The Coptic Odes of Solomon Coptic-English Interlinear
Coptic-English interlinear reproducing Odes of Solomon passages quoted in Codex Askewianus. (ref)
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The Coptic Odes of Solomon
Coptic-English Interlinear
by Mark M. Mattison
This Coptic-English interlinear reproduces the five Odes of Solomon quoted in Codex
Askewianus (B.M. MS. Add. 5114), a fourth-century leather Coptic manuscript containing a text
titled Pistis Sophia. These Coptic Odes, copied from an earlier Greek or Coptic text, are particularly
noteworthy for including (at least a part of) the first Ode (1:1-5) – the only extant witness, as the
first two Odes are missing from the Syriac.
The following Odes are quoted in Pistis Sophia: Ode 5:1-11 in chapter 58; Ode 5:12-15 in chapter
59; Ode 1:1-5 in chapter 59; Ode 6:8-18 in chapter 65; Ode 25:1-12 in chapter 69; and Ode 22:1-12
in chapter 71. In addition, Samuel Zinner has brought to my attention a reworking of Ode 27:1-3 in
the Untitled Text of the Bruce Codex.
Select Bibliography
The following sources were principally consulted in the creation of this Coptic-English
interlinear:
James H. Charlesworth, ed., Papyri and Leather Manuscripts of the Odes of Solomon (Dickerson Series
of Facsimilies of Manuscripts Important for Christian Origins 1; Durham, N.C.: International
Center for the Study of Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations and Christian Origins, Duke University,
1981).
J. Rendel Harris and Alphonse Mingana, The Odes and Psalms of Solomon (Vol. I: The Text;
Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1916).
Michael Lattke, Die Oden Salomos in ihrer Bedeutung für Neues Testament und Gnosis, Vol. 1 (Fribourg:
Academic Press; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1979).
Idem, Odes of Solomon: A Commentary (Hermeneia; Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009).
Schmidt, Carl, ed., and Violet MacDermot, trans., Pistis Sophia (NHS 9; Leiden: Brill, 1978).
Idem, The Books of Jeu and the unitled text in the Bruce codex (NHS 13; Leiden: Brill, 1978).
Worrell, W.H., “The Odes of Solomon and the Pistis Sophia,” Journal of Theological Studies 13
(1911-12), 29-46.
Siglum
< > Editorial correction of a scribal error
Particular thanks are due to Lance Jenott, who generously gave of his time and expertise to
comment extensively on this interlinear, and to Samuel Zinner, who provided key resources and
other invaluable assistance. This document was first published on-line on June 8, 2020, and updated
October 18, 2020. Please forward notices of errors or suggested corrections to:
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Ode 1
1a p.joeis xiJN ta.ape Nce N.ou.klom.
The Lord (is) upon my head like a wreath
1b auw N.+.na.R.pe.f.bol an.
and I will be outside him not
2a au.$wNT na.! M.pe.klom N.t.alhcia.
They plaited for me the wreath of the truth
2b auw af.tre nek.klados +ouw xra.! Nxht
and it made your branches sprout within me
3 je ef.eine an N.ou.klom ef.$ouwou e.mef.+ouw.
For it’s like not a wreath dry which does not sprout
4a alla k.oNX xiJN ta.ape.
but you live upon my head
4b auw ak.+ouw xra! xijw.!.
and you sprouted up over me
5a nek.karpos se.mex auw se.jhk.
Your fruits are full and are complete
5b eu.mex ebol XM pek.ouja!
full of your healing
Ode 5
1a +.na.ouonXT na.k ebol p.joeis
I will praise you Lord
1b je Nto.k pe pa.noute.
for you are my God
2a M PR.kaat p.joeis
Do not leave me Lord
2b je Nto.k pe ta.xelpis.
for you are my hope
3a ak.+ na.! M.pek.xap N.jinjh.
You gave to me your justice freely
3b auw a!.nouXM ebol xi.tooT.K.
and I was saved through you
4a maro.u.xe Nqi net.pht Nsw.!
May they fall viz. those who chase after me
4b auw M PRtre.u.nau ero.!
and let not them see me
5a mare ou.kloole N.kRM TS xwBS ebol eJN neu.bal.
May a cloud of darkness cover over their eyes
5b auw ou.nif N.ahr. mare.f.R.kake ero.ou
and a fog of air may it darken them
6a auw M PRtre.u.nau e.pe.xoou
And let not them see the day
6b je N.neu.amaxte Mmo.!.
so that they may not sieze me
7a mare.f.R at.qom Nqi peu.$ojne.
May it be without power viz. their schemes
7b auw nent.au.$ojne ero.ou maro.u.e! exra! ejw.ou.
and what they have schemed them may they come down upon them
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8a au.mekmouk.ou eu.$ojne.
They have considered them while scheming
8b auw M P.F.$wpe n.au.
and not it happened for them
8c auw au.jro ero.ou eu.QM.qom.
And they were defeated (though) they find power
9a auw nent.au.SBtwt.ou kakws.
and what they prepared evil
9b au.xe epesht ero.ou.
they fell down on them
10a ere ta.5elpis XM p.joeis.
My hope (is) in the Lord
10b auw N.+.na.R.xote an.
and I will fear not
11 je Nto.k pe pa.noute pa.swthr
For you are my God my Savior
12a p.joeis o’’’ N.ou.klom e.ta.ape
The Lord was a wreath to my head
12b auw N.+.na.R.pef.bol an
and I will be outside him not
13a auw eu.$an.kim Nqi thr.ou
and if they should move viz., all of them
13b anok de N.+.na.kim an
I but I will move not
14a auw eu.$an.tako Nqi thr.ou et.n.nau
and if they should be destroyed viz., all of them which we see
14b anok de N.+.na.tako an
I but I will be destroyed not
15a je p.joeis $oop NMma.!
For the Lord is with me
15b auw anok xw +.$oop MN p.joeis
and I also I exist with the Lord
5:12-15 The first eleven verses of Ode 5 in Pistis Sophia are cited in chapter 58, but arguably the remaining verses (identified
by comparison with the Syriac Ode 5:12-15) aren’t cited until chapter 59, with interpolations. The reconstruction of verses 12
through 15 above is a redacted version of their evident citation in chapter 59:
12 pouoein o’’ Nouklom etaape auw N+naRpefbol an je Nneufwqe ero! Nqi neprobolooue
Mpaucadhes .
13 auw eu$ankim Nqi Nxulh throu . anok de N+nakim an .
14 auw eu$antako Nqi naxulh throu Nseqw XM peyaos . na! etounau? eroou Nqi neprobolooue
Mpaucadhs . anok de N+natako an .
15 je pouo!n $oop NMma! . auw anok xw +$oop MN pouo!n .
See W.H. Worrell, “The Odes of Solomon and the Pistis Sophia,” Journal of Theological Studies 13 (1911-12), 36, n. 14. Samuel
Zinner helpfully drew my attention to this reconstruction and proposed further modification.
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Ode 6
8a as.ei ebol Nqi ou.apoxroia as.R ou.noq N.!ero ef.ouo*S.
It came out viz. an emanation it became a great river broad
8b as.sok.ou thr.ou. auw as.koT.S eJM pe.rpe.
It drew them all of them and it turned itself toward the temple
9a Mp.ou.$.amaxte Mmo.s. XN xen.wRJ. MN xen.ma eu.kht.
Not they were able to stop it by fortifications and places they built
9b oude Mp.ou.$.amaxte Mmo.s Nqi N.teynh N.net.amaxte M.moou.
nor were they able to stop it viz. the skills of those who stop water
10 au.N TS eJM p.kax thR.F. auw as.amaxte Mmo.ou thr.ou.
It was brought over the earth whole and it seized them all of them
11a au.sw Nqi net.$oop xijM p.$w et.$ouwou
They drank viz. those who were on the sand which (is) dry
11b a peu.eibe bwl ebol. auw af.w*M.
their thirst went out and it was quenched
12 Nter.ou.+ n.au Mp.sw NtooT.F Mpet.jose.
when they gave to them the drink from him, the one on High
13a xen.makarios ne N.diakwn M.p.sw et.M.mau
Blessed are the ministers of the drink that one
13b nh ent.au.tanxout.ou. e.p.moou M.p.joeis.
those who were entrusted with the water of the Lord
14a au.kto N.xen.spotou e.au.$ooue.
They turned lips which had been dry
14b au.ji Nou.ourot N.xht. Nqi nh et.bhl ebol.
they received their gladness of heart viz. those ones who were weak
15 au.amaxte N.xen.2uyh eu.nouje M.p.thu je N.neu.mou.
They seized souls which cast the breath that they would not die
16 au.taxo N.xen.melos erat.ou e.au.xe.
They set upright limbs for them which had fallen
17 au.+ qom N.teu.parxousia. auw au.+ ouo!n N.neu.bal.
They gave strength to their coming and they gave light to their eyes
18a je Ntoou thr.ou au.souwn.ou XM p.joeis.
For they all of them they knew themselves in the Lord
18b auw au.nouXM xiTN ou.moou N.wNX N.$a.enex.
and they were redeemed through water of life eternal
6:17 teuparxousia. This is a reconstruction. The text actually reads teuparxhsia, “their bold speech.” Arguably, the Syriac
reading, ܡܐܬܝܬܗܘܢ, “their coming,” is the more original.
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Ode 22
1a p.ent.af.NT e.p.esht ebol XN Mma et.jose <e>tsa.t.pe.
He who brought me to the bottom from places which are high above
1b auw af.NT exra! XN M.ma etM.p.qon M.p.esht.
also he brought me up from the places which are low at the bottom
2a p.ent.af.fi Mmau N.net.XN t.mhte.
He who took those in the middle
2b auw af.tsabo.! ero.ou.
also he taught me about them
3 p.ent.af.jwwre ebol N.na.jaje. MN na.antidikos.
He who scattered my enemies and my adversaries
4 p.ent.af.+ na.! N.ou.e3ousia exra! ejN xen.MRre e.bol.ou ebol.
he who gave to me a power up over chains to release them
5a p.ent.af.patasse Mvof et.o N.sa$fe N.ape XN na.qij.
he who smote the serpent which has seven heads by my hand
5b af.taxo.! erat xiJN tef.noune jekas e!e.fwte ebol Mpe.f.sperma
he has set upright me over his root so that I may destroy his seed
6a auw Ntok nek.NMma.! pe ek.+ Ntoot:
And you were with me you helping me
6b xra! XM ma nim. af.kwte e.ro! Nqi pek.ran.
up in place every it surrounded me viz. your name
7a a tek.ounam take t.matou M.p.r.ef.je pe.coou.
Your right hand destroyed the poison of the one speaking the evil
7b a tek.qij kex te.xih N.nek.pistos.
Your hand smoothed the way for your faithful ones
8a ak.sot.ou ebol XN N.tavos.
You redeemed them from the graves
8b auw ak.poon.ou ebol XN t.mhte N.N.kwws
and you removed them from the middle of the dead
9a ak.ji N.xen.kas eu.moout.
You took bones dead
9b ak.+ xiwou N.ou.swma.
you clothed them with a body
10a auw nete N.se.kim an.
And those who move not
10b ak.+ na.u N.ou.energia N.wN%.
you gave to them an energy of life
11a a tek.xih $wpe N.ou.MNT.at.tako. auw MN pek.xo.
Your way became an indestructibility and also your face
11b ak.N pek.aiwn eJM p.tako.
you brought your aeon upon the destruction
11c jekas eue.bwl ebol thr.ou. auw Nse.R.BRre.
so that would dissolve all of them and become new
12a auw Nte pek.ouo!n R SNte n.au thr.ou.
and your light become (a) foundation for them all of them
12b ak.ket tek.MNT RMmao 5iw.ou.
You built your wealth on them
12c auw au.R ou.ma N.$wpe ef.ouaab.
and they became a place of dwelling which is holy
22:2b aftsabo! eroou. This is a reconstruction. The text actually reads aftsaboou eroou, “he has taught them
about themselves.” The better reading, preserved in the commentary section of the Pistis Sophia, reflects the more original
Syriac version. See Schmidt and MacDermot 1978, 314-317.
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Ode 25
1a a!.nouXM ebol xN M.MRre.
I was saved from the chains
1b a!.pwt eraT.K p.joeis.
I fled to you Lord
2a je ak.$wpe na.! N.ounam. ek.nouXM Mmo.!.
For you were for me a right hand you saving me
2b auw ek.nouXM mmo.! auw ek.+ Ntoot.
and you saving me and you helping me
3a ak.kwlu N.net.+.oubh.!.
You hindered those who fight against me
3b auw Mp.ou.ouwNX ebol.
and not they appeared
4a je nere pek.xo $oop NMm.a! pe
for your face exists with me
4b ef.nouXM Mmo! XN tek.yaris.
it saving me with your grace
5a a!.ji sw$ M.pemto ebol N.ou.mhh$e. auw au.noJ.T ebol.
I was despised before a multitude and they cast me out
5b a!.r.ce N.ou.taXT M.peu.Mto ebol.
I became like lead before them
6 as.$wpe na! Nqi ou.qom ebol xi.tooT.K. es.+ Ntoot.
It came to me viz. a power from you it helping me
7a je ak.kw N.xen.xhBS Nsa ounam Mmo.!. auw Nsa xbour Mmo.!
For you set lamps at side right of me and at side left of me
7b jekas Nne laau Nsa Mmo.!. $wpe ef.o N.at.ouoein.
so that would not any side of me be without light
8a ak.skepaze Mmo.! xa ca!bes M.pekPNA
You covered me under the shade of your Spirit
8b auw a!.R.pet.pe N.ne.$thn n.$aar.
and I rose above the garments of skin
9a tek.ounam te Nt.as.jise Mmo.!
Your right hand is that which has exalted me
9b auw ak.fi p.$wne Nsa.bol Mmo.!.
and you took the sickness away from me
10a a!.$wpe e!QM.qom XN tek.MNTme
I became mighty by your truth
10b e!.TBbhu XN tek.dikaiosunh.
holy by your righteousness
11 au.oue ebol Mmo.! Nqi net.+.oubh.!
They became far from me viz. those who fight against me
12a auw a!.tma!o XN tek.MNTyrhstos.
and I was justified by your goodness
12b je pek.Mton $oop $a.enex Nte pi.enex.
for your rest exists for eternity of the eternity
25:8 pekPNA. This is a reconstruction (based on the more original Syriac). The text actually reads pekna, “your
mercy,”suggesting that the letter p was possibly omitted. See Lattke 2009, 362, 363. Significantly, the Pistis Sophia elsewhere
equates “mercy” with “spirit” (cf. chapter 61, pna’’ <pe> pePNA, and chapter 62, pna’ qe pe pePNA).
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The Reworked Ode 27
in the Untitled Text of the Bruce Codex
1a auw p.pwr$ ebol n.ne.f.qij
And the spread out of his hands
1b pe p.ouwnx ebol m.pe. os.
is the revelation of the cross
2 p.pwr$ ebol m.p.e os pe cennas etsa.ounam mn.net.xi.xbour.
The spread out of the cross is the ennead on the right side and on the left
3 p.+ouw exrai m.pe. os pe p.rwme n.at.amaxte mmof.
The sprout upward of the cross is the man unrestrained
See Carl Schmidt, ed., and Violet MacDermot, trans., The Books of Jeu and the unitled text in the Bruce codex (NHS 13; Leiden:
Brill, 1978), 227, 228.
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Ode 1
1a The Lord is upon my head like a wreath,
1b and I will not be removed.
2a Braided for me was the wreath of truth,
2b and it caused your branches to bloom within me.
3 For it is not like a dry wreath that blooms not,
4a but you live upon my head
4b and have bloomed upon me.
5a Your fruits are full and ripe;
5b they are full of your healing.
Ode 5
1a I will thank you, O Lord,
1b because you are my God.
2a Do not forsake me, O Lord,
2b because you are my hope.
3a You gave me your justice freely,
3b and I was saved by you.
4a Let my persecutors fall,
4b and let them not see me.
5a Let a cloud of darkness cover their eyes,
5b and a murky mist darken them.
6a And let them not see the (light of) day,
6b lest they take hold of me.
7a Let their plans prove powerless,
7b and let what they have planned come down upon them.
8a They have devised a plan,
8b and it has not succeeded for them.
8c And they have been defeated, (though) they have power.
9a And what they readied (with) wickedness
9b has fallen down on them.
10a My hope is in the Lord,
10b and I will not fear.
11 For you are my God, my Savior.
12a The Lord has been a wreath for my head,
12b and I will not be removed;
13a and if everything should be shaken,
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13b nevertheless I will not be shaken.
14a And if everything visible should perish,
14b nevertheless I will not perish,
15a because the Lord is with me,
15b and I also am with the Lord.
Ode 6
8a A stream went forth, (and) it became a river great and broad.
8b It swept away everything along with it and turned toward the temple.
9a They could not restrain it by the dams and the places they built,
9b nor were those who restrain water able to restrain it by their skills.
10 It was brought over the whole earth, and it encompassed everything.
11a Those who were on the dry sand drank;
11b their thirst was relieved and quenched
12 when they were given the drink from the Most High.
13a Blessed are the ministers of that drink,
13b those who have been entrusted with the Lord’s water.
14a They have refreshed parched lips,
14b and those who were weak received heartfelt joy.
15 They have held back souls that had breathed their last so they would not die.
16 They have set upright limbs that had fallen.
17 They have given strength to their <coming> and light to their eyes.
18a For all of them have known themselves in the Lord,
18b and they were saved by water of eternal life.
Ode 22
1 He who has brought me down from on high, also brought me up from the depths below.
2 He who has taken those in the middle, also taught <me> about them.
3 He who has scattered my enemies and my foes,
4 he who has given me the authority over bonds, that I might loose them,
5a he who has smitten the seven-headed serpent by my hands,
5b he also has set me over its root, that I might destroy its offspring.
6a And you were with me, helping me.
6b In every place your name surrounded me.
7a Your right hand has destroyed the slanderer’s venom.
7b Your hand has leveled the way for your faithful ones.
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8a You have redeemed them from the graves,
8b and removed them from the midst of the dead.
9a You have taken dead bones
9b and clothed them with a body.
10a And they who were motionless,
10b you gave them energy for life.
11a Your way has become imperishable, and your face.
11b You have brought your age to destruction,
11c so that everything might be dissolved and made new,
12a and that your light might be a foundation for everything.
12b You have built your wealth upon them,
12c and they have become a holy dwelling.
Ode 25
1a I was rescued from my bonds;
1b I fled to you, O Lord.
2a For you have been a right hand for me, saving me,
2b and saving me, and helping me.
3a You stopped those who rise against me
3b and they did not appear,
4a because your face was with me,
4b saving me by your favor.
5a I was despised before many, and they cast me out;
5b I became like worthless lead before them.
6 Your strength came to me, to help me.
7a For you have set lamps at my right and at my left,
7b so that no side of me would be without light.
8a You have covered me with the covering of your <spirit>,
8b and I rose above the garments of skin.
9a Your right hand is what lifted me up,
9b and you have taken sickness away from me.
10a I became strong in your truth,
10b (and) holy by your righteousness.
11 Those who rise against me were driven far from me,
12a and I was justified by your kindness,
12b because your rest is forever and ever.
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References
- Mark M. Mattison, "The Coptic Odes of Solomon Coptic-English Interlinear." Academia.edu. The Coptic Odes of Solomon Coptic-English Interlinear (download: Direct Download).
- Coptic-English interlinear reproducing Odes of Solomon passages quoted in Codex Askewianus.
- Academia page: The Coptic Odes of Solomon Coptic-English Interlinear.
- Direct download: Direct Download.