The emanations of Self-willed cease for a time to oppress Sophia.
When then Iesus had said this unto his disciples, he answered again and said unto them:
"It came to pass then, when the lion-faced[1] power had noticed that Pistis Sophia had not been led up altogether out of the chaos, that it came again with all the other material emanations (of Self-willed), and they oppressed Pistis Sophia again.
2. She continueth her repentance.
It came to pass then, when they oppressed her, that she cried out in the same penitence, saying:
"'9. Have mercy upon me, O Light, for they have oppressed me again. Because of thy commandment, the light in me is distracted and my power and my understanding.
"'10. My power hath begun to wane whiles I am in these afflictions, and the number of my time whiles I am in the chaos. My light is diminished, for they have taken away my power from me, and all the powers in me are tossed about.
"'11. I am become powerless in the presence of all the rulers (of the æons), who hate me, and in the presence of the four-and-twenty emanations, in whose region I was. And my brother (my pair) was afraid to help me, because of that in which they have set me.
"'12. And all the rulers (of the height) have counted me [as] matter in which is no light. I am become [as] a material power which hath fallen out of the rulers,
"'13. And all who are in the æons said:
She hath become chaos.
And thereafter all the pitiless powers encompassed me together and proposed to take away the whole light in me.
"'14. But I have trusted in thee, O Light, and said:
Thou art my Saviour.
"'15. And my commandment, which thou hast decreed for me, is in thy hands. Save me out of the hands of the emanations (of Self-willed), which oppress me and persecute me.
"'16. Send thy light over me, for I am [as] naught before thee, and save me according to thy compassion.
"'17. Let me not be despised, for I have sung praises unto thee, O Light. Let chaos cover the emanations (of Self-willed), let them be led down into the darkness.
"'18. Let the mouth (of them) be shut up, who would devour me with guile, who say:
Let us take the whole light in her,--
although I have done them no ill.'"
Read: 1 Peter 5:8