I was sent forth from the power,and I have come to those who reflect upon me,and I have been found among those who seek after me.Look upon me, you who reflect upon me,and you hearers, hear me.You who are waiting for me, take me to yourselves.And do …
I was sent forth from the power,and I have come to those who reflect upon me,and I have been found among those who seek after me.Look upon me, you who reflect upon me,and you hearers, hear me.You who are waiting for me, take me to yourselves.And do not banish me from your sight.And do not make your voice hate me, nor your hearing.Do not be ignorant of me anywhere or any time. Be on your guard!Do not be ignorant of me.For I am the first and the last.I am the honored one and the scorned one.I am the whore and the holy one.I am the wife and the virgin.I am and the daughter.I am the members of my mother.I am the barren oneand many are her sons.I am she whose wedding is great,and I have not taken a husband.I am the midwife and she who does not bear.I am the solace of my labor pains.I am the bride and the bridegroom,and it is my husband who begot me.I am the mother of my fatherand the sister of my husbandand he is my offspring.I am the slave of him who prepared me.I am the ruler of my offspring.But he is the one who begot me before the time on a birthday.And he is my offspring in (due) time,and my power is from him.I am the staff of his power in his youth,and he is the rod of my old age.And whatever he wills happens to me.I am the silence that is incomprehensibleand the idea whose remembrance is frequent.I am the voice whose sound is manifoldand the word whose appearance is multiple.I am the utterance of my name.Why, you who hate me, do you love me,and hate those who love me?You who deny me, confess me,and you who confess me, deny me.You who tell the truth about me, lie about me,and you who have lied about me, tell the truth about me.You who know me, be ignorant of me,and those who have not known me, let them know me.For I am knowledge and ignorance.I am shame and boldness.I am shameless; I am ashamed.I am strength and I am fear.I am war and peace.Give heed to me.I am the one who is disgraced and the great one.Give heed to my poverty and my wealth.Do not be arrogant to me when I am cast out upon the earth,and you will find me in those that are to come.And do not look upon me on the dung-heapnor go and leave me cast out,and you will find me in the kingdoms.And do not look upon me when I am cast out among those whoare disgraced and in the least places,nor laugh at me.And do not cast me out among those who are slain in violence.But I, I am compassionate and I am cruel.Be on your guard!Do not hate my obedienceand do not love my self-control.In my weakness, do not forsake me,and do not be afraid of my power.For why do you despise my fearand curse my pride?But I am she who exists in all fearsand strength in trembling.I am she who is weak,and I am well in a pleasant place.I am senseless and I am wise.Why have you hated me in your counsels?For I shall be silent among those who are silent,and I shall appear and speak,Why then have you hated me, you Greeks?Because I am a barbarian among the barbarians?For I am the wisdom of the Greeksand the knowledge of the bar
