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The Coptic Manichaean Songbook
S ome of the most strikingly beautiful Manichaean literature is poetry, presented in songs and hymns. A substantial number of songs are to be found in the Coptic Manichaean Songbook, or Psalmbook, which is preserved in Coptic but has only partially been translated and edited. Here several songs from the Coptic Manichaean Songbook are offered. The Songs of Thomas may refer to Mani’s student of that name and seem to be based on Mandaean poetry, as Nathaniel Deutsch also mentions above in his introduction to the Mandaean literature in Part Four. The Song of Herakleides may recall one of Mani’s twelve messengers. The names cited at the conclusion of some of the songs may be names of saints or martyrs .
THE COPTIC MANICHAEAN SONGBOOK 1
Songs of Thomas
Song 1—My Father Evoked Holy Fire
MY FATHER THE PLEASURED LIGHT
My father the pleasured light,
the pleasured light, the glory,
my father the pleasured light,
the pleasure, the holy light,
my father the pleasured light,
the pleasure, the esteemed light.
He summoned the aeons of light,
he chose them to enjoy his greatness.
He summoned the aeons of peace
in whom no flaw or loss lives.
He summoned the aeons of light
and his sons in whom he put the aeons.
He summoned the aeons of peace.
He called his wealth, set it in them.
He summoned the aeons to repose.
He called his angels, set it in them.
He founded places for life.
He set living icons in them .
He set living icons in them,
which never disappear.
He summoned clouds of brightness,
dripping with dew and light.
He evoked holy fire
that burned sweet.
He evoked wind and air
that breathed a living breath.
He evoked holy mountains
pouring out fragrant roots.
They are all concord and melody.
In them no flaw or loss lives.
They were ecstatic in brightness 2
filled and inhabiting eternity.
I SAW THE EVIL ONE
I couldn’t see where the son of evil saw them.
I stood up, saying, I want to be like them.
Where did the son of evil see them?
Did the poor one own nothing?
No diamonds are in his possession,
no eternity in his estate.
He took the hand of his seven companions
and his twelve helpers.
He took the hand of seven companions
and went and looked at still aeons
so if any fell and came down
he would go and be like them .
The father took the first step.
He empowered his angels and said,
Come together, all of you. Beware
of the evil one’s eye. It glanced up.
A SON OF LIGHT LOOKED DOWN
A son of light looked down from high
and saw him. He said to rich brethren,
O my brethren, sons of light
in whom no flaw or loss lives,
I looked down into the abyss.
I saw the evil one, the son of evil.
I saw the evil one, the son of evil,
who wanted to get into war.
I saw his seven companions too
and his twelve helpers.
I saw their tent pitched
and a roaring fire in it.
I saw miserable myrmidons 3 living there,
plotting war.
I saw their hanging armor
ready for the campaign.
I saw the traps all put in place
and the nets cast and spread
to catch a bird if it comes
and fish not escape them.
They lay around drinking stolen wine
and devouring plundered meat .
THE CHILD ARMED AND THE SON OF EVIL
The child got through his months
until he could walk.
The little one among the tall stepped in.
He took up arms. He armed his waist.
He leapt and raced into the abyss.
He leapt and got to their center to battle them.
He humiliated the son of evil
and his seven companions and twelve slaves.
He wrecked their camp and cast it down.
He put out their roaring fire.
He bound the miserable myrmidons there,
who plotted to make war.
He grabbed their armor hanging there, readied
for war, destroyed their readied traps.
He ripped up their outspread nets.
He released the fish to go out to sea.
He let the birds fly up into space.
He let the sheep into their folds.
He seized the evil one’s wealth. He went off
with it and took it up to the land of rest.
So he saved what the living took.
They will come back to what is theirs .
Song 9—The Lion and the Beautiful Daughter 4
The lion took my beautiful daughter. He seized her,
dragged her into his lair with his great dragon.
When she was in the pit, the lion screamed.
His companions gathered. The dragon whistled
and hissed. All the beasts gathered near him
and roared. They hid from my daughter,
roaring elsewhere, lest their powers diminish.
So my cry calls up to the mighty one,
who excels among the powers. I the son ask
my father. My garment hangs
on the universe, saying, If I have wronged
the great lion, let him eat me now in his lair.
If I’ve wronged the great dragon, let him swallow
me here. But if I haven’t wronged the lion
here in his midst, let me escape his lair and take
my daughter from him. Father of us all . . .
place the garment over us all. I pounded
their nets; I cracked open their lair.
I cast stones on it. I seized the great dragon and his
consort I enmeshed in a trap. I took my daughte r
from them and placed her high above them all.
I hurled stones at their wheel till it collapsed
under them, and my daughter and I destroyed
all their nets. We drove the great lion
and the dragon out of the cosmos, and we came
to the village land of the just. They know
it too. From the heart of a second lair I
took my daughter into the land. They now
are also happy. And it will happen soon
just as the bride enters the bridal chamber.
Song 12—Jesus Dug a River
Jesus dug a river in the cosmos. He dug a river,
even he of the sweet name. He dug it with a spade
of truth. He dredged it with a basket of wisdom.
The stones he dredged from it are drops
of incense from Lebanon. All the waters in it
are roots of light. Three ships sail.
They voyage in the river, testing. One is full,
one half freighted. The third is empty.
The full ship sails fearlessly. One half full.
The empty one comes empty
and leaves nothing behind. It will suffer
at the customs. It has nothing to give,
nothing on board. They will tear it apart
wickedly and send it back to the port.
The ship will suffer what corpses suffer. Empty.
They called it and it heard nothing .
Song 20—Cry of Pamoun the Ox 5
Hear an ox. The cry of Pamoun, an ox. Mercy.
I make the worlds weep.
What have the children of the earth given me?
They grabbed two-edged axes
and stuck me in marshes. They felled fat trees
and even thin ones.
They didn’t leave alone. With the fat tree
they cut out a plow.
From the thin one they made a sharp goad.
Then took it to an artist
who in his own hand fashioned a yoke,
stuck it on my neck,
and hooked the plow hanging behind me.
They used the goad
to pierce my ribs. Then they carried me
to the butcher’s son,
the fattener of oxen; it was the butcher’s
son who chopped me up,
scattered me to foreign tents, hung me
in far markets, and
before anybody tossed my bones to stray
beasts. 6 Release me
from the owners. They don’t buy me. They burn
what is inside me ,
even that. Don’t beat Pamoun, the ox.
Shake the spirit vessels
in you. I will make you sit in a place
where generations
will pass through you, planting, repaying,
making you the living.
Freedom. Even they who are my kin. On
a day of the great. 7
Song of Herakleides
COME TOGETHER
Come together, O sons of the earth, and hear
the angel who was sent out
with the message 8 of the skies.
You came and were a gathering, you came
and they gathered in you.
Tell us the message of the skies.
You came and the aeons were in rank,
you came and they gathered in you.
Tell us
the message of the skies.
Wake, you who sleep.
Wake, you who sleep. Sleep in the cavern 9
that you can receive the sky’s message.
The carrier of the message is on his wa y
with the message from the land of light
to speak out the message of the skies.
He was sent out. He raced laughing
to the first man to tell him the message.
He came and knocked on the gates
and shouted, Open up at once.
I have the message of the skies!
FIRST HUMAN ON EARTH
Stand up, O first human on earth,
open your gates that are shut
so I can tell you the message! Stand up,
O first human on earth,
let the trumpet of peace resound
so I can tell you the message!
Stand up, O first human on earth, spread
the logos of the good news
so I can tell you the message! Stand up,
O first human on earth,
build up the bricks of the tower
so I can tell you the message!
Stand up, O first human on earth, and go
with the troops to your city
so I can tell you the message!
Stand up, O good shepherd,
grab the lamb from the vengeful wolf
that I can tell you the message!
WHO ARE YOU? MY DOORS ARE LOCKED
Who are you? My doors are locked,
give me a sign so I’ll open to yo u
and you can tell me the message.
Who are you for me to open
so you can tell me the message?
I am the son of the son
of the father. The son of the father has sent me
to you about the message.
Open, open up at once! Open the closed gates
so you can be given the message!
As the gates were about to open he was
already inside the gates
to tell him the message of the skies.
The first man found him at his side.
He was happy and said to him,
Tell me the message!
What is my father doing now?
Father of the lights beyond him?
Tell me my father’s message.
What are the twelve aeons doing now
who were round the father when I left?
Tell me the message!
How are things with the living air, the breath
of life around the father?
Tell me the message! The great spirit
of the land of light, the cupbearer
of all the aeons? Tell me the message!
The land of light, the house of the father,
bridal chamber of all the aeons?
Tell me the message!
The walls that were dug in the earth
when I went away ,
the sentinels on the towers who guard them,
tell me the message!
How is the mother of the living, 10
whom I left behind? How are her kin?
Tell me the message!
The first man on earth is happy
but is asking, and tells the envoy:
Tell me the message!
THE CALL IS HEARD
The call, the call, is once again heard.
I came and they were gathered.
I came and the gods were happy.
I came and they were gathered round me.
Look, this is the message!
I came and the father was gathered.
The aeons were gathered round the father.
Look, this is the message!
I came and the aeons were gathered.
They were a garland around the father.
Look, this is the message!
The harpists were gathered and the pipes were sonorous.
I was sent out, and the father was happy.
He lived in the bridal chamber
of the land of light so I might tell the message!
I was sent out, and the aeons of the aeons were gathered.
They played music for the father
of the lights so I might tell the message !
I was sent out, and harpists were gathered and sang
of the father so I might tell the message!
I was sent out, and the air was ecstatic
to be all gathered and round the father
so I might tell the message! I was sent out,
and the bridal chamber was happy,
the land with light, the house of the father.
Look, this is the message of the skies!
I was sent out, and the walls were dug in the earth,
and the sentinels of the towers
were guarding them.
Look, this is the message!
I was sent out, and the mother watched,
and her kin were assembled round her.
Look, this is the message!
I was sent out, and the feast was prepared,
the lavish feast around the father.
Look, this is the message! I was sent out,
and the father was happy,
and pleasure was round him.
Look, this is the message!
I was sent out, and the father was gathered.
He was sleeping in his quarters in the land of light.
Look, this is the message! I was sent out, and the father
was happy and the virgins encircled him.
Look, this is the message! I was sent out,
and the harps were in their hands,
and they played for the father of the lights.
Look, this is the message!
I was sent out, and the pipes were sonorou s
on the mooring places.
Look, this is the message! I was sent out,
and the sea was placid,
and the raft of heaven was towed out.
Look, this is the message!
I was sent out, and ships touched land,
and the seaports were secured.
Look, this is the message! I came, and the walls
were set in foundations,
and the sentinels on the tower guarded them.
Look, this is the message!
FORSAKING THE FIVE LIMBS OF THE FATHER OF TRUTH
I abandoned reason, since it guarded the father,
pleasure of the land of light.
Look, this is the message! I abandoned thought,
since it guarded faith
and the aeons who are round the father.
Look, this is the message!
I abandoned insight, since it guarded the father.
Look, this is the message!
I abandoned desire, since it guarded resolution
and gave life to the aeons.
Look, this is the message!
I abandoned reflection
at the floor and foundation of the land of light.
Look, this is the message !
I CAME FROM THE HOUSE OF HAPPINESS
I came from the house of happiness. I brought you
joy by my coming.
Look, this is the message! I came from the house
of abundance. I brought you abundance
by coming to you. Look, this is the message!
I came, since the mother
looked for you and her kin were with her.
Look, this is the message!
I came, since the mother was looking for you
and her kin were with her.
Look, this is the message! They are at the frontier,
waiting for you. Look, this is the message!
GOD HAS COME WHOLLY
Look, god has come wholly. Call and he will answer.
Look, this is the message!
They are weighed down with garlands and palms,
a gift for you, the leader.
Look, this is the message! Tell me the message,
arm your loved ones,
your garlanded troops. I will carry the message
from all the aeons.
and with those words and your son, go out
and carry the message!
COSMIC BATTLE
His troops are firmly entrenched. He seizes the ruler
of the land of darkness .
Look, this is the message!
The air is fixed over the smoke. His troops are in chains,
they are fettered.
Look, this is the message!
The wind guards the king of storms.
His troops lie in chains, fettered.
Look, this is the message!
Look, the waters have surrounded the king
of the flood of death.
Carry the message!
The virgin, the living fire has become master
of the land of darkness.
Carry the message!
Look, the land of darkness we have wasted.
We wait for you with a garland.
Carry the message!
We bought dens of the hungry. We got their land
for five loaves of bread.
Carry the message!
We gave water. They drank. They were drunk
and frittered away their wages.
Carry the message!
The robe of light was set on them. For them
it was a bond, a shackle.
Carry the message!
They lusted over the breath of the wind.
It was a fetter on their neck.
Carry the message!
They smelt the breath of the air.
It was death for all of them.
Carry the message !
LIGHT HAS SURROUNDED DARKNESS
Let’s go. They are expecting you. The light
has surrounded darkness.
Let’s go. They are expecting you. They live
on the border. They are waiting.
Look, god has wholly come. Call him.
He will answer you.
Carry the message!
They come heavy with garlands and palms for you,
victorious captain.
Carry the message!
The envoy heard the good news. He took it
to him who sent him.
Carry the message!
The fathers of light have come to help
their loved one.
Carry the message!
They helped the first human,
and he shouted happily,
“Look at me! Look at my merchandise!”
There was enormous joy, the first man among them,
covered with garlands and palms.
This is the message!
May it happen to us together, be counted in his merchandise
and pleasure with the aeons.
This is the message!
May we be counted with those on his right hand
and inherit our kingdom.
This is the message!
May we live with our families forever.
This is the message !
Glory to the first man, honor to the living spirit
and their unceasing work. Victory
to the soul of blessed Mary, Theona! 11
Song of the Bema, 223—Let Us Worship the Spirit 12
Let us worship the spirit of the comforter,
bless lord Jesus who sent us the spirit of truth.
He came and split us from the world’s error.
He came with a mirror, we looked.
In it was the cosmos. When the holy spirit came
she disclosed the way of truth.
It taught us two natures, light and darkness,
distinct from the beginning.
The kingdom of light has five greatnesses:
father and his twelve aeons,
and the aeons of aeons, the living air, the land of light,
and the enormous spirit through whom
they breath and which nourishes them with light.
But the kingdom of darkness has five storehouses:
smoke and fire and wind and water and darkness.
Their advocate creeps in them, inciting them
to make war on each other. When making war
they dared attack the land of light. They suppose d
they could vanquish it and didn’t know that their plans
would crash down on their own heads.
There was a horde of angels in the land of light,
ready to pour out and break the father’s enemy.
They were pleased to have the father’s word
to rout those rebels who saw themselves exalted.
The angels were like a shepherd who sees
a lion padding near to destroy the fold,
who cunningly takes a lamb and sets it as a snare
to catch the lion. With a single lamb he saves
his fold, heals the lamb, and wounds the lion.
Such is the way of the father who sent forth his strong son
and made from himself his virgin armed
with five powers to fight the five abysses of the darkness.
When the watcher stood at the borders of light, he showed
them to the virgin who is his soul. In their abysses
they stirred, desiring her. They opened their mouth to swallow her.
He held her power fast. He spread her over them
like nets over fish. He had her rain down on them
like purified clouds of water. She stabbed inside them
like piercing lightning. She crept into
their inner parts. She bound them. They knew nothing.
When the first man finished his war, the father sent
his second son. He came, lifted his brother
out of the abyss. He made the whole world out of
that mixture of the light and darkness.
He spread all his powers of the abyss to ten heavens
and eight earths. He shut them up
into this cosmos and made it a prison for all
powers of darkness. It was also a place
of purification for the soul swallowed in them.
He established the sun and moon and set them hig h
to purify the soul. Daily they took in refined parts
up to their height, yet however they mixed the dregs
they couldn’t move them up or down.
The whole world halts for a season. A great building
is being built outside the world.
As soon as the workers finish, the cosmos will dissolve,
catch fire, and flame will melt it away.
All life, the relic of light wherever it is, he will take
to himself and then project an image.
The counsel of death—it is all darkness—will meet
and create a likeness of itself and the ruler,
but in a flash the living spirit comes, succors the light,
and will lock up the counsel of death
and darkness in a house made to hold them there forever.
There is no other way to freeze the enemy. He won’t be
received to the light, for he is a stranger,
yet he can’t be left in his land of darkness. He must not
engage in a war greater than the first one.
A new aeon will be built in the place of the cosmos
that will dissolve. In the aeon the powers
of light may reign, since they have performed and fulfilled
the will of the whole father, subdued the hated
over him forever.
This is Mani’s knowledge. Let us worship and bless him.
Whoever trusts him will be blessed and live
with justice. Glory and victory to our lord Mani. Spirit
of truth from the father. He reveals to us
the beginning, the middle, and the end. Victory to the soul
of the blessed Mary, Theona, Pshaijmnoute. 1 3
Song to Jesus, 254—Ferry Me to the Sun
Take me, firstborn. The path of light
spreads before me from my own first city.
I look for someone. The dissolving image
of the savior comes to me. O first one, the light
of the virgin touches me, the brightest
picture of truth with her three angels
who give grace. Firstborn, the portals of
the sky fly open before me in the rays
of my savior and his portrait of light.
I left my garment on the earth.
Senile diseases were mine. I dress in the deathless
robe. Ferry me to the sun and the moon.
Ferry of light at peace over three earths.
Firstborn, I am a holy bride in her chamber
of light, resting. I keep my victory gift. I have worked;
it is good. My end is happy eternal possession.
O firstborn, glory and conquest for lord Mani,
his holy elect, and for blessed Mary’s soul.
Wanderer Song—You Are a Spring 14
You are a spring, Jesus. You come from the aeons, king.
You are a spring of living water.
The mysteries of the father you know.
You are the clothing of the aeons, which is the church’s robe .
You are the cane of the kingdom. It leans on you.
You are the gate of the land of light
The father’s name is your glory.
You are the blossoming fruit of the imperishable tree.
You are the holy dove floating over clouds,
with the three-branched anesh 15 in her mouth.
Jesus, the virgin, the mind become the perfect church.
The tree, the fruit are good and sweet.
Love wears the garments of the fair commandment and knowledge.
Grace circles around the name of Jesus.
Whoever finds you is blessed and lucky.
One who knows does not taste death
but reposes in life forever.
Glory and honor Jesus, the king and the holy.
Victory to the soul of the blessed Mary, Theona.
Wanderer Song—O Soul, Sleeping 16
O soul, sleeping. You who sleep, you who
doze, wake. Sun rises on you.
Morning is the truth of the commandments
the dead, the corpses have risen.
Here is the habitat of robbers,
the house of cares and sadnesses.
They are merciless scavengers,
hearing no call. They have no hear t
for the condemned. They flatter you
the tree. The good man has come
Jewel garland, you. Wandering sheep,
your shepherd seeks you. Noble and despised,
your king wants you. Where are
your angelic cloths, robes that don’t age?
Where are your cheerful wreathes
and crowns that don’t fall? The clay mold
of your kin, your father’s seal? When you
were saved, your first jewel, your mind
was collected, familiar, unfailing to you.
How many of your blood has the world . . .
for you? The humble you have loved
and the great you have humbled.
You were not yet ashamed. Forever
and ever the blessed soul of Mary.