Part 10

But answered Martha, said she to Jesus in the midst of the disciples, Concerning the repentance which said, O my Lord Jesus, the Pistis Sophia, prophesied once thy power of Light which (is) in David in the sixty-ninth psalm saying, O Lord God take heed unto my help. Let them [58^b] be ashamed and disgraced, those who seek after my soul. Let them turn them henceforth and be ashamed, those who say to me, Well (done). Well (done)! Let them be glad and delighted over me, every one who seeketh after thee, and say at every time, Let God be exalted, even those who love thy salvation. But I am poor I am miserable, O Lord help me. Thou art my helper and my trust, O Lord, tarry not. This therefore is the explanation of the third repentance which said the Pistis Sophia hymning unto the Height.

It happened therefore, Jesus having heard Martha saying these words, said he, Well done, Martha, and fairly (said). Added also [59^a] Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, Added also the Pistis Sophia saying in the fourth Repentance, before that afflicted her the second time, for to take away all her other light which is in her, even the power of face of lion with all the material emanations which (are) with her, these which the Self-willed sent unto the Chaos. She said therefore this repentance thus, O Light unto which I trusted, hear my repentance and let my shout come in unto thy abode. Turn not thy image of light away from me, but take heed unto me, whenever they should afflict me. Hasten, deliver me at the time when I shall cry up unto thee. [59^b] Because my time failed as a breath, and I became matter. They took away my light from me. And my power dried up. I forgot my mystery this which I was wont to do at first. From the shout of the fear with the power of the Self-willed my power failed in me—I became as a mere demon, dwelling in matter in which there is not light. And I became as a counterfeit spirit, being in a material body in which there is not power of light. And I became as a dekan, being over the air, alone. Afflicted me greatly the emanations of the Self-willed, and had said in him(self) my partner. Instead of the light which is in her, they filled her with Chaos. I swallowed (down) the sweat [60^a] of my own matter and with the anguish of the tears of the matter (deleted in MS.) of mine eyes, lest they should take away these also, those who afflict me. All these (things), O Light, happened to me through thy precept and with thy commandment. And thy precept is for me to become in these (things): thy precept brought me down, and I came down as a power of the Chaos. And my power was benumbed in me. But thou O Lord art Light unto age, and thou art wont to visit those who are afflicted at every time. Now therefore, O Light, arise and seek after my power with the soul which is in me. Completed was thy precept which thou orderedst unto me in my afflictions. My time became for thee to seek after my power with my soul. And this is the [60^b] time which thou orderedst to seek after me, because thy redeemers sought after the power which is in my soul: because completed was the number, and (the time) for them to deliver her matter also. And then at that time all the Rulers of the material Aeons they will fear thy Light, and all the emanations of the thirteenth material Aeon they will fear the mystery of thy light, to cause the others to put on the purification of their light. Because the Lord will seek after the power of your soul: he manifested his mystery, that he should look at the repentance of those who become in the Places below, and he did not forsake their repentance. This therefore is that mystery [61^a] this which became type for the race which they are about to beget, and the race which they are about to beget will hymn unto the Height: because the Light looked out the Height of his Light, he will look over all the matter to hear the groan of those who are bound, to let loose the power of the souls, those whose power they bound, for him to put his name in the soul and his mystery in the power.

But it happened while Jesus is saying these words unto his disciples saying to them, This is the fourth repentance which said the Pistis Sophia. Now therefore he who understandeth, let him understand. It happened therefore, Jesus having said these words, came forward Iohannes, he worshipped unto the breast of Jesus, said he, My Lord command to me also, and allow to me for to say the explanation of the fourth repentance, [61^b] this which said the Pistis Sophia. Said Jesus to Iohannes, I command to thee and I allow to thee, for to say the explanation of the repentance which said the Pistis Sophia.

Answered Iohannes, said he, My Lord, the Saviour, concerning this repentance which said the Pistis Sophia, prophesied once concerning it thy power of Light which (was) in David in the hundred and first psalm, O Lord hear my prayer and let my shout come even unto thee, turn not thy face away from me, incline thine ear unto me at the day in which I shall be afflicted. Hasten, hear me in the day (in) which I shall cry up unto thee. Because my days failed as a smoke, and my bones burned as a stone. I was scorched as grass, and my heart dried up so that I forgot [62^a] to eat my bread, out of the shout of my groan my bone clave to my flesh, I was as a pelican in the desert, I became as an owl in a house. I spent night in watching: I was as a sparrow on a roof alone. Mine enemies reproached me all the day, and those who honour me were swearing at me. Because I ate ash instead of my bread, I mingled that which I shall drink with tears at presence of thy anger with thy wrath; because thou tookest me up, thou sentest me down. My days inclined as a shadow, and I was dried as grass. But thou, O Lord, thou becometh even unto age, and thy remembrance even unto a generation of a generation. Arise thou and have compassion on Sion, because the time became of having compassion on her: because the season came. Thy servants wish (for) her stones, and they [62^b] will have compassion on her earth, and the heathen (will) fear the name of the Lord, and the kings of the earth will fear thy glory: because the Lord will build Sion and manifest in his glory. He looked upon the prayer of those who are humble and he despised not their supplication. Let them write this unto another generation, and the people whom they will create will bless the Lord: because he looked out upon his Height which is holy, the Lord looked out of the heaven upon the earth to hear the groan of those who are bound, to unloose the sons of those whom they put to death, to say the name of the Lord in Sion and his blessing in Jerusalem. This is, my Lord, [is] the explanation of the mystery (M) of the repentance which said the Pistis Sophia.

It happened therefore, Iohannes having finished saying these words unto Jesus in the midst [63^a] of his disciples, said he to him: Well (done) Iohannes the Virgin, this who will rule in the kingdom of the Light.

But added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened also thus: the emanations of the Self-willed afflicted also the Pistis Sophia in the Chaoses, they wished to take away all her light: and was not yet completed her precept to bring her up from the Chaos, and the command had not yet come to me from the First Mystery, for me to deliver her from the Chaos. It happened therefore, having afflicted her all the material emanations of the Self-Willed, she cried out, saying the fifth Repentance, saying: O Light of my salvation, I hymn unto thee in the Place of the Height, and also [63^b] in the Chaos. I shall hymn unto thee in my hymn. I hymned unto thee in the Height, and that in which I hymned unto thee while I am being in the Chaos, let it come before thy face; and take heed, O Light, unto my repentance, because my power was full of darkness and my light came down unto the Chaos. I became also as the Ruler of the Chaos, those who are going unto the darkness below. I became as a material body which has not him who will deliver him in the Height. I became also as (things of) matter from which they took away their power, casting in the Chaos these which thou didst not deliver, and they perished by thy precept. Now therefore, they put me in the darkness (M) below, in darknesses and in (things of) matter being dead, and there being not power in them. Thou broughtest thy precept upon me, and with every [64^a] thing which thou orderest: and thy spirit ran (away), it left me, and also through thy precept helped me not the emanations of my Aeon, and they hated me and they ceased from me; and also I perished, not for ever; and my light was diminished in me: and I cried up unto the Light in all the light which is in me, and I spread my hands up unto thee. Now therefore, O Light, wilt thou not complete thy precept in the Chaos? And the deliverers those who are coming according to thy precept, will they not arise in the darkness and come and be disciples to thee? Will they not say the mystery of thy name in the Chaos (or otherwise rather will they say thy name in a matter of Chaos) this in which thou wilt not purify? But I [64^b] hymned up unto thee, O Light and my repentance will attain thee up unto the Height. Let thy Light come upon me, because they took away my light from me. And I became in tribulations because of the light, since the time (in) which they emanated me. And I having looked at the Height unto the light, I looked down unto the power of light which (is) in the Chaos. I arose I came down: thy precept came upon me, and the fears which thou orderedst unto me disturbed me, and they surrounded me being numerous as water, they laid hold on me together in all my time: and by thy precept thou didst not let my fellow emanations to help me, and thou didst not let my partner to deliver me out of my afflictions. This [65^a] therefore is the fifth repentance which said the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos, they having finished afflicting her, all the material emanations of the Self-willed.

These therefore, while Jesus is saying unto his disciples said he to them, He who hath ear to hear let him hear, and he whose spirit is bubbling in him, let him come forward and say the explanation of the meaning of the fifth repentance of the Pistis Sophia. And Jesus having finished saying these words, sprang up Philippos, he stood up, he put down the book which (is) in his hand; for he it is who writeth every word which Jesus was saying, and with all the (things) which he is doing: came therefore forward Philippos, [65^b] said he to him, My Lord, Am I not alone he to whom thou gavest for me to take care of the World, and to write every word which thou wilt say, and with those which thou wilt do. And thou lettest me not come forward, that I may say the explanation of the mysteries of the repentance of the Pistis Sophia? For my spirit bubbled in me for many times, and was unloosed and compelled me greatly for to come forward that I may say the explanation of the repentance of the Pistis Sophia, and I was not able to come forward, because that I am he who writeth every word.

It happened therefore, Jesus having heard Philippos, said he to him, Hear O Philippos the happy, that I may speak with thee, because thou with Thomas with Maththaios are those to whom it was given by the First Mystery to write every word which I shall say, [66^a] with the (things) which I shall do, and with every thing which ye will see. But as for thee, was not yet completed until now the number of the words which thou wilt write. Whenever therefore they should be completed, thou wilt come forward and utter that which thou willest. Now therefore ye are the three, those who will write every word which I shall say, with the (things) which I shall do, with the (things) which I shall see, and that I may bear witness of everything of the kingdom of the heavens.

These therefore having said them Jesus, said he to his disciples, He who hath ear to hear let him hear. Sprang up again in front Mariham, she came unto the midst, she stood by Philippos, said she to Jesus, My Lord, hath ear my companion of light, and I prepare me to hear out of my power, and I understood the words [66^b] which thou saidst. Now therefore, My Lord, hear that I may say it boldly. Thou saidst to us, He who hath ear to hear let him hear. Concerning the word which thou saidst unto Philippos, Thou with Thomas with Maththaios are those three to whom it was given by the First Mystery to write every word of the kingdom of the Light, and (to) bear witness to them: hear therefore that I may utter the explanation of this word, this (is) that which thy power of light prophesied once by Mōysēs, that by witness (of) two and three every thing will be established. The three witnesses are Philippos with Thomas with Maththaios. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard this word, said he, Well (done) Maria, this is the explanation [67^a] of the word. Now therefore thou Philippos, Come forward and utter the explanation of the mystery of the fifth repentance of the Pistis Sophia. And afterwards sit (down) and write every word which I shall say, until is completed the number of thy part which thou wilt write in the words of the kingdom of the Light. After these (things) thou shalt come forward and say that which thy spirit will understand. Nevertheless therefore now utter the explanation of the mystery of the fifth repentance of the Pistis Sophia.

But answered Philippos, said he to Jesus, My Lord, hear that I may say the explanation of her repentance: for thy Power prophesied concerning it by David once saying in the eighty-seventh [67^b] psalm; O Lord God of my salvation I cried up unto thee in the day with the night: let my prayer come in to thy presence. Incline thine ear, O Lord, unto my supplication, because my soul was filled with evil, my life draweth near into Amente, they numbered me with those who are going down unto the pit. I became as a man who hath not helper: free among those who are dead as wounded (ones), being cast (away) sleeping in the tombs, these whom thou rememberedst not any more, and they, they perished out of thy hands. They put me in a pit below, in darkness with the shade of the death thy wrath was firm upon me, and all thy cares came upon me. Diapsalma. Thou causedst those who know me to be distant from me, thou lettest me be to them for abomination: [68^a] they left me and I went not (away). Mine eye is weak out of my poverty: I cried up unto thee O Lord, all the day. I spread my hands up unto thee. Wilt thou make thy wonder in those who are dead? Are not the physicians those who will arise and confess to thee? Will they be saying thy name in the tombs and thy righteousness in a land which thou forgottest? But I cried up unto thee, O Lord, and my prayer will catch thee at the hour of early (day). Turn not thy face away from me because I am poor; beg in tribulations since my youth. But having been exalted, I humbled myself and I arose. Thine angers came upon me, and thy fears disturbed me. They surrounded me as water, they laid hold on me all the day: they caused my fellows to be distant from me, and those who [68^b] know me, away from my misery. This therefore is the explanation of the mystery of the fifth repentance which said the Pistis Sophia, they having afflicted her in the Chaos.

It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words, saying them Philippos, said he, Well (done) Philippos the beloved. Now therefore come, sit (down) and write thy part of every word which I shall say, and with the things which I shall do, with everything which thou wilt see. And at that hour sat down Philippos, he wrote.

It happened also after these (things), Jesus added also in the word, said he to his disciples, Then cried up unto the Light the Pistis Sophia. It forgave her sin, because she forsook her Place, she came down unto the darkness, she said the [69^a] sixth Repentance, saying thus, I hymned up unto thee, O Light, in the darkness below: hear my repentance, and let thy light take heed unto the shout of my prayer. O Light, if thou shouldest remember my sin I shall not be able to come toward thee, and thou wilt forsake me: because thou, O Light, art my deliverer, because of the light of thy name. I believed thee, O Light, and my power believed thy mystery, and also my power trusted unto the light which becometh in the (things) of the Height, and it trusted unto him, being in the Chaos below. Let every power which (is) in me trust unto the Light while I am in the darkness below. And also let them trust unto him, if they should come unto the Place of the Height: because it (is) he who will see and redeem us, and there is a great mystery [69^b] of deliverance in him: and he is he who will deliver all the powers out of the Chaos, because of my transgression: because I forsook my Place, I came down unto the Chaos. Now therefore he who whose mind is exalted, let him understand.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, said he to them, Understand ye that I am speaking with you in what manner? Came forward Andreas, said he, My Lord, concerning the explanation of the sixth repentance of the Pistis Sophia thy power of light prophesied once by David in the hundred and twenty-ninth psalm saying, I cried up unto thee, O Lord, in those which are deep, hear my shout. Let thine ears give heed unto the shout of my supplication, O Lord, if thou should give heed unto the [70^a] unlawfulness, who is he who will be able to stand? Because the forgiveness is being from thee. Because of thy name I had patience unto thee, O Lord. My soul had patience unto thy word. My soul hoped in the Lord from morning even unto evening, Let the Israel hope in the Lord from morning unto evening. Because the mercy is being from the Lord. And there is a great redemption with him, and he it (is) who will redeem the Israel out of all his unlawfulness.

Said to him Jesus, Well (done), Andreas, the happy, this is the explanation of her repentance. Amen amen I say to you, I shall fill you with all the mysteries of the Light and with all knowledge, from the inward part of the inward parts, even unto the outward part of the outward parts, from the Ineffable even unto the darkness of the darknesses, [70^b] and from the Light of Lights unto the matter (haab) of the matter, from all the Gods even unto the Demons, from all the Lords even unto the Dekans, from all the Authorities even unto the Ministers, from the fashioning of the men unto that of the wild-beasts with the beasts with the creeping things: because they shall call you the perfect (ones) who are completed with every Pleroma. Amen, amen I say to you, The Place in which I shall become in the kingdom of my Father ye also shall become there with me. And if should be fulfilled the perfect number for the Confusion to be dissolved, I shall command that they shall bring all the tyrant Gods these who gave not the purification of their light. And I shall command the discerning fire (wise fire), [71^a] this which are wont the perfect (ones) to pass across, for it to eat into those Tyrants, until they give (up) the remainder (last) of the purification of their light.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, said he to them, Ye understand in what manner I am speaking with you?

Said Maria: Yea, O Lord, I understood the word which thou sayest. Concerning the word therefore which thou saidst, In the dissolving of all the Confusion thou wilt sit upon a power of light, and thy disciples, namely we, (will) sit on right of thee, and thou (wilt) give judgment upon the tyrant Gods, these who gave not the purification of their light. And the discerning fire will eat after them until they give the remainder (last) of light which is in them. [71^b] Because of this word therefore thy power of light prophesied once by David, saying in the four-twentieth with one psalm, God will sit in the assembly of the gods and (will) give judgment unto the gods. Said he to her Jesus, Well (done) Maria.

Added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened, the Pistis Sophia having finished saying the sixth repentance concerning the forgiveness of her transgression, she turned also unto the Height to see whether they forgave to her her sins, and to see if they will bring her up from the Chaos. And they did not yet hear her by the command of the First Mystery for them to forgive her sin and bring her up from the Chaos. She having turned therefore unto the Height to see whether they [72^a] received her repentance from her, she saw all the Rulers of the twelve Aeons mocking at her, and rejoicing at her, because that they received not her repentance from her. She having seen therefore them mocking at her, she was grieved greatly, she lifted up her voice unto the Height saying in the seventh Repentance, O Light, I lifted up my power unto thee; my Light, I believed thee: let me not be despised, and let them not rejoice at me the Rulers of the twelve Aeons, these who hate me: for every one who believeth thee will not be ashamed: shall remain in darkness those who took away my power, and will not make gain of it, but it will be taken from them. O Light, show to me thy ways, and I shall be delivered from them and [72^b] show me thy paths, that I should be delivered from the Chaos, and guide me in thy light. And let me know, O Light, that thou art my deliverer, I shall trust unto thee in all my time. Give heed for to deliver me, O Light, because thy mercifulness becometh even unto age: because of my transgression which I did from at first in my ignorance, reckon it not unto me, O Light, but deliver me rather in thy great mystery of forgiver of sin: because of thy goodness, O Light, because good (and) straight is the Light: because of this thou wilt give thy way to me for to be delivered from my transgression, and my powers which were diminished by the fear of the material emanations [73^a] of the Self-willed, it will draw them near by its precept; and my powers which were diminished by the unmerciful (ones) it will teach them his knowledge: because all the knowledges of the Light are deliverances, and are mysteries for everyone who seeketh for the Places of his inheritance with his mysteries. Because of the mystery of thy name O Light, forgive my transgression, because it is great. Every one who trusteth unto the Light will give to himself the mystery which he willeth, and his soul will become in the Place of the Light, and his power will inherit the Treasury of the Light. The Light is that which giveth power to those who believe it, and the name of his mystery is that of those who trust unto him, and he will show to them the Place of the inheritance [73^b] which is in the Treasury of the Light. But I, I believed the Light at every time, because it is he who will deliver my feet out of the bonds of the darkness. Give heed unto me, O Light, and deliver me. For I, they took away my name from me in the Chaos. Beyond all the emanations, were multiplied greatly my afflictions with my oppressions. Deliver me out of my transgressions, and with this darkness, and see the tribulation of my oppression, and forgive my transgression. Give heed unto the Rulers of the twelve Aeons, these which hated me in jealousy. Be watchful with my power and deliver me, and let me not remain in this darkness: because I believed thee, and they made me foolish greatly because I believed [74^a] thee, O Light. Now therefore, O Light, deliver my powers up from the emanations of the Self-willed, these in which I am oppressed.