By My Own Authority
Chapter 4 is Yushamin's confession. Where Chapter 3 narrated the cosmic war from the outside — twenty-one sons, scorpions, swords, four hundred and forty-four thousand uthras — Chapter 4 turns inward. Yushamin speaks in his own voice. He seized the sword and the blade. He laid waste to settlements he did not create. He started a war the mighty did not wish for. The war came from himself, upon himself.
The Radiant Transplant responds with a catalogue of losses — seat, wisdom, lands, buildings, ladies, stability, nest, the ordered works. Everything Yushamin had, destroyed by his own rage. The rebuke is not anger but accounting: "You were small, you were wise; now they call you a fool." The chapter closes with Yushamin's acceptance: "By my own hand, I sought sorrow." He vows to seize the truth and guard it until the Great Life does all that it wills. Rebellion gives way to patient endurance.
Good Works Translation from Classical Mandaic. Translated from the critical edition text established by Charles G. Haberl and James F. McGrath (De Gruyter, 2020). The Haberl and McGrath English translation was consulted as a reference for verification of difficult passages and proper names, but the English below was independently derived from the Mandaic source text.
In the name of the Great Life, may the sublime Light be magnified!
"By my own prayer and praise,
by my own authority —
I ordained the age,
the age of kings I made,
and the age I set in order.
I called upon the age, and the age spoke to me:
'The world that I did not create, I shall lay waste.'
I seized the sword and the blade.
The settlements I disturbed utterly,
and the things I did not establish, I overthrew,
so that they might not raise a great clamor,
and I hurled myself into battle on high.
I diminished the works
that were fixed in their appointed places.
The war the mighty ones did not wish for
came upon me from myself.
I stirred a disturbance
and brought myself into confinement."
The Radiant Transplant spoke
to Yushamin, saying:
"Did I not tell you not to rage
and not to start a battle in the Jordan?
It was not decreed for you to wage war.
You were small; you were wise.
Now they call you a fool.
You had a seat at the head.
Now they have placed you beside the Nether Gate.
You have destroyed the works you had done
since your first days,
so that among your firstborn
you have not kept company with even one.
You have destroyed your lands and your buildings,
you have removed your beds from their places.
Ladies were taken by you,
and ladies have been taken from you.
From you was taken the first stability
that the First One bestowed upon your mind.
You have disturbed your great nest
and destroyed the well-ordered works.
You have crushed your great nest
and stand between two kings.
Your likeness shall be released,
but the kings shall not judge to release you.
They did not repair the great thing that was ordered,
and they shall not right the works that were commanded.
You stand without judgment, Yushamin,
and neither humility nor concern has come to your mind,
and you have not taken heed.
You were not instructed, nor were you taught,
and you did not seek wisdom from the First One.
You did not seek the clarity of the Jordan,
nor teachings from the ladies.
You know full well, Yushamin,
the word that the king heard —
when it went forth from the mouth of the world,
it ceased to recount wonders without end.
Did you not know, Yushamin,
that what has been destroyed in a thousand years
cannot be restored even in twenty-four
thousand years, to what it once was?
Your offspring were seized through quarrels,
and you set the great shackles upon your feet.
You heaped sighing upon their sighing,
and sorrow shall never leave you.
You have placed tears in your eyes,
flowing like the waters of the Jordan."
Yushamin spoke to the Radiant Transplant, saying:
"By my own hand, I sought sorrow.
Now I shall seize and never release
the truth of the sublime, and guard it,
until the Great Life does all that it wills."
And Life triumphs!
Colophon
Good Works Translation from Classical Mandaic. Chapter 4 of the Mandaean Book of John (Drasha d-Yahia), the Yushamin cycle. Translated from the critical edition of Charles G. Haberl and James F. McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary (De Gruyter, 2020), open access via Internet Archive (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
The English translation was independently derived from the Classical Mandaic source text. The Haberl and McGrath English translation was consulted as a reference for verification of proper names and difficult passages. Key divergences from the reference: the Mandaic word order in the opening is preserved (prayer/praise before authority); "age" renders ikla (the reference uses "time"); "lay waste" renders the Mandaic root HRB (the reference uses "destroy"); "the Radiant Transplant" renders Nasb Ziwa for consistency with Chapters 1-3 (the reference alternates between "Splendid Plant" and "Splendid Transplant"); "the First One" renders qadmaya (the reference supplies "[Life]").
This is a first free independent English translation. No previous freely available English translation of this chapter existed.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ — ࡐࡓࡀࡒࡀ ࡃ (Drasha d-Yahia — Chapter 4)
Classical Mandaic source text from the critical edition of Charles G. Haberl and James F. McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary (De Gruyter, 2020). Open access via Internet Archive. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
ࡌࡓࡀࡅࡓࡀࡁ ࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡔࡀࡉࡍࡀ
ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡁࡁࡅࡕࡀ ࡅࡕࡅࡔࡁࡉࡄࡕࡀ ࡖࡀࡍࡔࡐࡀࡉ
ࡁࡔࡅࡋࡈࡀࡀࡍ ࡖࡀࡍࡔࡐࡀࡉ
ࡅࡉࡊࡋࡀ ࡌࡀࡐࡒࡃࡀࡀࡍ
ࡉࡊࡋࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡋࡉࡊࡀ ࡀࡁࡃࡉࡕ
ࡅࡉࡊࡋࡀ ࡌࡋࡀࡋࡅࡊࡍ
ࡉࡊࡋࡀ ࡒࡓࡉࡕ ࡅࡉࡊࡋࡀ ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡉࡀ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡋࡀࡒࡓࡉࡕ ࡖࡌࡀࡄࡓࡉࡁࡀࡀࡍ
ࡄࡉࡓࡁࡀ ࡅࡎࡉࡀࡐ ࡉࡍࡎࡁࡉࡕ
ࡏࡃࡀ ࡔࡂࡀࡔࡕࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡔࡂࡀࡔࡕࡀ
ࡅࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡅࡋࡀࡕࡓࡀࡑ5
ࡅࡓࡌࡉࡁࡇ ࡁࡏࡌࡓࡅࡌ ࡕࡉࡂࡓࡀ
ࡖࡋࡀࡕࡓࡀࡑ ࡋࡒࡀࡋࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡖࡄࡅࡀ ࡌࡕࡀࡒࡀࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡃࡅࡕࡊࡀࡉࡉࡍ
ࡄࡀࡎࡓࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡏࡋ ࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀ
ࡖࡋࡀࡁࡅࡍ ࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡒࡓࡀࡁࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡍࡔࡐࡀࡉ ࡌࡉࡈࡉࡀࡍ
ࡅࡀࡉࡕࡉࡕࡇ ࡋࡏࡎࡅࡓࡀ ࡋࡀࡍࡔࡐࡀࡉ
ࡀࡀࡍ ࡔࡀࡂࡉࡔࡕ ࡋࡔࡉࡂࡔࡀ
ࡋࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ10
ࡅࡋࡀࡕࡉࡓࡌࡉࡀ ࡕࡉࡂࡓࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ
ࡋࡀࡅ ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡖࡋࡀࡕࡉࡁࡀࡃ ࡓࡅࡂࡆࡀ
ࡋࡀࡕࡊࡉࡁࡋࡀࡊ ࡋࡌࡉࡁࡀࡃ ࡒࡓࡀࡁࡀ
ࡄࡀࡔࡕࡀ ࡎࡀࡋࡊࡀ ࡒࡓࡅࡊ
ࡄࡅࡉࡕ ࡆࡅࡈࡀ ‖ ࡄࡅࡀ ࡄࡀࡉࡊࡌࡉࡕ
[20]
ࡄࡀࡔࡕࡀ ࡋࡁࡀࡁࡀ ࡖࡎࡅࡀࡐࡕ ࡀࡅࡕࡁࡅࡊ
ࡄࡅࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡔࡀ
ࡖࡌࡍ ࡉࡀࡒࡍࡅࡕࡀࡊ ࡀࡁࡀࡃࡕ
ࡀࡄࡓࡉࡁࡕ ࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀ15
ࡀࡑࡅࡕࡀ ࡋࡀࡃࡀࡅࡀࡓࡕ ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡄࡀࡃ
ࡖࡌࡍ ࡁࡀࡍࡊ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡉࡀ
ࡔࡀࡉࡍࡕ ࡀࡓࡎࡀࡊ ࡌࡍ ࡃࡅࡕࡊࡀࡉࡅࡍ
ࡀࡐࡎࡕ ࡀࡓࡒࡀࡊ ࡅࡁࡉࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍࡊ
ࡅࡀࡀࡍࡉࡍࡀ ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡊ ࡏࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁ ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡊ ࡀࡀࡍࡉࡍࡀ
ࡖࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡉࡀ ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡀࡊ ࡋࡏࡅࡓࡑࡀࡊ
ࡏࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡊ ࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡄࡓࡉࡁࡕ ࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡅࡀ ࡌࡕࡀࡒࡀࡍࡍ
ࡔࡂࡀࡔࡕࡇ ࡋࡒࡉࡀࡍࡊ ࡓࡀࡁࡕࡉࡀ20
ࡁࡉࡉࡍࡀ ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡊࡀ ࡕࡓࡉࡍ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ
ࡁࡊࡀࡔࡕࡇ ࡋࡒࡉࡀࡍ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡅࡃࡉࡀࡍࡊ ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡊࡀ ࡉࡍࡃࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡋࡀࡌࡉࡔࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡀࡊ ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡉࡓࡉࡀࡕ
ࡅࡋࡀࡌࡕࡀࡒࡉࡍ ࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡌࡎࡀࡃࡓࡀࡍ
ࡅࡋࡀࡓࡒࡀ ࡎࡃࡉࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡅࡋࡀࡕࡉࡕ ࡌࡉࡊࡅࡊࡕࡀ ࡋࡏࡅࡓࡑࡀࡊ ࡅࡋࡀࡃࡍࡉࡔࡕ
ࡁࡋࡀ ࡃࡉࡀࡍ ࡒࡀࡉࡌࡉࡕ ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ
ࡅࡄࡅࡌࡊࡕࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡉࡀ ࡋࡀࡁࡉࡕ ‖
ࡅࡋࡀࡏࡕࡀࡐࡒࡀࡃࡕ ࡅࡋࡀࡏࡕࡀࡓࡐࡀࡔࡕ25
ࡅࡀࡓࡐࡀࡔࡀࡕࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡀࡍࡉࡍࡀ ࡋࡀࡁࡉࡕ
ࡅࡋࡀࡃࡍࡉࡔࡕ ࡏࡋ ࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡖࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ
[21]
ࡌࡉࡉࡍࡋࡕࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡔࡅࡌࡀ
ࡌࡉࡃࡀ ࡉࡀࡃࡉࡕ ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ
ࡔࡀࡉࡍࡀ ࡖࡋࡀࡎࡀࡀࡊ ࡌࡀࡃࡀࡊࡓ ࡄࡀࡎࡉࡐ
ࡗ ࡀࡍࡒࡐࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡅࡐࡌࡇ ࡖࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡖࡄࡅࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡀࡋࡀࡐ ࡖࡔࡉࡍࡀ
ࡋࡀࡅ ࡉࡀࡃࡉࡕ ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ
ࡋࡀࡌࡉࡕࡒࡀࡉࡀࡌ ࡗ ࡖࡄࡅࡀ
ࡁࡎࡓࡉࡍ ࡅࡀࡓࡁࡀ ࡀࡋࡉࡐࡀ ࡔࡉࡍࡀ30
ࡅࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡎࡀࡃࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡁࡋࡉࡂࡓࡀࡊ ࡓࡌࡉࡕ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡔࡉࡕࡋࡀࡊ ࡁࡒࡉࡓࡉࡀ ࡏࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ
ࡅࡀࡊࡓࡉࡅࡕࡀ ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡊ ࡋࡀࡁࡀࡈࡋࡀ
ࡀࡍࡉࡐࡔࡉࡕࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡋࡕࡉࡉࡍࡄࡕࡀ
ࡗ ࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡁࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡔࡀࡋࡐࡉࡀ
ࡕࡓࡀࡕࡑࡇ ࡏࡋ ࡃࡉࡌࡉࡄࡕࡀ ࡁࡀࡉࡀࡍࡊ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ ࡋࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡄࡀࡔࡕࡀ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡏࡎࡉࡁࡋࡇ ࡅࡋࡀࡏࡔࡉࡁࡒࡇ
ࡁࡀࡉࡕࡇ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡋࡀࡊࡓࡉࡅࡕࡀ ࡁࡉࡃࡀࡉ35
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡅࡊࡋ ࡖࡀࡑࡁࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡀࡁࡃࡉࡀ
ࡋࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ ࡖࡔࡀࡉࡍࡀ ࡅࡏࡀࡍࡈࡓࡇ
ࡅࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡆࡀࡉࡊࡍ
Source Colophon
Mandaic source text extracted from the Unicode text layer of the critical edition PDF (Haberl & McGrath, 2020). Published open access under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The critical edition was based on manuscripts DC 17 (Bodleian Library, Oxford) and other witnesses.
The Mandaic script is presented in Unicode (Mandaic block U+0840-U+085F). Verse numbers from the critical edition are preserved. The doxological formula ("In the name of the Great Life, may the sublime light be magnified") that frames each chapter is included.
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