The Gnostic Bible: Gnostic Texts of Mystical Wisdom form the Ancient and Medieval Worlds

HERMETIC LITERATURE 523

Womb of every creature,

we have known you.

Womb pregnant with the nature of the father,

we have known you.

Eternal constancy of the father who conceives,

so have we worshiped your goodness.

We ask one favor:

we wish to be sustained in knowledge.^4

We desire one protection:

that we not stumble in this life.

When they prayed and said these things, they embraced^5 and went to eat
their sacred bloodless^6 food.

4. Or, reading with the Greek and Latin versions, "your knowledge."


5. Perhaps a ritual embrace or kiss.


6. Vegetarian food.