462 LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC WISDOM
They are the ones who govern the world with their teaching. And they lead
astray many hearts because of their disorder and their unchastity. Many
places will be sprinkled with blood. And five races by themselves will eat
their sons. The regions of the south will receive the word of the light. But
they who are from the error of the world and from the east. ...^65 A demon
will come forth from the belly of the serpent. He was in hiding in a desolate
place. He will perform many wonders. Many will loathe him. A wind will
come forth from his mouth with a female likeness. Her name will be called
Abalphe. He will reign over the world from the east to the west.
Then nature will have a final opportunity. And the stars will cease from
the sky. The mouth of error will be opened that the evil darkness may be-
come idle and silent. And in the last day the forms of nature will be destroyed
with the winds and all their demons; they will become a dark lump, just as
they were from the beginning.^66 And the sweet waters that were burdened by
the demons will perish. For where the power of the spirit has gone, there are
my sweet waters. The other works of nature will not be manifest. They will
mix with the infinite waters of darkness. And all her forms will cease from
the middle region.
SHEM ASCENDS, IN MIND, AND
RECITES THE LITANY
I, Shem, have completed these things. And my mind began to separate from
the body of darkness.^67 My time was completed. And my mind put on the im-
mortal testimony. And I said,
"I declare your testimony,^68
which you have revealed to me:
Elorchaios,
and you, Amoiaias,
and you, Sederkeas,
- Perhaps read "will not."
- This eschatological concept of the lump also occurs in Manichaean literature.
- Shem begins his spiritual ascent out of his body.
- Shem recites (more or less) the litany given by Derdekeas earlier in the text. The scribe
seems inadvertently to have copied several lines of the litany twice (a scribal error known as
dittography). This repetition is not reflected in the present translation.
