In the name of the Great Living God.

The Being of the Living God has come

and set up for us the lamp of the Living God.

It came with abundant splendour,

wondrous and endless.

It brought us secret sayings,

that through them we may be enlightened in this world.

Through them we shall be enlightened in this world

and praise the One, our Creator.

We shall praise the Great Living God,

for the Living God planted a planting for us.

He planted for us a planting of life

and granted us helpers.

He granted us hidden perfect ones,

who free us from everything ugly.

He taught us about the prayers

that Adam performed in this world.

He taught us about the vine of the ether,

about the word of light from which he drew knowledge,

and about the grace that Hibil-Ziwa

brought to Adam in this world.

Adam, the head of the whole stock, said:

"I am Adam,

Hibil-Ziwa was a helper to me.

Hibil was a helper to me

and redeemed me from the world,

from the anguish of the seven stars,

which they let loose against the souls,

from the persecution of the twelve stars,

from which every ugly form has come forth,

from the rage and the heat

which they let loose against their bodies.

They persecute the souls

that are worthy and deserving of the place of light.

They bring suffering

upon the truthful, believing men.

They bring persecution and sighing

upon the souls who bear witness to the Living God.

They make the Nasoraeans stumble,

so that they are unworthy of the place of light.

The darkness oppresses them,

and they stumble away from the light.

Away from the light they stumble,

and Ruha rests upon them.

Upon them Ruha rests

and holds them captive with music in the dwellings of revelry.

Upon those who carouse and sing at drinking-feasts

heavy wrath will come.

They will die a second death,

and their eyes will not behold the light.

Their eyes will not behold the light,

their feet will find no firmness.

Upon him who steps on a couch of cushions

heavy wrath will come.

Woe to the Nasoraeans

whom the seven have made stumble in this world.

They fell into the drunkenness of the planets,

therefore they shall fall into the consuming sea.

[Into the consuming sea] they shall fall

and be whipped with a scourge of fire."

To you I call and declare,

you souls who bear witness to the Living God:

Remain firm in this world

until your measure is full.

To you I say and declare,

you souls who dwell in the frail house:

When you depart from your body,

what answer will you give to the Great Living God?

What will you say to the messenger

who redeems you from the world?

What will you say to the watchmen

and to the overseer of prisoners who dwell there?

What will you say to the angel Anos,

when you are called to account before him?

What will you say to the angel Abathur

about the garment of darkness that you [wore] in this world,

about the seven

who came out of the nose of Ur, the lord of darkness,

about the twelve coloured cloths

that came out of the lower darkness?

My chosen ones! I tell you about the white garments.

Whoever is baptised in that coloured cloth,

everyone who is baptised in it and clothes himself with it,

will fall down to the nature of the dark place.

Whoever wraps himself in it and sleeps in it

will blaze in the lower Gehenna.

When he departs from the body,

he will be covered in the mist-clouds of the darkness.

In the mist-clouds of the darkness he will be covered

and will fall as a portion to the seven.

Everyone who frees himself from them

and is on his guard against all of them

will be freed from their sword, their snares, their bonds

and their chains,

and from the sword and the wickedness that was sown in this world.

Everyone who frees himself from them

will ascend and behold the mighty Living God in His dwelling.

He will behold Sam, the pure vine,

and the tree Astarwan, from which he came forth.

He will behold Sar, the vine,

he will find a place in its branches, shoots and leaves.

He will wear a garment like the garment of the angel Bihram

and ascend and behold the place of light.

The place of light he will behold,

he will behold the bright dwelling.

He will seek and find

for the souls who dwell in the frail house.

You were victorious, Manda d-Haije,

and led all your friends to victory.

In the name of the Great Living God.

On the first day, in the first place, in the first hour, when, by the command of God, the angels Abathur and Ptahil came, stretched out the heaven, condensed the earth, stretched out the firmament, split the seas, cut out the mountains, formed the fishes in the seas, the feathered birds and the cattle of every kind, formed fruit, grape and tree as food for Adam and as drink for Adam, Hawwa and his whole stock, created fragrant plants, seeds, flowers, leaves and healing herbs, thereafter they deliberated, and Ptahil, observing himself, saw his form, and created Adam, the man, and created for him Hawwa, the woman, from whom the race spread out in the world.

Thereupon measure and number were granted to this world. From the day that Adam was created until the end of the worlds there are 480000 years.

Thereupon measure and number were granted to the seven planets and the twelve guides. The measure was divided into seven equal parts, so that none has too much, none too little. To each there fell as his share 68571 years, 5 months, 4 days, 6 and a half hours, 4 sosses and 1 and a half moments. The 12 signs of the zodiac last alongside the seven planets, and the seven planets last alongside the twelve signs of the zodiac. From the measure of Bel the twelve signs of the zodiac take, when 9000 years remain to Bel. The twelve signs of the zodiac receive from him, then they last 9000 years together with Bel and 69[000 years] together with Nerig. Of these 78000 years that the twelve signs of the zodiac last, they apportioned to the Ram 12000 years, to the Bull 11000 years, to the Twins 10000 years, to the Crab 9000 years, to the Lion 8000 years, to the Ear of Corn 7000 years, to the Scales 6000 years, to the Scorpion 5000 years, to the Archer 4000 years, to the Goat 3000 years, to the Water-carrier 2000 years, to the Fishes 1000 years.

Thereafter, from the day that Adam was created until the world was swept away by sword and plague, there are 216000 years. In the years of the star Sin (the moon), 10000 years of the years of Sin passed until the world was swept away by sword and plague. Of them two human beings were brought to life, a man named Ram and a woman named Rud, from whom the world was brought to life.

Until the world was swept away by fire there are 156000 years. When 29000 years of the share of Bel had passed, the world was swept away by fire. It consumed the whole world; it consumed [everything] to dust upon the earth.

Thereafter two human beings were brought to life from them, a man named Surbai and a woman named Sarhabel, from whom the world was brought to life. From the day that the world was swept away by fire until it was swept away by water there were 100000 years.

Thereafter, when 8000 years of the years [of Nerig] remained, a call went to Noah of the ark and said to him: "Build an ark." Thereupon Noah, according to the command, brought carpenters, felled cedars from the Amanus and female cedars from Lebanon and built for three hundred years. He put the ark together in length of 300 cubits, in breadth of 50 cubits, in height of 30 cubits. Then Noah took of every kind two, male and female, and brought them up into the ark. Then for 42 days and 42 nights the upper springs of water came from heaven and the lower springs of water from the earth, flooded the mountains and flooded the heights. Then the whole world was swept away by water.

The ark floated on the water for eleven months. After the eleven months there was calm, and the ark sank down and came to rest on Mount Qardun. Then Noah knew in his soul that there was calm in the world. Noah then sent out the raven and said to it: "Go, see whether calm has come in the world." The raven went and found a corpse. It ate of it and forgot what Noah had commanded it. Then Noah sent the dove after it and said to it: "Go, see whether calm has come in the world. Where is the raven that I sent out before you?"

Then the dove went and found the raven sitting over a corpse and eating of it. It saw the olive tree that stood on Mount Qardun and whose leaves stood out of the water. The dove plucked of it and brought it to Noah, that he might know in his soul that calm had come. Then he cursed the raven and blessed the dove.

Thereafter the age was preserved for Shem, son of Noah, and his wife Nhuraita, from whom the world was awakened again. Then 6000 years passed, and 2000 years remained. Then the rebellious ones deliberated, and they and the seven planets planned to found a party. They built a city, which is called the place Jerusalem. Sixty miles it measures in breadth. A thousand years it was to stand in flower, a thousand years in desolation, and the whole earth was then to be laid waste.

Thereafter Abraham, the father of the Jews, was created. He and his whole stock went to the land of the Egyptians, whose king bore the name King Pharaoh. The Israelites had to suffer much evil from the Egyptians and King Pharaoh. Thereupon God brought them out of the land of the Egyptians. The Israelites hastened when their Lord brought them out, and in one day they passed through the sea. He split the sea for them, and the water of the sea rose up into two walls, like two mountains, so that all the Israelites passed through. They then wandered through the desolate wilderness. Then they entered Jerusalem and settled there. Then King Pharaoh came after them, he and his whole army. Seventy myriads, 770000 Egyptians were with King Pharaoh. He sees the sea without ship, raft or ford. Then Pharaoh sees a way on the bottom of the sea, while the water of the sea has drawn together into two mountains. Then the whole phalanx of King Pharaoh went down after the Israelites, and the sea closed upon the phalanx of King Pharaoh. Only King Pharaoh with his friends and helpers in transgression escaped.

Then, when four hundred years had passed in Jerusalem, Jesus, son of Mary, was born. Jesus, the Messiah, son of Mary, was born; a messenger, he gathered to himself a community.

Now I say that for the kings, from the floods until now and until the years of the kings are completed, the years that each king reigns are declared.

King Arudan Gaimurat was at the beginning of all kings. He reigned 900 years. After him was King Zardanaiata Tahmurat. He reigned 600 years. After him was King Lifrius-Zisag. He reigned 750 years. After that king, for a hundred years there was no king in the world. Afterward was Asdahag, son of Asfag, whom they call King Bahram. He reigned 300 years. After him was King Faridun, son of Tibian. He reigned 450 years. After him was Pasm Nariman, whom they call the binder of Karkum. He reigned 500 years. After him was Fraarase of Turan. He reigned 60 years. After him was King Kaikobas. He reigned 503 years. After him was Kai-Kosrau, son of Seiawian. He reigned 60 years. After him was King Egab, son of King Burzin. He reigned 300 years. After him was King Lohrasp. He reigned 365 years. After him was King Gustasp, son of Lohrasp. He reigned 14 years. After him was Ardsir, son of Asfindiar. He reigned 112 years. After him was Nuraitas Horizdan, whom they call King Samidai. He reigned 80 years. After him was King Asgan. He reigned 470 years. After him was King Dsamsid, whom they call King Solomon, son of David. He reigned 1000 years. After him was King Bruq, whom they call Sandar (Alexander) the Greek. He reigned 14 years. After him was Asaq, son of Asgan. He reigned 465 years. After him was Alzur and Listar Kosrau and Abas (Wabas?) Jasdis Tibian, whom they call King Ardban. He reigned 14 years. After him were Persian kings. They reigned 382 years. At the head of the Persian kings was Ardsir Pabugan. He reigned 14 years. After him was King Sabur, son of King Ardsir. He reigned 62 years. After him was King Balas Churnig, son of King Sabur. He reigned 50 years. After him was King Bahram, son of King Sabur. He reigned 12 years. After him was Jazdigar, son of King Bahram. He reigned 12 years. After him was King Sabur, son of Jazdigar. He reigned 10 years. After him was King Peroz, son of Jazdigar. He reigned 40 years. After him was King Bihdad. He reigned 3 years. After him was King Kabad, son of King Peroz. He reigned 41 years. After him was Kosrau, son of Kabad. He reigned 48 years. After him was King Hormis, son of Kosrau. He reigned 12 years. After him was the King of Kings Kosrau, son of Kosrau, son of Hormis. He reigned 38 years. In the 38th year the sun showed signs. Then Kosrau went, and Seros took over the rule.

So, from the day that Jerusalem was destroyed until King Jazdigar, son of Bahram, took over the rule from the Persians, 594 years of this last thousand pass. Of this last thousand of the Fishes, when the world stands in the 701st year of the Fishes, it divides. For 89 further years it will sit in good fortune and 210 years in misfortune. Concerning these years it is said: When the world stands in the 790th year, the water will stay away from then on, and drought will strike the whole world. The angels will show all kinds of signs among mankind in the years and months. This place, as far as the whole world, will be struck by drought.

Further it is announced: When the Fishes stand in the 791st year, the water will stay away, and God will let loose the north wind among all the winds.

When the Fishes stand in the 792nd year, it is announced concerning it that the Arabs will rise from every district, a black cloud will ascend and come, and the cattle will flee from the king of Babel.

When the Fishes stand in the 793rd year, it is announced concerning it that the king of the Arabs will die, the Arabs will fall upon one another, and in the land of Babel devastation will take place among cattle and men.

When the Fishes stand in the 794th year, it is announced concerning it that the earth will quake three times a day, at night once in the middle of the sleeping time a light will appear over the whole world, and the star Bel (Jupiter) will shine more than the sun, will shine in the sky.

When the world stands in the 795th year, it is announced concerning it that the wolf will rise from the land and come and let loose devastation among men, various kings will die, and the Arabs in the years of that wolf will become the masters of the whole world. Falsehood will [overcome] uprightness. In the month of February, in the Water-carrier of the Mesenians, on a Wednesday, falsehood will [darken] the sun. Further it is announced concerning it that the king of Babel will come to Babel and the cattle of Babel will come to Babel and in Turan (?) the barbarians will attain to rule.

When the world stands in the 796th year, it is announced concerning it that in every place signs will appear, among the horses and men of the world and in the cities there will be want, grain will be nearly lacking, transgression, drowning (?) and hail will come, among the four-footed animals and among [men] lightning will do harm.

When the world stands in the 797th year, it is announced concerning it that two rulers will mock one another; with horses and men they will mock (one another).

When the world stands in the 798th year, it is announced concerning it that one of the rulers will die and there will be only one in the whole world.

When the world stands in the 799th year, it is announced concerning it that a voice will reach men.

When the world stands in the 800th year, it is announced concerning it that horses and men in the whole world, from great to small, will [come] to the field and to one place, so that in the whole world ... Then it seeks them greatly, and a white battle will be. In the month of June, the Twins of the Mesenians, on the first day of the month, in the 2 and a half hour, there will be a white battle. Of every 1700 men who march out, three will remain.

When the world stands in the 802nd year, it is announced concerning it that few men will be there for the women... a thing will be much. It is announced concerning it that seven women will sit at the thoroughfare and say: We are waiting until a man passes in the streets. They will stand at the gate, go out and seek a man without finding him. They will fall on the man's neck and kiss him a thousand times. For few men will be found in the world. Further it is announced concerning it: When that time comes, there will be much strife, and only few men will escape. Seven, eight women will fall as a share to one man, and the man will wish evil upon himself because of the women.

It is announced: when the world goes out from the 803rd year of the Fishes, do not ask about the plagues of the world that will be from that time on. It is said concerning it that, when Kewan (Saturn) stands in the Scorpion and then comes out of the Scorpion and enters the Lion, the great Euphrates will pour itself over the Tigris, the land of Babel will lie desolate for fifty years opposite the land of Gaukai, and in the land of Gaukai a kafiz of seed will be sought for five staters and not found. It is announced concerning it that a false messiah will come, become lord over the whole world, sit on a great throne and judge upon it, while he removes the other judges. From east to west he will come in one day, until the brick out of the wall bears witness for him.

When the world is in the 850th year of the Fishes, a great plague will set in.

Thereafter, after the Persian kings, there will be Arab kings. They will reign 71 years. In the years of those Arab kings the world will be full of lies. The horses of the earth, the camels, the free, the servants and maidservants, the little boys and girls, the women and the free will find no firmness and rest. In the years of those kings the father will have no power over the son, the mother over the daughter, the master will have no power over the servant. Those kings flay men like gazelles and wild asses. In the years of those kings, he who had many sons will [lose] them all but one son. Then they will wish: Blessed is he who had a son. Gold and silver, horses and camels, bulls, asses and sheep will be there in (limited) number. The fishes will fly up from the sea. The

fish will rise from the sea. Wild asses will come to him on the mountains. Everything created, indeed everything whatever, will be perverted. The rich will become poor, the poor will become rich. Houses will become level fields, level fields will become houses. The eminent will become deaf and dumb, the deaf and dumb will become eminent. The master will become a servant, the servant will become a noble. Cunning and deceit will rule among men. The temples will be destroyed, the houses of worship will be destroyed. The sky [will grow dark], the righteous will become deceivers and greedy for possessions. One deception will go forth from the earth, one from the sky. Both will mix with one another and lie upon men. From the sky no rain will fall, and the earth will bring forth no fruit in due season. Nothing will happen in due season, and transgression will descend upon the earth. Then there will be a time of death, of wasting and of sickness. Fire will break out at every time, and snow will fall in excess. From one city to another, from one place to another, two or three cannot walk together. The son fights his father and drives him out of the house in his lifetime. The mother drives out her daughter before her time and demands a daily fee from her. The magicians and scribes twist the scripture and the book by oaths. By night the thieves go out, make the roads unsafe and carry off possessions. The fishes go out in the ocean and the (other) seas. From time to time the sea comes and water in abundance, does much harm and destroys fruit, grape and tree. The far becomes near, the near becomes far. No one is sincere with his own people, yet with strangers one deals justly. Well-to-do people take their stand for deceit and false witness. Oaths are demanded of people, like a dog that begs for bread. The friend does not deal well with his friend, but they go after one another in envy. Deceitful men give empty words as a marriage-gift, and the virgin becomes their companion. The women send for men for adultery, the women leave their husbands and summon them before the court. Men will become deceitful and evil and fight their father and mother. The brother deals deceitfully with his brother, the son with his father, the servant with his master, the maidservant with her mistress; the wife murders her husband and joins another. So lies and wickedness will rule among men. The demons and evil spirits make men dull, so that the people of the world are without understanding and are flayed. The angels will be wroth with men and deprive them of the share due to them. Very soon weakness of age shows among them and a failing body, and a short measure is granted them. Deceit and falsehood spread. To the face they say beautiful words to one another, and behind the back they say ugly words to one another. Because of this falsehood that they practise, barley, wine-yield and everything else is found in small quantity. They sow abundantly and reap little. They gain abundant possessions and are not satisfied. When they eat, they are not satisfied. At every time misfortune and evil strike them. Of grasses and barley the earth remains without growth. Fruit, grape and tree wither. A lying uncleanness ...

Thereafter the tongues rise and fight with one another. The people who live in the deserts march against the people who dwell in houses and take the cities. The Persians, Parthians, Romans, Sigistanians and the other tongues fight with one another. Then the desert-dwellers conquer and bring misery on those who dwell in houses. In the 71 years that they rule ... and bring good, and good ... The sons gather together with their parents, the women together with their husbands, the brothers together with their brothers in one place. With his own hand one kills the other.

Then the riverland of Gaukai remains in flower for fifty years. Thereafter the riverland of Babel, when the devastation of this riverland of Babel sets in, will change. The Arab kings of Kardus rebel. The four winds come out. The Burdaean king and the Simraean king come, rebel against one another and plunder this riverland of Babel from west to east. Of this riverland of Gaukai 12000 are plundered. Then 50 years remain, so that the riverland of Gaukai stands in flower. When 25 years of the 50 years pass, a mountain of gold rises in Dast-Misaq, seven provinces and seven kings come together upon it and hold an assembly. The kings rise and appoint a king of kings. They say to the king of kings: We will make the agreement that the great shall no longer stand in honour above the slave. After they had made the agreement, a king came down from the firmament and whispered to the king of kings. The king of kings does not see him, while all the people see him. Then they say to the king of kings: "What did this man, who came down from the firmament and whispered in your ear, say to you?" Then he says to them: "You lie." Then the kings say to the king of kings: "Then the agreement we made is a lie." Then the kings say to the king of kings: "Up, let us look one another in the face." They leap up and fall upon one another. Then that king comes, lets his horse loose, and it walks over them up to the saddle in blood, and the whirl of blood reaches to its nostrils. One the other, and each one who remains runs after one whom he kills, and says to him: "I kill, but why do I remain behind?" Thereupon the women take hold of the hem of their garment, search for the likeness of a man and find none. Then they take their gold and silver and throw it on the dunghills.

Thereafter comes King Mzarz. He reigns 12 years. He establishes trust in the angels, and God is a helper to him. Those who sit in the deserts he repels, and those who sit in their own place draw near. Good comes to the city, and men go about in good fortune. Thereafter the water rises from the ocean and brings much harm. Thereafter something heavy occurs in the world. The eminent men as well as the deaf and dumb go into battle, and of them only few men remain safe from the battle.

Thereafter another king arises, whose name is Sargid, son of Warzigar. He reigns seven years. Then another king arises, whose name is Serasp. He reigns twenty-seven years. In the years of those kings no wickedness will cling to men. They will stir up no strife, seek no possessions and not eat to excess. Each one will sit in his own house, and strife, torment and fighting will not be among them. No one will be able to practise deceit and fraud against his neighbour. If he practises deceit, he will be torn to pieces. When this word and sign ... A shining star shines forth, it descends to the earth and remains seven days and seven nights.

After him arises King Wazan. He reigns five years. In the years of that king all will be well. The angels will be honoured. All cities and houses of worship will stand in flower, uprightness will prevail, and men will not be greedy for money. In that time there will be so much wine in one measure of wine that thirty men drink their fill of it, and in one ardeb of barley grains so much that fifty men are satisfied by it. Everything will stand well, and for men there will be no measure. Then this sign will occur, that a star plunges down from the sky and falls into the ocean. In the seven seas red water will flow. A woman who drinks of that water will become barren and lose her reason. She sends for men and says to them: "You there, lie with me."

Then other signs occur. A storm wind arises, with it comes dust and covers the doors of men. Thereupon the king holds an assembly, asks the people and says to them: "Have you ever seen or heard anything like what has now occurred?" But the people know nothing to say to him. After them King Wazan asks the spirits of the dead whether it is written that this event, which has never occurred before, is to occur at the end of the world. Thereupon the spirits of the dead say to him: "Do you not know that when a shining star plunges from heaven, a storm wind arises, dust comes with it and covers the houses of men — you must know that the word that is written about the end of the world has come to fulfilment. But you, O king, have acted well toward God, therefore you need not concern yourself about this word. Indeed, when you die, your spirit will be nourished as well as while you are alive."

Thereafter arises King Parasai Sifa, son of King Burzan (Burzin). His rule lasts to the end of the worlds. In the years of that king there will be much well-being and uprightness. There will be no winter.

Then the living water will be cut off, it will not come and not rise. Green water will come from the ocean, and the souls who breathe the fragrance of that water depart from their body.

Then they take the star Bel (Jupiter) from the midst of his brothers, clothe him with the garment of Ptahil and cover him with the covering of Ptahil, place the wreath of Ptahil on his head and set him on the throne of Ptahil. Forty-two years he sits in the desolate wilderness. Then they say to him: "Up, take off your garment, your covering and your wreath. They belong to Ptahil, and we will lift them up to the splendour of the sun, the brightness of the moon, the radiance of the stars, the power of the water, the power of the wind, the glow of the fire and the density of the earth."

Then Bel says to them: "Only yesterday evening I sat on this throne, and (already) now you say: Up, take off!" Then they lift the garment, the covering and the wreath of Ptahil to their place.

Then the great, old Leviathan is freed from his fetters. The thickness of the lip of his mouth measures 144000 miles. He opens his mouth, swallows the earth and swallows the seven planets with their twelve kings and five guides, as well as all the evil spirits, the demons, devs, liliths and all the souls that were found guilty in the court, who denied the First Living God; they are cut off in the darkness. Then he presses his mouth together, whereupon all in his belly die and his stench rises from the earth on high.

Then all the angels of the earth of light come, stand at the edge of this world and say: "So let the stench of everyone rise up who thinks of creating a world like this world. In contrast, that world shall last a thousand times a thousand myriads of years. That world is called Splendour and Light. All the souls of the excellent men who confessed the First Living God are not found guilty in the court and do not die a second death. Their souls dwell there in life."

Life to our knowing ones, life to our understanding ones, life to the men who instruct us. The Living God is victorious over all works for all eternity.