Book of Mysteries

The Book of Mysteries

[Fragments of a wisdom prophecy on the secret that is to come.]

They do not know the mystery that is to come, and the things of old they did not consider; and they did not know what would befall them, nor did they save their lives from the mystery that is to come. [Text missing]

And this shall be the sign that it is coming to pass: when the children of iniquity are shut up, and wickedness is driven out before righteousness as darkness is driven out before light; then, as smoke wholly vanishes and is no more, so shall wickedness vanish forever, and righteousness be revealed like the sun, the order of the world made firm. And all who hold fast to the wondrous mysteries shall be no more; for knowledge shall fill the world, and folly shall never again be found.

Is it not so, that all the peoples hate iniquity? Yet it walks about among them all. Does not the praise of truth come from the mouth of all nations? Yet is there a lip or tongue that holds to it? [Line damaged] For the people are foolish, and have no heart to know what is good and what is evil, what is true and what is false.

[Fragment breaks here]