The Sibyl · a new plain-English translation from the original language
The Sibylline Oracles: From the First Book
Beginning from the first generation of speech-endowed men
I shall prophesy each thing down to the very last age,
all that has happened before, all that is now, and all that is destined
to come upon the world through the impiety of men.
First of all God bids me tell truly how the universe
came to be. But you, versatile mortal, speak it out
with understanding, so that you never neglect my commands.
the Most High King, who founded the whole universe,
saying, "Let it be born," and it was born. For he set the earth firm,
casting it about Tartarus, and gave sweet light himself.
He raised up the heaven, and spread out the gray sea,
and crowned the vault of the sky abundantly with fire-bright stars,
and adorned the earth with plants, and the sea with rivers
he poured out and mixed, and blended breezes into the air
and dewy clouds. And then, setting in place yet another race,
he gave fish to the deep waters and birds to the winds,
and to the woods shaggy-necked beasts and serpents
that creep upon the earth, and all things now beheld —
he himself made these by his word, and all things came to be
swiftly and truly. For this world was self-begotten,
seen from heaven above; beneath it the universe was completed.
And then after this he shaped again a breathing work,
a new man, pressed from his own image,
beautiful and wondrous, whom he bade dwell in the ambrosial
paradise, that he might tend its beautiful works.
But he, being alone in the paradise's luxuriant garden,
longed for conversation, and prayed to behold a form
other than his own such as he had. So God himself, taking
a bone from his side, made lovely Eve.
A lawful wife, whom he gave him in the paradise
to dwell with. And he, beholding her, was seized in his heart
with sudden wonder, delighted at what he saw —
a counterpart likeness; and they exchanged wise words
flowing spontaneously, for God cared for all things.
For they did not yet veil their minds with intemperance, nor did they
have shame, but their hearts were far from evil,
and like wild beasts they went about with limbs uncovered.
But afterward God, proclaiming his commands to them,
showed them not to touch the tree; but them the terrible
serpent deceitfully led astray to go to the portion
of death, and to gain knowledge of good and evil.
But the woman was first, a betrayer, she bore that fate for him,
she who gave, and persuaded her unknowing husband to sin.
And he, persuaded by his wife's words, forgot
the immortal creator, and neglected his clear commands.
Therefore, instead of good, they took evil, such as they had done.
And then, threading together leaves of the sweet fig tree,
they made garments and put them upon one another,
and covered their private parts, since shame had come upon them.