The Sacred Book of the Great Unseen Spirit

Nag Hammadi Codex III

The Sacred Book

[40] The [sacred] book of the [. . .] great unseen [Spirit],

the Father whose name is unutterable,
who originated] from the heights of [the Fullness,
the] Light of Light from the aeons of Light,
the Light of the [Silence of] Providence
and the Father of Silence,
the [Light] of Speech and Truth,
the Light of the [41] [indestructibilities,
the] infinite Light,
[the] radiance from the aeons of the Light
of the undisclosable, unsignified,
unaging, undeclarable Father,
the aeon of the aeons,[1]
the self-generated, the self-generating, the self-producing,
the alien,
the aeon,
TRUTH, ALĒTHŌS.[2]

Domedon Doxomedon came in procession,[5] the aeon of the aeons, and the throne inside him, and the powers [surrounding] him, the glories, and the [indestructibilities. The] Father of the great Light [who pro]ceeded from Silence, he is [the great] Doxomedon aeon, in which [the triple-]male child reposes, and the throne of his [glory] was erected [inside it, the one] on which his undisclosable name [is inscribed], on the tablet, [. . .] one being the speech, the [Father of the Light] of the All, he [who pro]ceeded from Silence as he reposes inside Silence, whose [44] name [is] in an [unseen] symbol.

 [A] concealed, [unseen] mystery came in procession:

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I [I I I]
Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē [Ē Ē]
[O] O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
U U [U U U] U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E
A A A A A A A [A A A A] A A A A A A A A A A A.
Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō [Ō Ō Ō] Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō,[6]

and [this] was the way the three powers presented praise to the [great], unseen, unnamable, virginal, unutterable Spirit, and [his] male virgin. 

They petitioned [for a] power. A silence of living Silence proceeded, namely, [glories] and indestructibilities in the aeons, [. . . aeons], myriads added [to the . . .], three males, [the three] male offspring. The [male] races filled the great Doxomedon [aeon with] the power of the speech of the [entire Fullness].

Then the triple-male [child of the great] Christ, whom the [great] unseen Spirit had anointed, he whose power [was called] Ainon, presented [praise to] the great unseen Spirit [and his] male virgin, Yoel, [and] the Silence of silent Silence, and the greatness [. . .].

(Codex III pages 45-48 missing; they correspond to Codex IV pages 55-60)

The Four Lights

The great Logos, the self-generated God, and the indestructible Man, Adamas, presented praise. They petitioned for a power and an eternal might for the self-generated one, for the completion of the four aeons, so that by means of them there would appear [51] […] the glory and power of the unseen Father of the sacred men of the great Light who will enter the world, the image of the night.

The indestructible Man, Adamas, petitioned them that a son would come from himself, so that he would become father of the unmoving indestructible race, so that by means of it Silence and Voice might appear, and that by means of it the dead aeon would lift itself, in order that it might dissolve, and in this way there proceeded from above the power of the great Light, the Manifestation. She gave birth to the four great lights:

Harmozel,
Oroiael,
Davithe,
Eleleth,

and the great indestructible Seth, the son of the indestructible Man, Adamas, and in this way the perfect Hebdomad, which exists in concealed mysteries, was completed. [52] When she [obtains] the [glory], she becomes eleven Ogdoads, and the Father nodded approval. The entire Fullness of the lights was pleased.

Their companions proceeded for the completion of the Ogdoad of the self-generated God:

Grace, of the first light, Harmozel;
Perception, of the second light, Oroiael;
Understanding, of the third light, Davithe;
Discretion, of the fourth light, Eleleth.

This is the first Ogdoad of the self-generated God, and the Father nodded approval. The entire Fullness of the Lights was pleased.

The ministers[11] proceeded:

the first, the great Gamaliel, (of) the first great light, Harmozel;
and the great Gabriel, (of) the second great light, Oroiael;
and the great Samlo,[12] (of) the great light, Davithe;
and the great Abrasax, of [53] [the great light], Eleleth,

and the companions proceeded by the will of the pleasure of the Father:

Memory, of the great one, Gamaliel, the first;
Love, of the great one, Gabriel, the second;
Peace, of the great Samblo, the third;
Eternal Life, of the great one, Abrasax, the fourth.

In this way the five Ogdoads were completed, totaling forty, as a power beyond interpretation.

Then the great self-generated Logos and the Speech of the Fullness of the four lights presented praise to:

the great unseen unnamable virginal Spirit,
even the male virgin,
and the great Doxomedon aeon,
and the thrones inside them,
and the powers surrounding them,
glories, authorities, and powers,
<and> the triple-male child,
and the male virgin Youel,
and Esephech, [54] keeper of splendor, [the child] of the child,
and the crown of [its] glory,
the entire Fullness,
and all the glories dwelling there,
the infinite Fullnesses,
and the unnamable aeons,

so that they might name the Father, the fourth, with the indestructible race, that they might call the seed of the Father the seed of the great Seth.

Then everything shook, and shaking seized the indestructible ones. Then the three male children descended from above to the unborn and self-begotten ones, and to those begotten in that which is begotten. The Greatness proceeded forth, the entire Greatness of the great Christ.

He erected countless myriads of glorious thrones inside the four aeons surrounding them, countless myriads (of) powers and glories [55] and indestructibilities, and they proceeded in this manner, and the indestructible, spiritual church grew inside the four lights of the great living self-generated one, the God of truth, who praised, sang, (and) extolled with one voice in unified agreement, with an unceasing mouth:

to the Father,
and the Mother,
and the Son,
and their entire Fullness, as I mentioned <previously>.
The five seals possessing the myriads,
and the archons over the aeons,
and the bearers of the glory of the leaders
were commanded to manifest themselves to the deserving.
Amen.

Then the great Seth, the son of the indestructible Man, Adamas, presented praise to:

the great unseen, unnamable, unutterable, virginal Spirit,
even the <male virgin>,
<and the triple-male child>,
<and the male> virgin Youel,
and Esephech, keeper of splendor,
and the crown of his glory, the child of the child,
[56] and the great Doxomedon aeons,
and the Fullness, as I mentioned previously,

and he petitioned on behalf of his seed.

Then there came forth from that place the great power of great light, Plesithea:

the mother of the angels,
the mother of lights,
the glorious mother,
the four-breasted virgin,
bearing the fruit from Gomorrah as a spring, and from Sodom,
being the fruit of the spring of Gomorrah dwelling inside her.

She proceeded forth through the great Seth.

Then the great Seth was glad on account of the gift bestowed on him by the indestructible child. He extracted his seed from the four-breasted virgin, and he deposited it with him inside the fourth aeon, inside the third great light, Davithe.

Five thousand years later, the great light Eleleth spoke: “Let there be a ruler over Chaos and Hades,” and a cloud appeared [57] [named] the hylic Sophia [. . .].

[She] gazed out over the portions [of Chaos]. Her face resembled [. . .] in her shape [. . .] blood, and [the great] angel Gamaliel spoke [to the great Gabriel], the minister of [the great light] Oroiael. He [said: “Let an] angel come forth [to] rule over Chaos [and Hades].”

Then the cloud [was compliant, producing] two monads, each [possessing] light. [. . . the throne] she had erected in the cloud [above].

Then Sakla, the great [angel, beheld] the great demon [accompanying him, Nebr]uel, and [together] they became a spirit of the earth who begets. [They begot] ministering angels.

Sakla [spoke] to the great [demon] Nebruel: “Let [the] twelve aeons come into being in [the . . .] aeon, worlds [. . .].”

[. . .] the great angel [Sakla] said by the will of the self-generated one, [58] “There shall [be] the [. . .] numbering seven [. . .],” and he said to the [great angels]: “Go, and [let each] of you rule over his (own) [world].”

Each [of these] twelve [angels] came [forth]:

[The first] angel is Ath[oth]. [He is the one] whom [the great] generations of men call [. . .].
[The] second is Harmas, [who] is [fire-eye].
The third [is Galila].
[The] fourth is Yobel.
[The fifth is] Adonaios, who is [called] Sabaoth.

The sixth [is Cain, whom] the [great generations of] men call the sun.
The [seventh is Abel].
The eighth, Akiressina.
The [ninth, Yubel].
The tenth is Harm[oupiael].
[The] eleventh is Arch[ir-Adonin].
The twelfth [is Belias].

[These are] the ones stationed over Hades [and Chaos], and after the foundation [of the world], Sakla said to his [angels]: “I, even I am a [jealous] God, and apart from me nothing has [come into being,” because he] [59] relied on his (own) substance.[13]

Then a voice came from on high, saying: “The Man exists, and the Son of the Man.”

The first mold was formed on account of the descent of the image above, which reflects its voice on high, of the image that has peered out, through the peering out of the image above. Repentance came into being on account of this.

She obtained her completion and her power by the will of the Father and his pleasure, through which he was pleased with the great indestructible, unmoving race of the great, mighty men of the great Seth, so that he could sow it inside the aeons that had been produced, so that through her the deficiency could be fulfilled, because she descended from above down to the world, being the image of the night. When she had proceeded forth, she petitioned on behalf of the seed of the archon of this aeon and <the> authorities who originated from him, the polluted (seed) of the demon-begetting god who will be destroyed, and (she petitioned on behalf of) the seed [60] of Adam and the great Seth, which resembles the sun.

Then the great angel Hormos arrived to make ready the seed of the great Seth, by means of the virgins of the polluted sowing (with seed) of this aeon, inside a sacred vessel begotten by the Logos through the holy Spirit.

Then the great Seth arrived with his seed, and it was sowed inside the aeons that had been produced, their number agreeing with the numerical value of “Sodom.” Some say Sodom is the place where the great Seth pastures, being Gomorrah; others, however, that the great Seth removed his planting from Gomorrah and transplanted it in a second place that he named Sodom.

This is the race that came forth through Edokla, because she gave birth to Truth and Justice by speaking, being the beginning of the seed of eternal life, which is for those who will persevere owing to the knowledge of their emanation. This is the great, indestructible race that has come forth through three [61] worlds to the world, and the deluge transpired as a type of the consummation of the aeon, but it will be dispatched into the world because of this race.

A conflagration will overtake the earth, and grace will be for those of the race (that came to be) through the prophets and the watchers who watch over the life of the race. Because of this race, famines will come, and plagues, but these things will come to pass on account of the great, indestructible race. On account of this race, temptations will arrive, even a deceit of false prophets.

Then the great Seth witnessed the work of the devil, even his many disguises, his plots against the indestructible, unmoving race, and the persecutions from his powers and his angels, and their error (by which) they acted against themselves.

Then the great Seth presented praise to:

the great, unnamable, virginal Spirit,
and the male [62] virgin Barbelon,
and the triple-male child Telmael Telmael Heli Heli Machar Machar Seth,
the power that lives, ALĒTHES ALĒTHŌS,
and the male virgin Youel,
and Esephech, keeper of splendor, the crown of his glory,
and the great Doxomedon aeon,
and the thrones inside him,
and the powers surrounding them,
and the entire Fullness, as I mentioned previously,
and he petitioned for watchers over his seed.

Then from the great aeons came forth four hundred ethereal angels, in whose company was the great Aerosiel and the great Selmechel, to watch over the great indestructible race, its fruit, and the great men of the great Seth, from the time and the moment of Truth and Justice, until the consummation of the aeon and its archons, whom the great judges sentenced to death.

Then the great Seth was dispatched by the four lights, by the will of the self-generated one, [63] and the entire Fullness, through <the gift> and the pleasure of the great unseen Spirit, and the five seals, and the entire Fullness.

He traversed the three parousias I mentioned previously: the deluge, and the conflagration, and the sentencing of the archons, and the powers, and the authorities, in order that she who had strayed would be saved by means of the reconciling of the world, and the baptism by a body begotten by the Logos, which the great Seth secretly made ready for himself through the virgin, in order that the holy ones would be begotten by the holy Spirit through unseen secret symbols, through the reconciling of world with world, through the renunciation of the world and the god of the thirteen aeons, and the sessions of the holy, unspeakable, indestructible ones, in the lap and great light of the Father, which pre-existed with his Providence, and which instituted through her the sacred baptism that excels the heaven, through the indestructible one [64] begotten by the Logos, even the living one, Jesus, even he whom the great Seth donned, and through him he nailed the powers of the thirteen aeons, and confirmed those who are produced and removed.[14]

He equipped them with an armor of knowledge of this truth, in an invincible strength of indestructibility. There appeared to them:

the great attendant Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus, the living water,
and the great chiefs, Jacob the great,
and Theopemptos, and Isavel,
and those who oversee the spring of truth, Micheus, and Michar, and Mnesinous,
and he who oversees the baptism for the living,
and those who cleanse,
and Sesengenpharanges,
and those who oversee the gates to the waters, Micheus and Michar,
and those who oversee the high mountain, Seldao and Elainos,
and the receivers of the great race;
the indestructible mighty men <of> the great Seth;
the ministers of the four lights, the great Gamaliel, the great Gabriel, the great Samblo, and the great [65] Abrasax,
and those who oversee the rising of the sun, Olses, and Hupneus, and Heurumaious,
and those placed over the entrance into the repose of eternal life, the rulers Mixanther and Michanor,
and the watchers of elect souls, Akramas and Strempouchos,
and the great power Heli Heli Machar Machar Seth,
and the great, unseen, unnamable, unutterable virgin Spirit, and Silence,
and the great light Harmozel;
the place of the living self-generated one, the God of truth, and <he> who accompanies him, 
the indestructible Man, Adamas;
the second, Oroiael, the place of the great Seth;
and Jesus, who possesses life, and who came and crucified what is in the Law;
the third, Davithe, the place of the sons of the great Seth;
the fourth, Eleleth, the place of the souls of the reposing sons;
the fifth, Yoel, who is placed over his name who will be appointed to baptize with the sacred baptism that exceeds the indestructible heaven.

From now on, however, [66] through the indestructible Man Poimael, and those deserving of supplication, the renunciations of the five seals at the baptism-spring, they will know their receivers when they are instructed concerning them, and they will be known by them, and they shall not in the least taste death.

IĒ IEUS ĒŌ OU ĒŌ ŌUA,
ALĒTHŌS ALĒTHŌS,
O Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus,
O living water,
O child of the child,[15]
O glorious name,
ALĒTHŌS ALĒTHŌS,
the eternal Being,
I I I I
ĒĒĒĒ
EEEE
OOOO
UUUU
ŌŌŌŌ
AAAA{A},
ALĒTHES ALĒTHŌS
ĒI AAAA ŌŌŌŌ,
O Being who beholds the aeons,
ALĒTHES ALĒTHŌS,
AEE
ĒĒĒ
I I I I
UUUUUU
ŌŌŌŌŌŌŌŌ,
who is eternally eternal,
ALĒTHES ALĒTHŌS, 
IĒA AIŌ inside the heart, who exists
UAEI EISAEI EIOEI EIOSEI!
This great name of yours dwells inside me,
O self-generated Perfect One.
You who are not outside of me,
I behold you,
O you who are unseen by all,
because who can grasp you in a different language?
[67] Because I have known you,
I have now merged with the unchangeable one.
I have armed myself with the armor of light.
I have become Light,
because the Mother was in the Place for the excellent beauty of grace.
I have therefore extended my hands when they were folded.
I have been shaped inside the circle of the wealth of light
in my lap,
which produces the shape of the many light-begotten ones
where no accusation reaches.
ALĒTHŌS,
I shall I proclaim your glory,
because I have grasped you,
SOU IĒS IDE AEIŌ AEIE OIS,
O Aeon, Aeon, O God of Silence!
I thoroughly honor you.
You are my place of rest, O Son,
ĒS ĒS O E,
formless one among formless ones,
raising the Man inside whom you will cleanse me
to enter your life,
in accord with your indestructible name.
Therefore, the incense of life dwells inside me.
I have mixed it with water according to the mold of all the archons,
so that I might live with you in the well-being of the holy ones,
you who exist forever, [68]
ALĒTHŌS ALĒTHŌS.

This is the book the great Seth wrote and deposited high in the mountains where the sun has not risen, nor is that (even) possible, and since the days of the prophets, and apostles, and preachers, the name has not in the least arisen in their hearts, nor is that (even) possible, and their ear has not heard it.

The great Seth wrote this book with letters in 130 years. He deposited it on the mountain called Charaxio, with the plan that at the end of the times and eras, in agreement with the wish of the self-generated God and the complete Fullness, with the gift of the inscrutable, ungraspable, fatherly will, it may come to light and appear for this sacred, indestructible generation of the great Savior and for those who dwell with them in love, and the great, unseen, eternal Spirit and his only-begotten Son, and light eternal, [69] also its great, indestructible companion, and indestructible Sophia, and Barbelon, and the complete Fullness, in eternity. Amen.

The gospel of <the> Egyptians, the God-written, sacred secret book.

Grace, understanding, perception, and discretion for him who copied it, Eugnostos the beloved in the Spirit – Gongessos is my name in the flesh – and my companion lights in indestructibility.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, ICHTHYS.
God-written, the sacred book of the great unseen Spirit. Amen.

 The Sacred Book of the Great
Unseen Spirit.
Amen.

[50] [The sacred book] of the [Egyptians concerning the] great [unseen Spirit],

the Father whose [name can]not [be uttered, he who [originated from the] heights,
the Light of [the] perfection,
the eternal Light of the eternities,
the Light inside Silence,
inside the Providence and Silence of the Father,
the Light inside Speech and Truth,
[the] indestructible Light,
the unapproachable Light,
the eternal [Light] of the eternities,
which has come forth,
of the unspeakable and [un]signified and undeclarable Father,
the aeon [of] the aeons,
the self-begetting one,
the self-originating one,
the alien,
the power beyond interpretation of the unspeakable Father.

[The] great [self-begotten] Speech, God, and [the indestructible] Man Adamas [presented praise], and [they petitioned] for a power and an [eternal strength] and in[destructibility for the] self-generated one, for the [completion] of the four [aeons, so that] by means of them, there could appear the [glory and the power] of the [. . .] Father [of the] sacred [men] of the [great Light] that will descend [to the] world [that resembles the night].

[Then] the indestructible [great Man Adam]as [petitioned] [63] a son for himself, from himself, [so that] he might become a Father [to the] unmoving and [in]destructible race, and so that for its sake [the] Silence [and the] Voice might appear, and so that on its account the [mortal] aeon [might lift up itself, so that] it might dissolve, [and in this way the] power proceeded [from above], the great [power of the] great Light, <the> [Manifestation, and it] gave birth to the four [lights]:

[Ar]mozel,
Oroiael,
[Davithe],
Eleleth,

and the [great indestructible] Seth, the son [of the great] indestructible Man, [Adamas], and in this way [the] flawless Hebdomad was completed, existing inside a mystery of [concealed] mysteries, she who obtained the [glory . . .], and who became [eleven] Ogdoads, so that [she might be completed by] four Ogdoads, [and] the Father [approved, and] the [Fullness of the] lights [united] in approval.

[Companions appeared in order] to complete the Ogdoad [64] [of the] self-generated God:

[Grace], of the first light, [Armo]zel;
Perception, of the [second] light, Oroiael;
[Understanding], of the third light, Davithe;
Discretion, [of the] fourth light, [Elel]eth.

This is the [first] Ogdoad of the self-[generated God], and [the Father] approved, and the entire Fullness [of the lights] united in [approval].

Ministers [came] forth:

[The first], the great Gamaliel [of the great] light, [Armozel];
and the great Gabriel [of the great] second light, [Oroiael];
the great Samblo, of [the great] third light, Davithe;
Abrasax of [the great] fourth light, [El]eleth,

and companions came [forth] with [pleasure] for them from the [Father]:

[Memory], of the first [great one, Gamali]el;
Love, [of the second] great one, Gabriel;
[Peace, of the] great [third] one, [Samblo];
[65] Eternal Life, of the [great] fourth one, Abrasax;

and in this way the five Ogdoads were completed, totaling forty, the [power] beyond interpretation.

The great self-[begotten] Speech [and] the entire Fullness [of the four] lights then [presented] praise to:

the [great unseen] and in[destructible, unnameable] virginal [Spirit],
and the male [virgin],
and the great [Doxomedon] aeons,
and the thrones [inside] them,
and the powers [surrounding them],
glories, [powers and] authorities,
and the triple-[male child],
and the male virgin Youel,
and Esephech, keeper of splen[dor], and [the crown of] his glory,
and [the] entire [Fullness],
and [all] the glories inside the [un]reachable Fullnesses,
[and the] unnameable [aeons],

so that they] might name the Father, [the fourth], together with the [unmoving, indestructible] race of the [Father, and so that they] might call [it the] seed of the great [Seth].

All of them then [shook], [66] [and a] commotion took hold of the in[destructible] ones. When the triple-male [child] descended from above to (those who come into existence) [without] being born, and to (those who come into existence) by begetting themselves, and to (those who come into existence) by [being begotten (by others)] who beget (them), there (then) proceeded [forth the] Great One who possesses [every] greatness [of] the great Christ.

And he erected thrones of the glory [inside the four] aeons, [and] countless [myriads of powers surrounding] them, [glories] and indestructibilities, [and in this way] he came forth, and [the in]destructible, spiritual [church grew] inside the [four] lights of the [great] self-begotten [living Speech, the God] of truth, everyone [praising and] singing, [extolling with one voice], in [unity], with a voice that never grows silent:

[to the Father],
and the Mother,
and the Son,
[and] their [Fullness, as I] mentioned [previously].
[. . . the five seals] that [over]see [the myriads,
and] those who [rule over the] aeons,
and the leaders [who possess] glory
were (all) entrusted with the command [to disclose] [67] to the deserving. Amen.

Then the great Seth, the son [of the] indestructible Man, Adamas, presented [praise] to:

the [great], unseen, [and indestructible, and] unnameable, [virginal] Spirit,
and the male [virgin],
and the triple-male [child],
[and the] male virgin [Youel . . .].

[. . .] the [. . . through] the great [Seth].

[He was glad] on account of the [gift that . . .] him [by the in]destructible [child to extract his seed] from [. . .] [68] [. . .] the virgin together with [the four beasts] he stationed together with [him inside] the four aeons inside the [great] third light, [Davi]the.

[However], after five [thousand years], the great [Light] Eleleth [spoke]: “Let there be [a ruler] over Chaos [and] Hades,” and [a cloud] came forth [. . .].

[. . .] she [. . .] two [. . .] the [. . .] the one [she had stationed . . .] came forth from [. . .] the [. . .].

[69] The great [angel] Sakla [beheld] him who accompanies him, Nebr[uel, the great] demon, and [together they became] a spirit that begets [the earth].

[The twelve angels . . .].

[70] [. . . whom all of] the generations of men call the sun.
[The seventh, Abel].
The eighth, [Akiressina].
[The] ninth, Yubel.
[The tenth, Harmoupiael].
The [. . .].

[. . .] [71] who planted it inside the aeons born of the earth, so that on her account the deficiencies may be completed, because she who descended from the height down to the world, which resembles the night, [having been assigned, began to petition] for both the seed [of the] archon of this aeon, and those [from] him, [which] is polluted and [destructible] of the [. . .] God, [and] the seed of [Adam, (who is) the sun, and Seth the] great.

Then [the great] angel Hormos [proceeded forth] to make ready, [by means of] the virgins [of the] destructible [seed] of this aeon, [inside a sacred] vessel begotten by the Logos, by means of the [holy] Spirit, [the] seed of [the] great [Seth].

The great Seth [then] proceeded forth [and conveyed] his seed, [and] he sowed [it into the] aeons [born] of the earth, [whose quantity is of] Sodom countless, [yet they called] them [Sodom] of [the great] Seth, which [is] Gomorrah. The [great Seth bore the seed from the] spring of [Gomorrah] and [planted it inside the] second [place], even in [a place for pasture called] Sodom.

This [is the race that] appeared [72] by means of Edokla, because by means of speaking she gave birth to Truth and Justice, which is the beginning of the seed of eternal life, and of all who will endure on account of the knowledge of their emanation. This is the great and indestructible [race] that [has appeared] in three [worlds], and [the] deluge will [arrive] as a [type of the] consummation of the aeon, [and it will arrive] in the world [on account of this] race.

Conflagrations will visit the earth [. . .] of the [. . .] grace [will exist through the] prophets [and the watchers] of [the living] race. [Because of this race], there will [be plagues] and famines. All [of this] will come to pass [on account of] this [great] and [indestructible] race. On account of this [race, there will] be [temptations] and lies [from false] prophets.

[The] great Seth [then beheld the] activity of [the devil], [73] even his warped deceits, and his plot he will unleash on the [un]moving race, even the persecution [by his powers] and his angels, [and his] error he will commit [against himself].

The great Seth [then] presented praise to:

the great, [indestructible], unseen, [unnameable], virginal [Spirit of the Father],
and the male virgin Barbelo,
and the male child Telmael Telmachael Eli Eli Machar Machar Seth,
[the] power that lives, TRUTH TRULY,
the male virgin Youel,
[and] Esephech, keeper of [splendor],
and the crown of his glory,
and the great aeon that [bestows] glory,
and the thrones that are inside him,
and the great ones surrounding them,
glories and indestructibilities,
and [the] entire Fullness I mentioned previously,
[and] he petitioned for watchers of his seed.

From the great aeons there [then] came four [hundred angels of the air] in the company of [74] Aerosiel and the great Selmelchel, the watchers of the great indestructible race, and [its] fruit, and the great men of the great Seth, [from the] time and the moment of [Truth] and Justice, until the [consummation of] these aeons, as well as their archons, [and those whom] the great [judges have sentenced to death].

The [great Seth] was then dispatched by [the four] great lights, [by] the will of the self-generated one [and their] entire Fullness, [with] a gift and pleasure [of] the great unseen Spirit, and the five seals, and the entire Fullness.

<He> traverses the three parousias [I] mentioned previously, through [the] deluge, and the conflagration, and the sentencing of the archons, [and] the authorities, and the powers, in order to save her who had strayed, through the reconciling of the world, and the [baptism] of the body, through [the] one the Logos begot, whom the great Seth secretly made through the virgin in order to beget once again the [holy ones] through the holy [Spirit], [75] and (through) unseen and secret symbols, through the reconciling of world with world, through the renunciation of the world and the god of the thirteen aeons, through the holy ones meeting in session, the unspeakable ones and the indestructible lap [of] the great [pre-]existent Light inside Providence, and confirmed by means of her the sacred one and the baptism exceeding the heavens, by means of the sacred one, even the indestructible one, Jesus, begotten by a living speech, he whom the great Seth has donned, and by means of him he nailed the powers of the thirteen aeons, and made them inert.

They are conveyed and returned, and with an indestructible, invincible power they are armed with an armor of the knowledge of the truth, and they disclosed my great attendants:

Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus, the living water,
and the great leaders, the great Jacob and Theop[emptos] [76] and Isvael,
and he who oversees Grace, Mep[. . .]el,
and those who oversee the springs of truth, Micheus, and Michar, and Mnesinous,
and he who oversees the baptism of the living, the cleanser Sesengenbarpharanges,
and they who oversee the gates [to the] waters of life, Micheus [and] Michar,
and those who oversee the rising, Seldao and Elenos,
and the receivers of the sacred race,
and the indestructible and mighty men of the great Seth;
the ministers [of] the four lights, the great Gamaliel, and the great Gabriel, and the great Samblo, and the great Abrasax,
and those who oversee the rising of the sun, Olses, and Umneos, and Eurumaious,
and those who oversee the entrance to the repose of eternal life, Phritanis, and Mixanther and Michanor,
and the [watchers] of the souls who were slain, [77] Akramas and Strempsouchos,
and the great power [Telm]achael Telmachael Eli Eli Machar Machar Seth,
and the great, unseen, and indestructible, unnameable one who dwells inside Spirit and Silence,
and the great light Armozel;
the [place] where dwells the living self-begotten one, the true God, accompanied by the indestructible Man Adamas;
and Oroiael, the place [where] dwells the great Seth;
and [Jesus] of life, he who came and crucified what is under obligation to the Law;
the third, [Davithe, the place] where the sons of the great Seth repose;
the fourth, Eleleth, [the] place [where . . .].

[78] [. . .] by means of him who [is sacred and in]destructible, Poimael, [and] those deserving of the baptisms [of] the renunciation and the unspeakable seals of [their] baptism. These have known [their] receivers as they [have learned] about them, having known [by means of] them, and they shall not taste death.

Yesseus
[. . . Ē]Ō ĒOUŌ ŌUA,
TRUTH TRULY,
O Yesseus Mazareus [Yess]edekeus,
O living water,
[O child] of the child,
[O] name [of] every [glory],
TRUTH [TRULY],
eternally existent,
[I I I I 
Ē Ē Ē] Ē  
E E E E
O O O O
[U U U U]
Ō Ō Ō Ō
A A A A,
[TRUTH TRULY],
OĒI AAA . . .].
[79] [. . .] eternal, who is inside [the heart],
O eternal one, U[AEI EISAEI] E[IO] EIEI OSE[I]!
 

[This great name . . .] a portion [. . .] the [. . .],
[. . . O] perfect one,
you who are [self]-begotten, independent,
[who are un]seen with the exception of [myself],
[who are] unseen to [all],
because who encompasses [you with] voice and praise?
[Because I have known you],
I have now merged [with your] dependability
and [I have armed myself].
I am in [an armor of] Grace and [Light].
[I have turned into Light],
and on account of [this I have extended] my hands [when they were folded],
and I have been] shaped [. . .].
[. . .] a veil [of the] wealth
surrounding [. . .] a [womb . . .]
with a resemblance [. . .].
[. . .] TRUTH,[16]
[because I have grasped] you,
Jesus of the one who [. . .]:
ĒEE
AIEE
OIS[Ō . . .].
[80] [O] holy [. . .],
O God [of Silence . . .].
You are [. . .] of repose of [the] Son [. . .]
who exists inside [. . .] the [sign], the place [. . .] Man,
you have [cleansed me inside him]
with your life,
[in accord with your] indestructible [name].
[Therefore], with him [is incense of life]
that has mingled with baptismal [water] of [every] archon,
[so that I might] live together with you in the [well-being of the holy ones],
O eternal one [who exists],
TRUTH TRULY.

[The great Seth] wrote [this book], and deposited it on [a] high [mountain] where [the sun rises] not, nor [. . .], and [since the days of the] prophets [and . . . and the] apostles, [. . .] come forth [. . . and their] ear [has not heard] it.

The great Seth wrote [this] [81] [book] with letters [. . .]. He deposited [it . . .].

Notes

[1] Here and below, probably an idiomatic superlative, “the greatest aeon.”

[2] TRUTH, ALĒTHŌS: Here at 41,7 p-aiōn n-me alēthōs, literally “the aeon, the truth truly” (idiomatically, “the aeon, truly the truth”), anticipates the repeated double alēthōs alēthōs in the text’s concluding hymn, which likely echoes and interprets the canonical gospels’ “amen, amen,” from the phrase “amen, amen, I say unto you.” In Codex III the adverb alēthōs occurs alone at 41,7 and 67,13. The phrase alēthes alēthōs (the neuter adjective  alēthes + the adverb alēthōs), literally “true truly,” or in idiomatic English, “truly true,” occurs at 62,4 and on page 66 in lines 15, 17, 20. The slightly different phrase alēthōs alēthōs, “truly, truly,” “verily, verily,” occurs on page 66 lines 9 and 12, and at 68,1. Codex IV renders both phrases with the Coptic mntme name, literally “truth truly.” The previous standard English rendering of the Greek alēthes alēthōs/alēthōs alēthōs and the Coptic mntme name as “really truly” not only fails to reproduce the grammatical repetition in the Greek and Coptic, but overlooks their function as ritual words of power. I render all these instances in uppercase in order to reflect their status as ritual words of power. This status is clear from the passages where they are associated with other letters and words of power retained in Greek, especially the text’s strings of Greek vowels, which have been compared to glossolalia.

[3] Greek kolpos, “lap,” “bosom,” being the male groin area or the female womb.

[4] Meyer, “seven vowels.”

[5] Literally, “proceeded.” The verb proelthein belongs to the terminology of ancient royal processions, which is clearly the usage intended here. Meyer’s “appeared” misses the mark in this instance at least; see Marvin Meyer, ed., The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The International Edition (New York: HarperOne, 2007), 254.

[6] Each line contains 22 letters (7x22=154), the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet.

[7] Idiomatic superlative, “the greatest mystery.”

[8] Here, and below, Coptic mntme name, “truth truly,” or idiomatically “truly truth.”

[9] TH represents the single letter Theta.

[10] IEN IEN may be garbled or a cryptic version of ei hen, “you are one,” while EA may be the numbers 5 and 1, as Marvin Meyer suggests in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The International Edition, 257, n 28.

[11] From Greek diakonos.

[12] Codex IV reads “Samblo.”

[13] Literally, hypostasis.

[14] Apparently referring to birth and death.

[15] Perhaps idiomatically, “O greatest child.”

[16] Coptic mntme.