LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC WISDOM 223
giving form to the many beings produced in light beyond reproach.
In truth I shall declare your glory,
I have comprehended you—
yours,^17 Jesus;
look,
eternal O^18
eternal E^19
Jesus
0 eternal realm, eternal realm,
god of silence,
1 honor you completely.
You are my place of rest,
child,
E S E S^20
the E^21
formless one existing among formless ones,
raising the person by whom you will purify me into your life,
according to your imperishable name.
So the sweet smell of life lies in me.
I have mixed it with water as a model for all the rulers,
that I may live with you in the peace of saints,
you who are forever
in truth truly.
- Coptic sou (from Greek) may be so translated, or it may be left as glossolalia, "SOU."
- Omega.
- Epsilon. The numerical value of the letter epsilon is five; this may recall the realm of five in
the Secret Book of John.
- The meaning of these letters, if there is a rational meaning, is unknown. Bohlig and Wisse,
eds., Nag Hammadi Codices 111,2 and IV,2, p. 204, speculate that the letters could designate the
heavenly figure Esephech, but this identification remains uncertain.
21. Epsilon, as above.
