The Thunder, Perfect Mind

 

我被力量所派遣，

我來到那些反思我的人面前，

我在尋求我的人中間被遇見。

看著我吧，你反射著我，

各位聽眾，請聽我說。

等待我的人，請把我帶走。

請不要將我從你的眼前驅逐出去。

不要讓你的聲音和聽覺憎恨我。

無論何時何地都不要忽視我。一定要提高警覺！

別不認識我。

因為我是首先的，也是末後的。

我既是受人尊敬的人，也是受人鄙視的人。

我是淫婦，也是聖者。

我是妻子，也是處女。

我是<母親>和女兒。

我是我媽媽的成員。

我是貧瘠者

她的兒子也很多。

我就是那位婚禮盛大的她，

我還沒有嫁人。

我是助產士，她是不會生育的。

我是我分娩痛苦的慰藉。

我是新娘，也是新郎，

我是我丈夫所生的。

我是我父親的母親

還有我先生的妹妹

他是我的孩子。

我是為我做準備的人的奴隸。

我是我後代的統治者。

但他是在生日那天提前生下我的人。

他是我的後代，

我的力量是從他而來的。

我是他年輕時的力量支柱，

他是我老年的杖。

他想要什麼我就有什麼。

我是不可理解的沉默

以及經常被回憶的想法。

我的聲音多種多樣

以及出現次數較多的單字。

我是我名字的表達。

你們這恨我的人，為何卻愛我？

恨那些愛我的人嗎？

你否認我，承認我，

你們這承認我的，卻否認我。

你們對我說實話，對我說謊，

你們這些對我說過謊的人，現在就說實話。

認識我的人卻不認識我，

讓那些還不認識我的人認識我。

因為我是知識，也是無知。

我感到羞恥和勇敢。

我不要臉；我感到很慚愧。

我是力量，也是恐懼。

我是戰爭與和平。

留意我。

我是受辱者，也是偉大的人。

留意我的貧窮和我的富有。

當我被拋棄在地上時，請不要對我傲慢，

你們將在未來的事物中找到我。

別把我看作糞堆上的

也不會離開我，丟下我，

你們將在王國中找到我。

當我被驅逐到那些

被羞辱，在最微不足道的地方，

不要嘲笑我。

不要把我丟棄在那些被暴力殺害的人之中。

但我，我富有同情心，但我也很殘忍。

一定要提高警覺！

不要恨我的順從

不喜愛我的自製。

在我軟弱的時候，求你不要離棄我，

不要懼怕我的力量。

你為何輕視我的恐懼

並詛咒我的驕傲？

但我是存在於所有恐懼中的她

在戰兢中獲得力量。

我就是那個軟弱的她，

我在一個舒適的地方過得很好。

我愚昧無知，但我又聰明睿智。

你為何在你的謀略中恨我？

我將在那沉默的人中保持沉默，

我會出現並講話，

那麼，你們希臘人為什麼要恨我呢？

就因為我是野蠻人中的野蠻人？

因為我是希臘人的智慧

以及野蠻人的知識。

我是希臘人和野蠻人的審判。

我就是那在埃及享有盛名的人

野蠻人中沒有形象的人。

我是一個到處被憎恨的人

並且受到各地的喜愛。

我就是他們所說的生命，

你召喚了死亡。

我就是他們所稱的法律，

你們也稱不法。

我就是你所追求的人，

而我就是被你們抓住的人。

我就是被你驅散的人，

你又將我聚集。

你們在我面前感到羞愧，

你對我太無恥了。

我是不守節日的人，

我是一個節日很多的人。

我，我是無神的，

我的上帝是偉大的。

我就是你所反思的人，

你們也藐視我。

我無學問，

他們向我學習。

我就是你們所鄙視的人，

而你卻反思我。

我就是你所隱藏的人，

你就出現在我面前。

但每當你們隱藏自己時，

我自己會出現。

無論何時你出現，

我自己會躲著你。

那些 [...] 對此 [...] 毫無意義地 [...] 的人。

讓我[...理解]擺脫悲傷。

把我從理解和悲傷中帶回你們身邊。

把我從醜陋和廢墟中帶走，

並從那些雖然醜陋但卻是美好的事物中搶奪。

出於羞恥，請把我毫無羞恥地帶到你們身邊；

出於無恥和羞恥，

你們自己責備我的肢體吧。

認識我的人，請到我這裡來吧

你們認識我的肢體，

並在微小的生物中建立偉大的生物。

回到童年，

不要因為它又小又少就輕視它。

不要把某些地方的偉大之處從微小之處轉移開，

因為從偉大中可以知道微小之處。

你們為何咒罵我又尊敬我？

你傷害過別人，但你也憐憫過別人。

不要將我與你認識的第一批人分開。

不要驅逐任何人，也不要拒絕任何人

[...] 把你趕走並且不認識他。

[...]。

什麼是我的[...]。

我認識第一個人，他們之後的人也認識我。

但我是[...]的思想，也是[...]的其餘部分。

我是我所探究的知識，

尋找我的人，

和那些向我詢問的人的命令，

以及我知識中的力量的力量

奉我之命被派來的天使們，

並根據我的勸告，在神的時節中，

以及與我共存的每個人的靈魂，

以及住在我裡面的女人。

我就是那被尊榮、被讚美的人，

並被人藐視。

我是和平，

戰爭是因我而起的。

我是外國人，也是公民。

我是物質，也是無物質者。

那些不與我交往的人不認識我，

凡具有我本質的人，才是認識我的人。

那些與我親近的人卻不認識我，

那些離我遠去的人，正是那些認識我的人。

當我靠近你時，你卻遠離我，

當我遠離你的那一天，我卻靠近你。

[我...] 在裡面。

[我屬於...]自然。

我是[...]精靈的創造物。

[...] 靈魂的請求。

我是控制者，也是不可控者。

我是聯合，也是解散。

我是永恆的，也是消散的。

我是下面這個

然後他們就向我走來。

我就是審判，也是無罪釋放。

我，我是無罪的，

罪惡的根源在於我。

從外表看，我是情慾，

我擁有內在的自我控制能力。

我是每個人都能獲得的聽力

以及無法掌握的言語。

我是一個不會說話的啞巴，

我的言語多多。

請溫柔地聆聽我，請粗魯地向我學習。

我就是那個呼喊的人，

我被拋棄在地面上。

我準備好麵包，也準備好我的心思。

我是我名字的知識。

我就是那個呼喊的人，

我聽著。

我出現了，並且[...]走進了我的[...]的封印。

我是[...]辯方[...]。

我就是那個被稱為真理的人

和罪孽[...]。

你尊敬我 [...] 卻又對我竊竊私語。

你們這些被征服者，審判那些征服你們的人吧

在他們對你作出判決之前，

因為你們心裡有審判和偏袒。

如果你被這個人定罪，誰會宣告你無罪？

或者，如果他宣告你無罪，誰能拘留你？

因為你內在的事物就是你外在的事物，

塑造你的外表

是塑造你內心的人。

你所看到的外在事物，也同樣反映在你的內在事物中；

它是可見的，而且它是你的衣服。

各位聽眾，聽我說

你們這些認識我的人哪，可以學習我的言語。

我是可以聽懂一切​​事物的聽力；

我是無法掌握的言語。

我是聲音的名字

以及名字的聲音。

我是字母的符號

以及部門的指定。

而我[...]。

（缺 3 行）

[...] 光 [...]。

[...] 聽眾 [...] 給你

[...] 強大的力量。

並且 [...] 不會移動名稱。

[...] 獻給創造我的人。

我會說出他的名字。

看看他的話

以及所有已完成的著作。

各位聽眾，請注意

還有你們，天使和那些被派遣的人，

以及你們從死裡復活的靈魂。

因為我是唯一存在的人，

沒有人會評斷我。

因為在無數的罪惡中存在著許多愉快的形式，

以及失禁，

和可恥的激情，

和轉瞬即逝的快樂，

（男人）擁抱它直到他們清醒

並前往他們的安息之所。

他們會在那裡找到我，

他們將活下去，

他們就不會再死。

 

The Nag Hammadi Library

The Thunder, Perfect Mind

---

Translated by George W. MacRae

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 <the mother> and the daughter.

I am the members of my mother.

I am the barren one

and 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 father

and the sister of my husband

and 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 incomprehensible

and the idea whose remembrance is frequent.

I am the voice whose sound is manifold

and 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-heap

nor 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 who

are 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 obedience

and 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 fear

and curse my pride?

But I am she who exists in all fears

and 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 Greeks

and the knowledge of the barbarians.

I am the judgement of the Greeks and of the barbarians.

I am the one whose image is great in Egypt

and the one who has no image among the barbarians.

I am the one who has been hated everywhere

and who has been loved everywhere.

I am the one whom they call Life,

and you have called Death.

I am the one whom they call Law,

and you have called Lawlessness.

I am the one whom you have pursued,

and I am the one whom you have seized.

I am the one whom you have scattered,

and you have gathered me together.

I am the one before whom you have been ashamed,

and you have been shameless to me.

I am she who does not keep festival,

and I am she whose festivals are many.

I, I am godless,

and I am the one whose God is great.

I am the one whom you have reflected upon,

and you have scorned me.

I am unlearned,

and they learn from me.

I am the one that you have despised,

and you reflect upon me.

I am the one whom you have hidden from,

and you appear to me.

But whenever you hide yourselves,

I myself will appear.

For whenever you appear,

I myself will hide from you.

Those who have [...] to it [...] senselessly [...].

Take me [... understanding] from grief.

and take me to yourselves from understanding and grief.

And take me to yourselves from places that are ugly and in ruin,

and rob from those which are good even though in ugliness.

Out of shame, take me to yourselves shamelessly;

and out of shamelessness and shame,

upbraid my members in yourselves.

And come forward to me, you who know me

and you who know my members,

and establish the great ones among the small first creatures.

Come forward to childhood,

and do not despise it because it is small and it is little.

And do not turn away greatnesses in some parts from the smallnesses,

for the smallnesses are known from the greatnesses.

Why do you curse me and honor me?

You have wounded and you have had mercy.

Do not separate me from the first ones whom you have known.

And do not cast anyone out nor turn anyone away

[...] turn you away and [... know] him not.

[...].

What is mine [...].

I know the first ones and those after them know me.

But I am the mind of [...] and the rest of [...].

I am the knowledge of my inquiry,

and the finding of those who seek after me,

and the command of those who ask of me,

and the power of the powers in my knowledge

of the angels, who have been sent at my word,

and of gods in their seasons by my counsel,

and of spirits of every man who exists with me,

and of women who dwell within me.

I am the one who is honored, and who is praised,

and who is despised scornfully.

I am peace,

and war has come because of me.

And I am an alien and a citizen.

I am the substance and the one who has no substance.

Those who are without association with me are ignorant of me,

and those who are in my substance are the ones who know me.

Those who are close to me have been ignorant of me,

and those who are far away from me are the ones who have known me.

On the day when I am close to you, you are far away from me,

and on the day when I am far away from you, I am close to you.

[I am ...] within.

[I am ...] of the natures.

I am [...] of the creation of the spirits.

[...] request of the souls.

I am control and the uncontrollable.

I am the union and the dissolution.

I am the abiding and I am the dissolution.

I am the one below,

and they come up to me.

I am the judgment and the acquittal.

I, I am sinless,

and the root of sin derives from me.

I am lust in (outward) appearance,

and interior self-control exists within me.

I am the hearing which is attainable to everyone

and the speech which cannot be grasped.

I am a mute who does not speak,

and great is my multitude of words.

Hear me in gentleness, and learn of me in roughness.

I am she who cries out,

and I am cast forth upon the face of the earth.

I prepare the bread and my mind within.

I am the knowledge of my name.

I am the one who cries out,

and I listen.

I appear and [...] walk in [...] seal of my [...].

I am [...] the defense [...].

I am the one who is called Truth

and iniquity [...].

You honor me [...] and you whisper against me.

You who are vanquished, judge them (who vanquish you)

before they give judgment against you,

because the judge and partiality exist in you.

If you are condemned by this one, who will acquit you?

Or, if you are acquitted by him, who will be able to detain you?

For what is inside of you is what is outside of you,

and the one who fashions you on the outside

is the one who shaped the inside of you.

And what you see outside of you, you see inside of you;

it is visible and it is your garment.

Hear me, you hearers

and learn of my words, you who know me.

I am the hearing that is attainable to everything;

I am the speech that cannot be grasped.

I am the name of the sound

and the sound of the name.

I am the sign of the letter

and the designation of the division.

And I [...].

(3 lines missing)

[...] light [...].

[...] hearers [...] to you

[...] the great power.

And [...] will not move the name.

[...] to the one who created me.

And I will speak his name.

Look then at his words

and all the writings which have been completed.

Give heed then, you hearers

and you also, the angels and those who have been sent,

and you spirits who have arisen from the dead.

For I am the one who alone exists,

and I have no one who will judge me.

For many are the pleasant forms which exist in numerous sins,

and incontinencies,

and disgraceful passions,

and fleeting pleasures,

which (men) embrace until they become sober

and go up to their resting place.

And they will find me there,

and they will live,

and they will not die again.

 

Original translation of this text was prepared by members of the
Coptic Gnostic Library Project of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont Graduate School.
The Coptic Gnostic Library Project was funded by UNESCO, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and other Institutions.
E. J. Brill has asserted copyright on texts published by the Coptic Gnostic Library Project.

The translation presented here has been edited, modified and formatted for use in the Gnostic Society Library.
For academic citation, please refer to published editions of this text.

 

| Nag Hammadi Library | Gnostic Society Library | Gnosis Archive |