again to spend another six months beholding the Right in their
three-corners and in their four-corners, with those who are in front of
them. Thus also will move, those who become in the Destiny with the
Sphere.
It happened therefore after these (things) I came unto the Height even
unto the veils of the thirteenth Aeon (MS. Aeons). It happened therefore
having come upon their veils, they drew (away) of their own (accord),
they opened to me, I came [40^b] in unto the thirteenth of the Aeon (MS.
Aeons), I found the PISTIS SOPHIA being below the thirteenth Aeon, she
by herself, being none of them with her. But she was sitting at that
place grieving and making lament, because they took her not unto the
thirteenth Aeon, her Place which is at the Height. And also she was
grieving concerning the tribulations which did to her the Self-willed
(one), this who is one of the three Triple powers. But these whenever I
should speak with you concerning their distribution, I shall say unto
you the mystery, how these became. It happened therefore, she having
seen me, the Pistis Sophia, as I am enlightening greatly greatly, there
being not measure unto the light which is from me, she became in great
disturbance [41^a], and she looked in the light of my vesture, she saw
the mystery of her name in my vesture, and all the glory of its mystery:
because she was becoming at first in the Place of the Height in the
thirteenth Aeon. But she was wont to hymn the light which (is) at the
Height, this which she saw in the veil of the Treasury of the Light. It
happened therefore, she having continued hymning the Light which is at
the Height, all the Rulers looked, who (are) together with the great two
Triple powers and with her Invisible, who is joined unto her, and the
other twenty-two emanation Invisibles. Since the Pistis Sophia with her
partner, they with the other twenty-two emanations are wont to make (up)
twenty-four emanations, [41^b] these which emanated them out the great
Forefather Invisible, he with the great two Triple powers.
It happened therefore while Jesus saith these (things) unto his
disciples came forward Mariham, said she, My Lord I heard thee once
saying, The Pistis Sophia is not herself One out of the twenty-four
emanations, and how she becometh not in their Place. But thou saidst
that I found her being below the thirteenth Aeon.
Answered Jesus, said he to his disciples, It happened while the Pistis
Sophia (was) in the thirteenth of the Aeons in the Place of all her
brothers the Invisibles, namely twenty-four emanations of the great
Invisible, it happened [42^a] therefore by the precept of the First
Mystery, looked unto the Height the Pistis Sophia, she saw the light of
the veil of the Treasury of the Light, and she desired to go unto that
Place: and she could not prevail to go unto that Place. But she ceased
doing the mystery of the thirteenth Aeon. But she was hymning unto the
Light of the Height, that which she saw in the light of the veil of the
Treasury of the Light. It happened therefore while she is hymning unto
the Place of the Height, all the Rulers who become in the twelve Aeons
hated her, these who (are) below, because that she ceased from their
mysteries, and because that she wished to go unto the Height and be
above them all. Because of this, therefore, they were angry against her
and they hated her. [42^b] And the great Triple power Self-willed who is
the third Triple powered, this who becometh in the thirteenth Aeon, this
who was disobedient, having not emanated all the purgation of his power
which (is) in him, nor did he give the purgation of his light at the
time when the Rulers gave their purgations in him: wishing to be lord
over all the thirteenth Aeon with those who become below it. It happened
therefore, the Rulers of the twelve Aeons having been angry against the
Pistis Sophia, she who is above them, they hated her greatly and the
great Triple power Self-willed, this concerning whom I finished saying
to you now, he [43^a] himself followed the Rulers of the twelve Aeons,
and he was angry himself against the Pistis Sophia, and he hated her
greatly, because she thought to go unto the Light, this which is higher
than her. And he emanated out of him a great power of face of lion; and
out of his matter which (is) in him, he emanated many other material
emanations cruel exceedingly, and he sent them unto the Places below,
unto the parts of the Chaos, that they should waylay the Pistis Sophia
there, and take away her power from her; because that she thought to go
unto the Height, this which (is) over all of them; and (because) that
she ceased also doing their mystery. But she continued making lament,
seeking for the light which she saw: and hated her the Rulers [43^b] who
are living, or who continue unto the mystery, doing it; and also hated
her all the Guards who (are) at the gates of the Aeons. It happened
therefore after these (things) through the precept of the First precept
the great Triple power Self-willed, being one of the three Triple
powers, he pursued the Sophia in thirteenth Aeon, for her to look at the
parts below, that she should see his power of light at that Place, this
(power) which is of face of lion, and lusteth for her, and would come
unto that Place, and take away her light from her. It happened therefore
after these (things), she looked down, she saw his power of light in the
parts below, and she was not knowing that it is that of the Triple power
Self-willed: but she was [44^a] thinking of her (self) that it is out of
the light, that which she saw from at first in the Height, this which is
out (side) of the veil of the Treasury of the Light: and she thought in
her (self), I am about to go unto that Place apart from my partner, and
take away the light which fashioned for me some Aeons of Light, that I
should be able to prevail to go unto the Light of the Lights, this which
(is) in the Height of the Heights. These (things) therefore thinking,
she came out of her Place of the thirteenth Aeon, and she came down into
the twelve Aeons. Pursued her the Rulers of the Aeons, and they were
angry with her, because she thought of greatness. But she came also out
of the twelve Aeons, she came unto the Place of the Chaos, and she came
up [44^b] unto the power of light of face of lion, that she should
swallow it (down): but surrounded her all the material emanations of the
Self-willed, and the great power of light of face of lion swallowed
(down) the powers of light in the Sophia, and it purged her light she
having swallowed it, and her matter was cast out unto the Chaos. It
became a Ruler of face of lion in the Chaos, whose (one) half became
fire and whose other half became darkness, namely, Ialdabaoth this which
I said unto you many times. These therefore having happened, was
weakened the Sophia greatly greatly; and also began that power of light
of face of lion to cause itself to take away all the powers of light in
the Sophia; and all [45^a] the material powers of the Self-willed
surrounded the Sophia together, they afflicted her. She cried out
greatly greatly the Pistis Sophia, she cried up unto the Light of the
Lights, this which she saw from at first, having believed it, and she
said this Repentance, saying thus, O Light of the Lights, this whom I
believed from at first, Hear therefore now, O Light, my repentance.
Deliver me, O Light, because evil thoughts came in unto me. I looked, O
Light, unto the parts which (are) below, I saw a light at that place, I
am thinking that I am about to go unto that Place and (to) take away
that light: and I went, I became in the darkness which (is) in the Chaos
below, and I was not able to prevail to fly out to go unto my Place:
[45^b] because that I was afflicted in all the emanations of the
Self-willed, and the power of face of lion took away my light which
(was) in me: and I cried out for a help, and came not my shout up in the
darkness, and I looked unto the Height that should help me, the Light
which I trusted. And having looked unto the Height, I saw all the Rulers
of the Aeons which are many. And they are looking upon me, rejoicing at
me who did not anything to them for evil; but they were hating me
without cause. And they having seen the Rulers of the Aeons rejoicing at
me, (they) the emanations of the Self-willed, knew that would not help
me the Rulers of the Aeons; and were glad of heart those emanations,
these which were afflicting me in violence; and the light which I took
not away from them indeed, they took it away from me [46^a]. Now
therefore, O Light of the Truth, thou knowest that I did these (things)
in my innocence, in thinking that (thy light) is belonging unto the
light of the face of lion, and the sin which I did is manifest in thy
presence. Let me not therefore be cut off, O Lord, because I trusted
unto thy light from at first, O Lord, O light of the powers, let me not
be cut off therefore from my light: for by reason of thy cause and thy
light I became in my affliction and shame covered over me: and because
of the pretext of thy light I became alien unto my brothers the
Invisibles; and with the great emanations of the Barbelo: these (things)
happened to me, O Light, because I was jealous of thine abode, and came
up upon me the anger of the Self-willed, this who hearkened not unto thy
command for him to emanate out of the [46^b] emanation of his power;
because that I became in his Aeon, not doing his mystery: and were
deriding me all the Rulers of the Aeons: and I became in that Place,
making lamentations seeking after the light which I saw in the Height:
and were seeking after me the Guards of the gates of the Aeons, and all
were mocking me even those who are living in their mystery. But I, I was
looking up unto the Height, up unto thee O Light. And I trusted unto
thee: now therefore, O Light of the Lights, I am afflicted in the
darkness of the Chaos: if thou wishest therefore to come to deliver me,
great is thy mercy; hear me in truth and deliver me: deliver me out of
the matter of this darkness, that I should not be drowned in it, that I
should be delivered unto the emanations of the Self-willed God, [47^a]
these which afflict me, and out of their evil: let not this darkness
drown me, and this power with face of lion, let not it swallow (down)
all my power for ever, and let not this Chaos cover over my power. Hear
me, O Light, because good is thy mercy, and look upon me according to
the multitude of mercifulness of thy light. Turn not thy face away from
me because I am tormented greatly. Hasten, hear me and deliver my power,
deliver me because of the Rulers who hate me, because thou art he who
knoweth my affliction with my torment, with the torment of my power
which they took away from me. They are being in thy presence, those who
planted me in all these evils: use them according to that which thou
willest. My power looked out of the midst of the Chaos, and (out) of the
midst of the darknesses. I looked out [47^b] for my partner, that he
should come and fight for me, and he came not. And I was looking that he
should come and give power to me, and I did not find him. And having
sought after the light, they gave to me a darkness, and having sought
after my power they gave to me matter. Now therefore, O Light of the
Lights, the darkness with the matter, which brought upon me the
emanations of the Self-willed: let them become to them for a snare, and
let them be entangled among them, and pay back to them; and (let) them
stumble and not come unto the Place of their Self-willed: let them
continue in the darkness and not see out unto the light, let them look
unto the Chaos for every hour; and let them not look unto the Height.
Bring upon them their vengeance and let catch them [48^a] thy judgment.
Let them not go unto their Place from this hour together with their
Self-willed God; and let not his emanations go unto their Places from
this hour, because impious and self-willed is their God; and he was
thinking that he did these evils through himself, not knowing of course
that unless they humbled me according to the precept he would not have
been able to prevail against me: but thou having humbled me by thy
precept they pursued me the more, and their emanations added trouble to
my humbling, and they took away a power of light in me. And also they
began again, they afflicted me greatly for to take away all the light
which (is) in me. Because of those in which they planted me, let them
not [48^b] go up unto the thirteenth Aeon the Place of the
righteousness, and let them not be reckoned unto the lot of those who
purify themselves and their light. And let them not be reckoned unto
those who will repent quickly, for them to receive mystery quickly in
the light. Because that they took away my own light from me, and my
power began to fail in me, and I was lacking of my light. Now therefore,
O Light which is in me, that which becometh with me, I hymn thy name, O
Light, in glory. And my hymn, O Light, let it be pleasing to thee as of
a mystery surpassing this which taketh into the gates of the Light, this
which will say those who will repent and will purge [49^a] his light.
Now therefore let all the gates rejoice. Seek ye all after the Light,
that may live the power of your soul which is in you: because the Light
heard the (things of) matter and it would not leave any matter which it
did not purge. Let the souls with the (things of) matter bless the Lord
of all Aeons, with the matter, with all those who are in them: because
God will deliver their souls out of every matter, and they will prepare
a city in the Light: and all the souls who will be delivered will dwell
in that city, and inherit it: and the souls of [49^b] those who will
receive mystery will be in that Place, and those who receive mystery in
his name will become in it.
It happened therefore, while Jesus is saying these words unto his
disciples, said he to them, This is the hymn which said the Pistis
Sophia in her first repentance, repenting because of her sin, and saying
everything which happened to her. Now therefore he who hath ear to hear
let him hear.