The Book of John — Chapter 57 · Tianmu Anglican Church

Life's Treasure

Chapter fifty-seven of the Mandaean Book of John (Drašia ḏ-Iahia), the principal mythological and liturgical scripture of the Mandaean tradition. The Book of John preserves the cosmological and soteriological teachings of Mandaeism — one of the last surviving Gnostic religions, practised today by approximately 100,000 adherents, primarily in Iraq and the diaspora.

This chapter is a refrain poem — a first-person divine speech in which simat hiia, "Life's treasure," declares her own nature and functions. She is crown, garment, and radiance: she adorns the Mighty One, illumines the Jordan, clothes the king and the Splendid Plant, summons the wicked toward the light, and counsels the Nazoreans to praise in her name. The refrain "simat an simat hiia" — "a treasure am I — Life's treasure!" — tolls throughout, punctuating each new function. The chapter closes with a vine parable: the fruitful shall rise, the barren shall be cut off. After the pastoral eschatology of Chapter 56 (The Perfected One), this chapter restores the divine first-person voice — Life's treasure speaking of what she is and what she does.

Classical Mandaic source text from the critical edition of Häberl and McGrath (2020).

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
A treasure am I — the Mighty One's treasure!
A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
A crown before the Mighty One was I!

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
I illumined excellencies and settlements,
and upon the Jordan was I a radiance —
a radiance upon the Jordan was I,

which had no forerunner,
within which excellencies shine.
The Great Life surely instructed me
and fashioned me into a garment.
Each day they don me as their garment
and praise from head to toe.

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
A crown for the glorious king was I,
in whose radiance excellencies shine,
whose likeness they ever praise.

A treasure am I — Life's treasure,
who spread over the glorious king —
a gleam that enlightened his mind,
who surely instructed him,
whose likeness shone beyond the worlds.
And the settlements that lie in the air —
when he shines and enlightens excellencies,
the king clothed the Splendid Plant with me.
The Splendid Plant took me and brought me
and fashioned me into a garment for the Jordan —

a garment for the Jordan he fashioned me,
which enlightens excellencies
from head to toe.

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
The wicked are blind and do not see.
I summon them toward the light,
those entombed in the darkness.
I say to them:

"O wicked ones who sink in the darkness —
rise! Do not sink down!"
I called to them, but the wicked did not hear,
and they sank into the great Ocean.
Then the Jordan became a cable —
a cable for the excellencies.
The excellencies seized it and cast them off;
the wicked they cast into the great Ocean.

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
A crown upon Manda d'Heyyi became I!

He set me in authority over excellencies
and over the settlements there.

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
An illuminator of the worlds of light was I.
Each and every day I praise the Great One,
and through me they rise to behold the place of light.

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
A garment for the worlds of light was I.
I am Life's treasure —
I who counselled the Nazoreans.

I counselled the Nazoreans
to praise and affirm in my name.
They shall praise and affirm in my name,
and by my name rise to behold the place of light.
The righteous elect who don me —
their eyes fill with light.

With light their eyes fill,
and Manda d'Heyyi dwells in their hearts.
Whoever dons me, Life's treasure,

loves neither wife nor children,
loves neither gold nor silver,
loves neither wealth nor possessions.
He does not love bodily food,
and envy has not fallen upon him.
No envy fell upon him,
and he did not forget the evening devotionals.
He did not forget his lessons and his books,
and did not turn from his lord's word.
He did not turn from the love of his father

Manda d'Heyyi, and shall not fall into the great Ocean.
He did not forget Sunday
and did not neglect the morning prayers.
He did not forget the path of the Great One —
the one of merit and almsgiving shall be taken.
He shall be taken during the evening prayer,
in the shining garments
that the excellencies brought from the Great One.
He shall supply what he lacked; empty-handed they bear him.
When he bears a pure burden,

he shall be reckoned among the righteous elect.
He shall be reckoned among the righteous elect
who meditate upon Yawar's name.
Life's treasure is upon them —
she spread light upon their likenesses.
I shall set a road for them to the house of the Mighty One.
I called a proclamation and instructed disciples there.

I say to them:
"The vine that bears fruit shall rise,
and the one that does not shall be cut off here.
Whom I instructed and taught shall rise —
he shall behold the place of light.
Whom I did not shall be cut off —
he shall fall into the great Ocean."

The triumphant Life speaks,
and the one who went here triumphs!

And Life is victorious.

Colophon

Good Works Translation from Classical Mandaic. Translated by the New Tianmu Anglican Church (NTAC + Claude), 2026.

The English translation was independently derived from the Classical Mandaic source text. Häberl & McGrath's English translation was consulted as a reference to verify readings in ambiguous passages, and this consultation is acknowledged. Key departures from the reference translation: (1) "illumined" for ahnirit — verbal form rather than H&M's periphrastic "brought light to," capturing the active illuminating function. (2) "radiance" for aṣuta — more majestic than H&M's "glimmer"; the divine treasure's light upon the Jordan is not a glint but a radiance. (3) "fashioned" for šawiun — more artisanal than "made," reflecting the crafting of a garment. (4) "don" for ritual garbing throughout — archaic English for the solemn act of putting on a sacred garment, vs. H&M's "wear." (5) "the Mighty One" for rurbia — adding "One" for English clarity where H&M uses bare "the Mighty." (6) "likeness" for dmūtā — closer to the Aramaic root dmut (image, likeness) than H&M's "appearance." (7) "beyond the worlds" for min almia — min here carries the sense of surpassing, not comparison. (8) "bodily food" for pagrā — pagra means "body" in Aramaic; "bodily" is more precise than H&M's "material." (9) "counselled" for arpišit — "counselled" carries more weight than H&M's "advised" for divine instruction. (10) "merit and almsgiving" for agra w-zidqa — agra = reward/merit, zidqa = righteousness/almsgiving; "merit and almsgiving" captures the paired Mandaean virtues more precisely than H&M's "reward and charity." (11) Feminine pronouns for simat hiia in third-person references — simat (treasure) is grammatically feminine in Mandaic; "she" when the treasure is spoken of, "I" when the treasure speaks.

Established departures from previous chapters maintained: utria = excellencies, šikinta = settlement, habšaba = Sunday, bhiria zidqa = the righteous elect, maṭarata = guardhouse, qudiša = the so-called holy, min riš briš = from head to toe, gender-neutral "the one who" / "whoever" where the Mandaic permits. The chapter introduces no new Mandaean technical vocabulary; it operates entirely within the established lexicon. The refrain structure (simat an simat hiia) is preserved at each occurrence without variation, mirroring the Mandaic.

First independently derived English translation published online by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Chapter 57 of 76.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text: ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡉࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ — ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ

Classical Mandaic source text from Häberl & McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John (2020), Chapter 57. Extracted from the critical edition PDF via PyMuPDF. Pages 175 and 177 (0-indexed). Page numbers, verse number markers, and column-break markers stripped. Note: PyMuPDF extracts couplet pairs in reversed order (the w- prefix on continuation lines helps identify the second line of each pair); this source text preserves the raw extraction order. For the critical edition's correct line order, consult the original PDF. Unicode Mandaic block (U+0840–U+085F) preserves the original script.

ࡌࡓࡀࡅࡓࡀࡁ ࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡔࡀࡉࡍࡀ
ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡋࡒࡅࡃࡀࡌ ࡋࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡒࡅࡃࡀࡌ ࡀࡄࡍࡉࡓࡉࡕ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡅࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡀࡑࡅࡕࡀ ࡋࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡄࡅࡉࡕࡉࡋࡇ
ࡅࡋࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡄࡅࡉࡕࡉࡋࡇ ࡀࡑࡅࡕࡀ
ࡖࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡇ ࡀࡍࡄࡓࡉࡀ
ࡖࡌࡍ ࡋࡀࡒࡀࡃࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡅࡀ
ࡅࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡅࡍ
ࡁࡀࡅࡍࡍ ࡅࡀࡓࡐࡉࡔࡅࡍ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡋࡀࡉࡀࡓ ࡌࡔࡀࡁࡉࡋࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡍ ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡅࡊࡋ ࡉࡅࡌ
ࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡋࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡖࡏࡒࡀࡓࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡋࡃࡌࡅࡕࡀࡉ ࡌࡔࡀࡁࡉࡋࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡖࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡁࡆࡉࡅࡀࡉ ࡀࡍࡄࡓࡉࡀ
ࡋࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡖࡏࡒࡀࡓࡀ ࡔࡓࡉࡕ ࡏࡋࡇ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡁࡀࡉࡉࡍ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡁࡀࡀࡍࡍ
ࡀࡑࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡏࡄࡍࡀࡓࡁࡇ ࡁࡏࡅࡓࡑࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡍࡄࡓࡀ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ
ࡅࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡖࡁࡀࡉࡀࡓ
ࡗ ࡀࡍࡄࡀࡓ ࡅࡌࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡉࡍࡎࡁࡀࡍ ࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡅࡀࡕࡉࡀࡍ
ࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡋࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡀࡋࡁࡔࡀࡍ
ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡀࡍ ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡋࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ
ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡋࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡀࡍ
ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡖࡀࡍࡄࡓࡉࡁࡇ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡎࡀࡉࡌࡉࡀ ࡁࡉࡔࡉࡀ ࡅࡋࡀࡄࡀࡆࡉࡍ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡄࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡁࡄࡔࡅࡀࡊ ࡌࡉࡕࡒࡀࡁࡓࡉࡀ
ࡋࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡌࡒࡀࡓࡉࡀࡍࡋࡅࡍ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡀࡍࡋࡅࡍ
ࡌࡉࡆࡒࡀࡐ ࡋࡀࡕࡉࡔࡉࡋࡐࡅࡍ
ࡉࡀ ࡁࡉࡔࡉࡀ ࡖࡔࡀࡋࡐࡉࡀ ࡋࡄࡔࡅࡀࡊ
ࡀࡍࡋࡐࡉࡁࡇ ࡁࡉࡀࡌࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡎࡅࡐ
ࡒࡀࡓࡉࡋࡅࡍ ࡅࡋࡀࡔࡀࡌࡉࡀ ࡁࡉࡔࡉࡀ
ࡋࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡄࡅࡀ ࡌࡉࡓࡑࡀ
ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡀࡊ ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡌࡉࡓࡑࡀ
ࡅࡓࡌࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡋࡁࡉࡔࡉࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡌࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡎࡅࡐ
ࡄࡅࡀࡋࡅࡍ ࡋࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡅࡎࡐࡀࡒࡉࡅࡍࡍ
ࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡋࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡀࡕࡀࡌ
ࡔࡀࡋࡈࡀࡍ ࡋࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡄࡍࡉࡓࡀࡅࡍࡍ ࡖࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡁࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉ ࡎࡀࡋࡒࡉࡀ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡋࡇ ࡋࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡅࡊࡋ ࡉࡅࡌ ࡅࡊࡋ ࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡋࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡌࡔࡀࡁࡉࡋࡅࡍ
ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡋࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡋࡀࡍࡅࡑࡓࡀࡉࡉࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ
ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡖࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉ ࡌࡔࡀࡁࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡒࡀࡉࡌࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ ࡋࡀࡍࡅࡑࡓࡀࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡋࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉ ࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡋࡒࡉࡀ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡋࡇ ࡋࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡌࡔࡀࡁࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡒࡀࡉࡌࡉࡀ ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉ
ࡀࡉࡀࡍࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡁࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡏࡕࡉࡌࡋࡉࡀ
ࡁࡄࡉࡓࡉࡀ ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡖࡋࡉࡁࡔࡅࡍ
ࡅࡁࡋࡉࡁࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡔࡓࡀࡋࡅࡍ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡀࡉࡀࡍࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡏࡕࡉࡌࡋࡉࡀ ࡁࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ
ࡆࡀࡅࡀ ࡅࡁࡉࡍࡀ ࡋࡀࡓࡀࡄࡉࡌ
ࡖࡋࡀࡁࡉࡔࡋࡅࡍ ࡋࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡓࡂࡁࡀ ࡅࡌࡉࡅࡍࡀࡍ ࡋࡀࡓࡀࡄࡉࡌ
ࡆࡀࡄࡁࡀ ࡅࡀࡊࡎࡀࡐ ࡋࡀࡓࡀࡄࡉࡌ
ࡅࡀࡒࡅࡕ ࡀࡉࡉࡍࡀ ࡋࡀࡔࡓࡀࡕ ࡏࡋࡇ
ࡏࡉࡊࡋࡕࡀ ࡖࡀࡐࡂࡓࡉࡀ ࡋࡀࡓࡀࡄࡉࡌ
ࡋࡀࡏࡉࡍࡔࡉࡀ ࡓࡀࡄࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡋࡉࡋࡉࡀ
ࡋࡀࡔࡓࡀࡕ ࡏࡋࡇ ࡀࡒࡅࡕ ࡀࡉࡉࡍࡀ
ࡅࡌࡍ ࡌࡉࡉࡍࡋࡀࡕ ࡌࡀࡓࡇ ࡋࡀࡋࡑࡀ
ࡋࡀࡏࡉࡍࡔࡉࡀ ࡃࡓࡀࡁࡔࡉࡀ ࡅࡎࡉࡃࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡅࡋࡀࡀࡍࡉࡐࡋ ࡁࡉࡀࡌࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡎࡅࡐ
ࡋࡀࡋࡑࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡀࡄࡌࡇ ࡖࡀࡁࡅࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡋࡀࡈࡀࡓ
ࡅࡋࡀࡏࡉࡍࡔࡉࡇ ࡋࡄࡀࡁࡔࡀࡁࡀ
ࡖࡀࡂࡓࡀ ࡅࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ
ࡋࡀࡏࡉࡍࡔࡉࡀ ࡏࡅࡄࡓࡀ ࡖࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ ࡁࡀࡋࡁࡅࡔࡉࡀ ࡕࡀࡒࡉࡍࡀ
ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ ࡁࡓࡀࡄࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡋࡉࡋࡉࡀ
ࡖࡄࡀࡎࡉࡓ ࡌࡀࡋࡀࡋࡇ ࡁࡉࡎࡓࡉࡒ ࡈࡀࡉࡉࡋࡍࡇ
ࡖࡌࡍ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡀࡎࡂࡅࡍ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡁࡄࡉࡓࡉࡀ ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡌࡉࡄࡔࡉࡁ
ࡗ ࡈࡀࡉࡉࡍ ࡈࡅࡀࡍ ࡃࡀࡉࡊࡀ
ࡖࡋࡔࡅࡌࡇ ࡖࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡐࡉࡔࡉࡀ
ࡌࡉࡄࡔࡉࡁ ࡌࡍ ࡁࡄࡉࡓࡉࡀ ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ
ࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓࡕࡇ ࡔࡓࡀࡕ ࡋࡃࡌࡅࡕࡅࡍ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡅࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ
ࡒࡓࡉࡁࡇ ࡁࡀࡊࡋࡅࡆࡀ ࡅࡀࡓࡐࡉࡔࡉࡕ ࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡀ ࡋࡀࡊ
ࡏࡕࡓࡉࡋࡑࡅࡍ ࡃࡉࡓࡀࡊ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡀࡍࡋࡅࡍ
ࡅࡃࡋࡀࡈࡀࡉࡉࡍ ࡄࡀࡀࡊ ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡂࡆࡀࡓ
ࡂࡅࡐࡀࡍ ࡖࡈࡀࡉࡉࡍ ࡎࡀࡋࡉࡒ
ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡋࡇ ࡋࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡖࡁࡀࡉࡉࡁࡍࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡐࡀࡔࡁࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡋࡉࡒ
ࡅࡀࡍࡉࡐࡋ ࡁࡉࡀࡌࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡎࡅࡐ
ࡖࡋࡀࡁࡀࡉࡉࡁࡍࡉࡀ ࡅࡋࡀࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡐࡀࡔࡁࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡎࡐࡉࡒ
ࡅࡆࡀࡉࡊࡀ ࡂࡀࡁࡓࡀ ࡖࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡋࡀࡊ
ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡀࡉࡉࡍ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡆࡀࡉࡊࡍ

Source Colophon

Classical Mandaic source text from Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020). Accessed via Internet Archive digital lending under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. URL: archive.org/details/mandaeanbookofjohn. Chapter 57 Mandaic text extracted from PDF pages 175 and 177 (0-indexed). Chapter 57 English reference on pages 176 and 178 (headers "56:28 – 57:32" and "57:33 – 58:14"). Page numbers [211]–[214] and verse markers stripped. Column-break markers (‖) removed. Source text presented in raw PyMuPDF extraction order with couplet-reversal artifact noted. Unicode Mandaic block (U+0840–U+085F) preserves the original script.

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