Part 16

Came forward [120^a] Petros, said he, My Lord, concerning the explanation of the words which thou saidst, thy power of light prophesied about them once by Solomon in his Odes, Came out an effluence it made a great river being wide, it drew all (things) and it turned itself toward the Temple. They were not able to lay hold on it with strong-banks, with places built: nor were able to lay hold on it the arts of those who lay hold on the waters: they brought it over all the earth, and it laid hold on all. Drank those who became upon the sand which is dry: their thirst was dissolved and it was quenched, they having given to them the drink from that which is exalted: happy (ones) are the deacons [120^b] of that drink, those who were entrusted with the water of the Lord: they turned lips which were dry, took a cheerful heart those who were brought low: they laid hold on souls giving up the breath, that they should not die: they set up the limbs which fell, they gave power to their boldness, and they gave light to their eyes: because they all knew themselves in the Lord, and they were delivered through a water of life eternal. Hear therefore, my Lord and I (shall) utter the word in boldness, according as thy power prophesied by Solomon. An effluence came out it became a great river being wide, namely, that the effluence of Light was wide [121^a] out in the Chaos in all the Places of the emanations of the Self-willed. And the word also which thy power said by Solomon, It drew all (things), it brought them toward the Temple, namely, that it drew all the powers of light out of the emanations of the Self-willed, these which they took away from the Pistis Sophia, and it cast them in unto the Pistis Sophia another time. And the word also which thy power said, Were not able to lay hold on it strong-banks with places built, namely, that the emanations of the Self-willed were not able to lay hold on the effluence of Light in the wall of the darkness of the Chaos. And the word [121^b] also which it said, They brought it over all the earth, and it filled every thing, namely, that Gabriel with Mikhael they having brought it upon the body of the Pistis Sophia, it cast in unto her all the lights, these which took away from her the emanations of the Self-willed and became light the body of her matter. And the word which it said, Drank those who become upon the sand which is dry, namely, that received light all those which become in the Pistis Sophia, these whose light they took away at first. And the word which it said, Their thirst was dissolved and it was quenched, namely, that her power ceased being diminished of light and they were satisfied with light, because they gave (back) to them their light [122^a] which they took away from them. And also according as also said thy power, They gave to them the drink through him who is exalted, namely, that they gave the Light to them through the effluence of Light, this which came out of me, I the First Mystery. And according as said thy power of light, Happy are the deacons of that drink, namely, the word which thou saidst, Mikhael with Gabriel, these who served they took the effluence of Light unto the Chaos, and also they brought it up (from Chaos). They will give to them the mysteries of the Light of the Height, these who were entrusted with the effluence of the Light. And also according as said thy power, They turned [122^b] lips which were dry, namely, Gabriel with Mikhael took not away for themselves the light of the Pistis Sophia, these which they snatched from the emanations of the Self-willed, but they cast them in unto the Pistis Sophia. And also the word which it said, Received a cheerfulness of heart those who were dissolved, namely, that all the other powers of the Pistis Sophia, these which took not away the emanations of the Self-willed were cheerful very, and they were filled with light out of the other light, because they cast it in unto them. And the word which thy power said, They vivified souls giving-up the breath, that they should not die, [123^a] namely, that they having cast the lights in unto the Pistis Sophia they vivified the body of her matter, this from which they took away its light at first, this which was about to perish. And also the word which thy power said, They set up limbs which fell, (or that they should not fall), namely, that they having cast in unto her her lights, they set up all her powers, these which were about to be dissolved. And also according as thy power of light said, They gave a power to their boldness, namely, that they took again their light, and they became as they were being at first. And also the word which [123^b] said, They gave a light unto their eyes, namely, that they received perception from the light, and they knew the effluence of Light, that it is belonging unto the Height. And also the word which it said, They all knew them in the Lord, namely, that all the powers of the Pistis Sophia knew one another by the effluence of Light. And also the word which it said, They were delivered by a water of life eternal, namely, that they were delivered by the whole the effluence of Light. And the word which it said, Drew them all the effluence of Light. And it drew them toward the Temple, namely, that the effluence of Light [124^a] having taken up all the lights of the Pistis Sophia and having snatched them from the emanations of the Self-willed, it cast them in unto the Pistis Sophia and it returned, it came out of the Chaos, it came upon thee, who thyself art the Temple. This is the explanation of all the words, these which said thy power of light by the Ode of Solomon. It happened therefore, the First Mystery having heard these words, saying them Petros, said he to him, Well (done), O happy Petros, this is the explanation of the words which they said. But added also in the word the First Mystery said he, It happened therefore, I having not yet brought the Pistis Sophia up from the Chaos, because that they had not yet commanded to me by my Father, [124^b] the First Mystery who looked inward. Then therefore after these (things) having known the emanations of the Self-willed that my effluence of Light took away the powers of light from them, these which they took away from the Pistis Sophia, it cast them in unto the Pistis Sophia, and also they saw the Pistis Sophia becoming light as she was being from at first, they were angry with the Pistis Sophia, and also they cried up against their Self-willed for to come and help them and take away the powers which (are) in the Sophia another time. And the Self-willed dispatched out of the Height in the thirteenth Aeon, he dispatched another great power of light, it came down unto the Chaos as an [125^a] arrow flying, that he should help his emanations, and take away the lights of the Pistis Sophia another time. And having come down that power of light, the emanations of the Self-willed, these which become in the Chaos, which afflicted the Pistis Sophia, they were confident of heart greatly, and again they persecuted the Pistis Sophia with great fear and in a great disturbance; and they afflicted her some among the emanations of the Self-willed, one indeed among them changed himself unto a form of great serpent, another also changed himself unto a form of serpent of basilisk having seven heads: another also changed himself unto a form of dragon, and also the first [125^b] power of the Self-willed which is of face of lion, and also all his emanations which are many greatly came together they oppressed the Pistis Sophia, and also they brought her into the Places which are below (of) the Chaos, and also they disturbed her greatly. It happened therefore, they having disturbed her, she ran from them, she came unto the Places which (are) of the upper part of the Chaos, and ran after her the emanations of the Self-willed, they disturbed her greatly. It happened therefore after these (things), looked out of the twelve Aeons the Adamas the tyrant, this (one) also was being angry with the Pistis Sophia, because that she was wishing to go unto the Light of the Lights, this who was being above all of them: [126^a] because of this he was angry with her. It happened therefore, the Adamas the tyrant having looked out of the twelve Aeons, he saw the emanations of the Self-willed oppressing the Pistis Sophia, until they take away all the lights in her. But it happened the power of the Adamas having come down unto the Chaos (close) to all the emanations of the Self-willed, it happened therefore, that demon having come down unto the Chaos he thrust the Pistis Sophia down, and the power of face of lion, with the face of serpent, and with the face of basilisk serpent, and with the face of dragon, and with all the other emanations of the Self-willed which are [126^b] many greatly, they all surrounded the Pistis Sophia, wishing to take away her powers which (are) in her another time. And they oppressed the Pistis Sophia greatly, and they threatened her. It happened therefore, they having oppressed her and having disturbed her greatly, she cried again up towards the Light and she hymned saying, O Light thou (art) he who helped me: let thy light come upon me, because thou art my accepter, and I am coming (close) to thee, O Light. I am believing thee, O Light, because thou art my deliverer of me from the emanations of the Self-willed and with the Adamas the tyrant; and thou (art) he who delivereth me from all his [127^a] threats which are cruel.

But these having said the Pistis Sophia, then also by the command of my Father the First Mystery which looked inward, I sent also Gabriel with Mikhael with the ten (?) great effluences of Light, that they should help the Pistis Sophia. And I ordered unto Gabriel with Mikhael, that they should take away the Pistis Sophia upon their hands, that her feet should not touch the darkness below: and also I ordered unto them for to steer her from the Places of the Chaos, into those which they are about to bring her. It happened therefore, the angels having gone down unto the Chaos, they with the effluence of Light, and also all the emanations of the Self-willed [127^b] with the emanation of the Adamas, they saw the effluence of Light enlightening greatly greatly, there being not measure unto the light which becometh from it, they feared and they let go of the Pistis Sophia: and the great effluence of Light surrounded the Pistis Sophia on every side of her on left of her and on right of her, and on every side of her, and it became a crown of light unto her head. It happened therefore, the effluence of Light having surrounded the Pistis Sophia, she was confident of heart greatly greatly, and it ceased not surrounding her on every side of her; and she feared not the emanations of the Self-willed, these which become in the Chaos, nor also she feared the other new [128^a] power of the Self-willed, this which he cast down unto the Chaos as an arrow flying; nor also she trembled at the demonic power of the Adamas, this which came out of the Aeons. And also by my command, I, the First Mystery who looked outward, enlightened greatly greatly my effluence of Light, this which surrounded the Pistis Sophia on every side of her. And the Pistis Sophia remained in the midst of the light, there being a great light on left of her and on right of her and on every side of her, and being also a crown unto her head: and all the emanations of the Self-willed changed not also their face, nor were they able to support the rush of the great [128^b] light of the effluence, this which became a crown unto her head. And all the emanations of the Self-willed, a multitude among them fell on right of her, because that she is enlightening greatly greatly; and other multitudes fell on left of her, and they were not able to approach unto the Pistis Sophia at all, from the great light. Nevertheless they fell all upon one another (or they came all who are close to one another). And they were not able to do anything of evil to the Pistis Sophia, because that she was trusting unto the light. And through the command of my Father the First Mystery, who looked inward, I also, I came down unto the Chaos enlightening greatly greatly. [129^a] I came up to the power of face of lion, this (power) which was enlightening greatly, and I took away all its light which (is) in it, and I held down all the emanations of the Self-willed for them not to go unto their Place from this hour, which (is) the thirteenth Aeon. And I took away the power from all the emanations of the Self-willed: and they fell all in the Chaos being powerless. And I brought out the Pistis Sophia, being on (the) right of Gabriel with Mikhael. And the great effluence of Light, it went also in unto them; and filled her sight with her enemies the Pistis Sophia, because I took away their power of light from them, and I brought the Pistis Sophia out of the Chaos, she having trampled [129^b] upon the emanation of the Self-willed the face of serpent, and also she was trampling upon the emanation of face of basilisk having seven heads. And she is trampling upon the power of face of lion, with the face of dragon. I caused the Pistis Sophia to remain standing upon the emanation of the Self-willed, this which became of face of basilisk of serpent having seven heads, but it was being strong(er) than all of them in its evils. And I, the First Mystery, I stood upon it, and I took away all the powers which (are) in it, and I destroyed all its matter, that seed from it should not rise up from this hour.