Part 8

Then said she, Mariham to the Saviour, My Lord, the word which thou saidst to us, He who hath ear to hear let him hear, art thou saying that we should understand the word which thou saidst? Hear, therefore, my Lord and I (will) say in boldness. The word which thou saidst that I took away the third part from the power of the Rulers of all the Aeons; and that I removed their Destiny with their Spheres, these which are for lord unto them, that whenever the race of the men should invoke them in their mysteries, these which taught them the Angels, who transgressed, unto the accomplishment of their evil [26^a] works and unlawful, in the mystery of their magic; in order that they should not be able to prevail any more from this hour to accomplish their unlawful works, because that thou tookest away their power from them: with their hour-setters, with their enquirers, with those who are wont to show to the men, who are in the World, everything which will happen, that they should not understand from this hour to show to them any thing which will happen, because thou removedst their Spheres; and thou causedst them to spend six months turned to the left, fulfilling their influences, and other six months looking to the right, fulfilling their influences. Because of this word therefore, my Lord, which it said thus (viz.) the power which (is) in Esaias the prophet, and which it uttered in a spiritual parable, [26^b] once speaking concerning the vision of Egypt: Where, therefore, Egypt, where are thy enquirers, with thy hour-setters, with those who are wont to call out of the earth, with those who are wont to call out of their belly? Let them show to thee, therefore, from this hour the works which will do the Lord, Sabaoth. Of whom prophesied therefore before that thou camest, the power which (is) in Esaias the prophet who prophesied about thee, that thou would take away the power of the Rulers of the Aeons, and remove their Sphere with their Destiny that they should not know anything from this hour? Concerning this indeed it said, Ye will not know, therefore, what the Lord, Sabaoth will do, namely, [27^a] that there is not any in the Rulers about to know the (things) which thou wilt do from this hour, which (Rulers) are (called) Egypt because that they are of matter: which the power, therefore, which is in Esaias prophesied about thee once saying, Ye will not know therefore from this hour the (things) which will do the Lord, Sabaoth, because of the power of light which thou receivedst from Sabaoth the good, this who becometh in the Place of Right (hand), this (power) which becometh in thy material body of to-day. Concerning this therefore thou saidst to us, my Lord Jesus, He who hath ear to hear let him hear, that thou shouldest know who is he whose heart is eager for the Kingdom [27^b] of the heavens.

It happened, therefore, Maria having finished saying these words, said he, Well (done) Maria because thou art happy beyond every woman who (is) upon the earth, because thou art she who will become the Pleroma of all the Pleromas and the completion of all the completions.

But Maria having heard the Saviour saying these words, she was glad greatly, and she came before Jesus, she prostrated at his presence, she worshipped to his feet, said she to him, My Lord, Hear me, that I may ask thee of this word, thou having not yet spoken with us of the Places unto which thou wentest.

Answered Jesus, said he to Mariham, Speak in boldness, [28^a] and fear not. Every thing which thou seekest after I shall reveal to thee.

Said she, My Lord; Every man who knoweth the mystery of the magic of all the Rulers of all the Aeons, with the magic of the Rulers of the Destiny, with those of the Sphere, according as taught them the Angels who transgressed; if they should invoke them in their mysteries, namely their evil magic, to hinder the works which are good, will they accomplish them from this hour or otherwise?

But answered Jesus, said he to Maria, They will not accomplish them as they were accomplishing them from at first, because I took away a third part of their power, but they will make [28^b] a pretext in those who know the mysteries of the magic of the thirteenth Aeon. And if they should invoke the mysteries of the magic of those who become in the thirteenth Aeon, they will accomplish them well and in accuracy, because that I took not away power from that Place according to the command of the First Mystery.

But it happened, Jesus having finished saying these words, added again Maria, said she, My Lord, then the hour-setters, with the enquirers, then they will not show to the men that which will happen to them from this hour?

But answered Jesus, said he to Maria: If the hour-setters—if they should find the Destiny, with the Sphere turned [29^a] to the Left according to their first distribution, their words are wont to come (right), and they will say that which it is right to become; but if they come (upon) the Destiny or the Sphere turned to the Right, they are not wont to say anything true, because that I turned their influences with their four-corners with their three-corners with their eight-forms. Since were being constant their influences from at first (so long as they were) turned to the Left, with their four-corners, with their three-corners, with their eight-forms. But now I caused them to spend six months turned to the Left and six months turned to the Right: he who will find their numbering from the time which I [29^b] altered them; having put them for to spend six months looking unto their Left paths, and six months unto their Right paths, he who attendeth therefore to them thus, he will know their influences in accuracy, and he will utter every thing which they will do. Likewise also the enquirers if they should invoke the name of the Rulers, and come upon them looking to the Left, everything concerning which they will seek of their Dekans they will tell them in accuracy. If however should their enquirers invoke their names looking to the Right, they will not hear them, because that they are looking another form contrary to their first precept (position) in which settled them Ieou; since some of their names [30^a] are turned to the Left and other of their names are turned to the Right: and if they should invoke them turned to the Right, they will not say unto them the truth, but in confusion they will confuse them and in a threat they will threaten them. Those who know not therefore their direction turned to the Right, and with their three-corners, and with their four-corners, with all their figures, they will find nothing true, but they will be confused in great confusion, and they will become in a great error, and they will stray in great straying (from the truth): because that the works which they were wont to do once in their four-corners turned to the Left and in their three-corners and in their eight-figure, these in which they were being constant, [30^b] doing them turned to the Left. I altered them now, and I caused them to spend six months doing all their forms turned to the Right, that they might be confused in confusion in all their circuit; and further I cause them to spend six months turned to the Left, doing the works of their influences with all their forms, that in confusion should be confused and in an error should err the Rulers who become in the Aeon and in their Spheres and in their heavens and in all their Places, that they should not understand their own movements.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words, Philippos (was) sitting, writing every word which Jesus is saying; [31^a] it happened therefore after these (things) Philippos came forward he prostrated, he worshipped unto the feet of Jesus, saying, My Lord, the Saviour, give authority to me for me to speak in thy presence and ask thee this word before that thou spakest with us of the Places unto which thou wentest because of thy service.

Answered the Saviour merciful, said he to Philippos, The authority is given to thee to utter the word which thou art willing (to say).

But answered Philippos, said he to Jesus, My Lord, because of which mystery removedst thou the binding of the Rulers with their Aeons, with their Destiny, with their Sphere, with all their Places, and in confusion thou causedst them to be confused in their paths, and they erred [31^b] in their course. Didst thou this therefore to them because of the salvation of the World or otherwise?

But answered Jesus, said he to Philippos with the disciples all together: I altered their path unto salvation of all the souls, Amen amen I say to you that except that I altered their path, they would have destroyed a multitude of souls, and they would have spent much time, having not been dissolved the Rulers of the Aeons, and the Rulers of the Destiny with the Sphere, and with all their Places, with all their heavens with all their Aeons. And the souls would have spent a great amount of [32^a] time outside this (place ?); and they would have delayed from completion the number of the perfect souls, these which will be reckoned unto the inheritance of the Height by the mysteries, and become in the Treasury of the Light. Because of this, therefore, I altered their path that they should be confused and be disturbed, and put away the power, this which becometh in the matter of their World, this which is wont to make the souls, that they should purify them quickly, and they should be lifted up to those who will be saved, they with all the power; and be dissolved quickly those who will not be saved.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came forward Maria, she who is beautiful in her speaking, and the happy (one) she prostrated at the feet of Jesus. [32^b] Said she, My Lord bear with me that I may speak in thy presence, and be not angry unto me because I add trouble unto thee for many times enquiring of thee.

Answered the Saviour in compassion, said he to Maria, Say the word which thou art willing (to say), and I, I shall reveal it to thee in boldness.

But answered Maria, said she to Jesus, My Lord, in what manner will the souls be delaying outside of this (place)? or in what form will they be purifying them indeed quickly?

But answered Jesus, said he to Maria, Well (done) Maria, thou enquirest 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.