In the name of the Great Living God

be glorified the exalted Light.

I converse with my counterpart:

"Come, you and I will build (create).

We will build with a hidden call,

build in the wondrous fruit.

Until we create fruits, until we create helpers,

praise me, and I shall praise you.

We will remain guarded in abundant splendour

and keep one another in excellent order.

Perhaps angels will be created from us

and mighty ones will then praise us."

When he said this,

he thought of a fellowship.

He thought of a fellowship

in the wondrous fruit.

He spoke and thought:

"I will create a fellowship at my right hand,

I will create lights at my left.

I will create messengers of the Living God,

who shall be kept for me in the hidden realm."

Then the counterpart answered and said

to the dear soul:

"If you create messengers,

the wickedness of the stock of your planting will spread out

because of the lack of the world.

Falsehood will be in it,

and upheaval will be in the world."

Then I answered and said

to my exceedingly wondrous counterpart:

"We have considered, and now we will plant no planting;

from it come lack and defect.

Lack and defect come from it,

and upheaval arises in the world."

I bowed and made obeisance before my fellowship

and took from it precious faithfulness.

We entered into vessels and hid ourselves,

and it consented to be my fellowship.

When the first were there,

they thought of second ones.

When the second were there,

they thought of third ones.

When the third were there,

they thought of fourth ones.

From the fourth

came lack and defect.

Lack and defect came from them,

and upheaval arose in the world.

Then the counterpart answered and said

to the dear soul:

"Did I not tell you

that we should not plant a planting?

We should plant no planting,

for from it come lack and defect.

Lack and defect come from it,

and upheaval arises in the world."

Then he answered and said

to his exceedingly wondrous counterpart:

"How shall we leave the world that is to come into being

to destruction?

In it men of tested righteousness will spread out

and let the call of the Living God ascend on high.

Some of them will ascend with the root,

some of them will be held back in the world.

Whoever has the strength for it and frees himself

will ascend and behold the place of light.

Whoever has the strength for it and yet does not free himself

will remain behind in the world.

In the world he will remain,

and his dwelling will be of the world.

We will call the messenger,

the messenger, the planting of the Mighty One.

We will charge him and send him there:

what is there, he shall bring up here.

Let him redeem the gentle souls,

redeem the dear soul.

Let him redeem the dear soul,

and let it be one of the good in the house of perfection."

The Great One called me and charged me

and laid upon me of His wisdom.

[He laid upon me] the well-guarded form

that is kept for me in the hidden realm.

He laid upon me love

that is meant for my friends.

He laid upon me gentle speech,

in which I shall speak with my friends.

I shall speak with my friends

and redeem them from the perishable.

I shall redeem them from the faulty

which they have made of themselves.

He warns me and commands me,

as a father commands his sons.

He caresses me and kisses me,

as a father kisses his son.

He warns me and guards me,

and He holds firm to His word.

He says:

"We send you treasurers,

come quickly with the messengers.

Come quickly with the messengers

and bring us the planting of the Mighty One.

Why do you want to dwell in the earth,

why do you toss to and fro in the perishable?

Why do you leave the pure garment

and clothe yourself in the rebellious garment?

Why do you leave the gentle mysteries

and enter into the perishable mysteries?

Do not leave the beloved fellowship

and love the fellowship of the perishable.

Do not leave the living word

and love the word of the perishable."

When the Great One spoke thus to me,

I bowed and made obeisance in perfect manner:

"Why do You speak so to me,

when my heart has fallen into division?

My heart has fallen into division,

and my eyes pressed together with a tear.

With a tear my eyes pressed together,

until I lamented and wept where I stood.

Is there anyone who dwelt in the house of the Great God

and then loved the word of the perishable?

Is there anyone who would leave the pure garment

and clothe himself with the rebellious garment?

Is there anyone who would leave the beloved fellowship

and love the fellowship of the perishable?

Is there anyone who would leave the word of gentleness

and love the word of the perishable?"

Then He said to me:

"We told you and explained to you:

Do not drag yourself to and fro in the perishable.

For from the Second, who was the eldest,

lack and defect took form.

Lack and defect took form from him,

and upheaval came into the world through him."

Then He called the angel Manda d-Haije and said to him:

"Come quickly and guard your sons.

Come, guard your sons

and bless them with your blessing.

With that [blessing of yours] bless them

with which you blessed your sons, the angels."

He blessed me with His blessing

and spread over me of His splendour,

spread over me of His planting.

I bowed and made obeisance before the Living God

and came into the world.

I bowed and made obeisance before the Living God

and spoke with my wondrous voice.

I went to the dwellings

and to the good angels whom He created.

When the angels saw me,

they bowed and praised me exceedingly.

They praised the angel of glory,

from whom all truth has come.

They said to him:

"Where are you going, son of the splendid ones,

where has the Living God sent you (here)?"

Then I answered them:

"I am going to the depth, which is all stench,

and to the works that were not (properly) created,

the works which the angels created,

which are hidden in their place."

Then they said to him:

"Go, set in order

and bring your planting victoriously on high.

Come with us and be planted,

so that we may be joined to you as helpers.

Go with the power of the Living God,

and let perfect ones be your escorts.

The King of the ether has blessed you,

and you went to the earth of perishability."

When the wicked saw me,

they fell down upon their faces.

They fell down, fell upon their faces

and went to the great Suf-Sea:

"We have seen you, man,

your form is not like ours."

Then I turned and said

to the wicked and the liars who dwell in this world:

"Where did you get the garment

that lights up your form?

Where did you get this fragrance

that makes the smell of your stench pleasant?

The Living God sent me;

I have come to bring the stock victoriously on high."

The Living God showed Himself thankful to the angels

who ascended from the earth.

And the Living God is victorious.