Sophiel and the Demiurge

1. By the waters of Oberon, near the seas of Tibereen did the darkness lay brooding; boasting ever of his power and might, and all the earth groaned because of him.
2. And Jehovah-Yahweh cried out in a voice made all terrible and shrill, saying: “Who is there to compare with me? Who, in all the world, will dare to challenge me; for I am god, lord and judge over all the earth?
3. For I, alone, am the greatest of all, and of my wrath and judgment there is no end; my dominions have I established above the heavens, and in the greatest deep am I alone made to rule.
4. See then what groveling minions the seed of God have become, that they should fear me more than any other; for I am death, endless night and darkening shade have I become unto all the living.
5. Who then can wrest from my power the sons of men, who shall take from my grasp the seed of God; for I am death, great and mighty, and all which lives must, of necessity, fall to me.”
6. Now as Jehovah-Yahweh spoke thus in the midst of his pride, there chanced to hear the Holy Spirit of God, even Sophiel; and descending unto the earth she stood before the Demiurge.
7. And he, perceiving darkly the wonder of her beauty and grace, did move forth in a great rush to surround her on every side;
8. Yet for all his might and fury, he was unable; and in his astonishment did he trouble because of her, for at no time had he a woman ever seen, neither could he discern clearly the coming forth of God unto him.
9. Now in the presence of Jehovah-Yahweh was there always found a cold and chilling mist, and a dark and loathsome vapor which did hover above the ground, being girded on every side by a great and rushing wind.
10. And there went out from the midst of him the sound of deep and terrible rumblings, and with a mighty hissing noise did he speak unto her, saying:
11. “I am Jehovah-Yahweh, lord and god over all the earth; for what cause have you come to stand before me? Know you not that I am able to consume you in the heat of my wrath?
12. Who, therefore, called you forth unto me? For in heaven and earth am I feared above all else, and there are none to compare with the terror of my might.
13. Give answer and hold not back, for I command: Why are you come forth unto me, and from what place are you come forth? Speak, therefore, quickly unto me, and if it so be that you should please me, then will I spare you the indignations of my fury.”
14. So spoke the Demiurge unto the Holy Spirit, being in himself haughty and overbearing because of pride; but Sophiel, in calm repose, in silence stood and answered him not a word but gazed steadily upon him.
15. And receiving neither word nor answer, the Demiurge increased in swelling rage to demand report; but only silence did he receive of Sophiel, who, in her firmness did mock him, and by her beauty and grace did confound him every whit.
16. And all that day did the Holy Spirit hold at bay the constant ragings of Jehovah-Yahweh, and when it was evening and the long shadows of eventide had cast themselves upon the ground, she spoke unto him, saying:
17. “Give ear, Jehovah-Yahweh, and to all my words attend, for I am Sophiel of El Shaloah, even the Holy Spirit which is come forth from the presence of God, and by your great boasting and many pretensions am I drawn nearer still.
18. Behold, Spirit of Truth am I, great comfort and hidden wisdom from my bosom flows; and by a power beyond your own am I made to stand before you; for in my right hand have I established truth in place of falsehood, and in my left have I ordained comfort and healing unto the children of men.
19. Hear then the truth, and consider deeply the light which in the darkness shines; for well is it said of you that you are ‘Shecklas’, Father of Ignorance and vain deceit, the Blinded One which fear and hate have filled with strong delusion.
20. Come then, and of your power speak, for even now do I stand unharmed before you; and the might and terror of which you boast is like the gentle wind which does lightly stir about.
21. Where, O Shecklas, is the power of which you are ever boasting; for still do I stand, in calmness, before the fury of your might, neither have vain imaginations caused me to tremble.”
22. Thus did the words of Sophiel strike like arrows into the dreadful presence of Jehovah-Yahweh, and recoiling from the weight of them, he did seethe and boil within, and with savage fury he lashed out in violent anger to destroy her.
23. And the fierce winds blew and lightning, like rain, fell all about, and the heavens roared and shook with thunder; and he cried with a mighty rage, saying: “I am god, and beside me there is no other; neither can there be found any power which can take from my hand the sons of men. Who are you to challenge me?”
24. Such were the rumblings of Jehovah-Yahweh, and the earth trembled and quaked in dreadful fear, and the mountains convulsed in sudden horror and from their bellies spewed a molten fire, and the trees did bow themselves low unto the ground, being as withered grass made ready for destruction.
25. Yet did Sophiel gently smile, and she spoke unto the Demiurge, saying: “I am Woman, Mother of heavenly things am I; for from my  breasts does there constantly flow the milk of endless eternity, and from my womb have I established the foundations of endless glory.
26. What are your ragings when compared to me? For I tell you in all solemnity, that God shall not forsake the seed of his beginning, but has set forth his hand to rescue.
27. Know, therefore, that God shall grant unto the children of men the knowledge of good and evil, that by such oppositions as they might see, some greater wisdom might yet be found; unto these then shall the power be given to fashion unto themselves a living soul, being beyond death but immortal and filled with endless hope.
28. Then shall the seed of God prove greater than all your might, and they shall fear you nevermore, but shall turn their souls unto some higher glory and in the bosom of God forever live.”
29. So spoke the Holy Spirit, and Jehovah-Yahweh did rush in madness upon her, seeking by some dark and loathsome means to destroy; yet did Sophiel, with but the wave of her hand, cast him back again.
30. And Jehovah-Yahweh, breathing out many threats, did strike the earth with sore displeasure, and, behold, the waters of Oberon did the molten fires of distant mountains rush forth to consume;
31. And the seas of Tibereen did cast themselves up into a mighty heap, and the lands which lay round about became scorched and wounded by the heat of his great fury.
32. But Sophiel did but softly laugh in the midst of all these woes, and reaching down she touched the earth with the foot of her beauty, and there sped forth from the touch of her a healing balm which caused to come upon the land a great refreshing.
33. And the mountains ceased their torment, and the waters were stilled at once, and there came upon the heavens a gentle calm, and there descended upon the plains a shower of rain which caused to spread upon the whole earth a greening swale;
34. And there sprang up immediately a great many trees whose greening powers never fail, and in the valleys and on the plains did there come forth a host of diverse plants and flowers.
35. And there leaped out from the hands of the Holy Spirit a rainbow of exquisite beauty and light, and finding refuge in the airs above the earth, it gave promise unto all which saw that God had set forth his seal upon the children of men.
36. Now when these things were accomplished, to set at naught the furious wrath of Jehovah-Yahweh, the Holy Spirit ascended unto the heavenly place; and the earth, in gentle approbation, sighed with longing for the touch of her.

~ Song of God ~