272 LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC WISDOMPEARL IN THE MUD
If a pearl is thrown into mud, it loses no value,
and if rubbed with balsam oil, it gains no value.
It always is precious in its owner's eyes.^34
Wherever they are, the children of god
are precious in the eyes of the father.JEW, ROMAN, GREEK, CHRISTIAN
If you say, "I am a Jew," no one will be moved.
If you say, "I am a Roman," no one will be upset.
If you say, "I am Greek, a barbarian, a slave, a freeman,"
no one will be troubled.
But if you say, "I am a Christian," they will tremble.
I wish I had that title. The world
will not endure it when hearing the name.^35GOD IS A MAN-EATER
God is a man-eater. So people are sacrificed to him.
Before humans were sacrificed, it was animals,
because those they were eaten by were not gods.GLASS AND EARTH
Glass decanters and earthenware jugs are both made with fire.
When a glass decanter breaks, it is redone,
since it was made through a breath.
When earthenware jugs break, they are destroyed,
since they were born without a breath.DONKEY AND MILLSTONE
A donkey turning a millstone walked a hundred miles.
When it was set loose, it found itself in the same place.- See Gospel of Thomas 93 (and New Testament parallels).
- Partially restored.