O child, I always shine in the face of the faithful, but they do not want to see Me, or rather, they close their eyes, not wanting to look at Me,

And they turn away in the other direction.

Together with them, I turn to stand before them, but they again avert their eyes and therefore do not see the light of My face at all.

Some of them cover their faces, while others run away, completely hating Me.

So what shall I do with them? I am completely perplexed.

For to save them without their will and under compulsion would seem to be sorrowful for those who do not wish to be saved.

For the good truly becomes good only by will, and without the will the good will will not be good.

Therefore I also see those who will, and I see them, and I make them joint-heirs of My Kingdom.

Those who are unwilling I leave with their desire in this world.

And they themselves are their own judges before the Judgment, for at the time when I, the Unapproachable Light, shone, they alone created darkness for themselves, not wishing to see the Light, and remaining in darkness

Hymn 18: An alphabet in couplets, encouraging and instructing the recently withdrawn from the world to ascend to the perfection of life.

Having placed Christ and fervent faith as the beginning, we thus departed from the world.

Flee from relatives and friends, for this is useful for beginners.

Free from (all) material things, approach the Immaterial,

for you will find nothing more to help you.

Casting away all faint-heartedness from you (for you have taken refuge in the almighty Lord), but rather accepting the undoubted hope (for He cares even for small birds), bear the light yoke of the Lord (for great is the reward to come), saving us all mortals (for we are redeemed by the Divine blood), and manifesting by the Gods by the power of the Caller, for such is the incarnation of the Lord,

That thou mayest know by deed the end of works, that which is more foremost than all things seen.

A good gain for you is the cutting off of your will: it will show you to be a martyr in your conscience.

Do the words of your Father and the commandments, for they guide you without stumbling on the way, even unto death. great is the height of this (podvig); but God clearly did this for your sake.

Consider yourself the worst of all (it will make you first in the kingdom),