The Divine Pymander of Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus (2023 Modernized Edition): A carefully composed plain language rendition for modern readers of Hermetic philosophy

by Hermes Trismegistus

For Sense can be nothing more than a corporeal discernment that comes to the Body, either of Evil or Good. 50. But nothing comes to – and nothing departs from – Eternal Bodies. Therefore, there is no Sense in them.

For the Senses of rational things are with Reason; of things unreasonable, they are only Corporeal; but the Senses of things inanimate are passive only, according to Increase and Reduction.

For that which permits the Sense to rejoice with Pleasure is the simultaneous cause of many evils that happen to him who suffers it.

You do not miss the mark, O Son; Truth indeed is nowhere at all on Earth, for it cannot be generated, or made. 15. But concerning the Truth, it may be that some men may understand it, to whom God will give the Good seeing power.

Tat: Therefore, what do you affirm to be the first Truth, O Father? 38. Herm: The One and Only, O Tat, that is not of Matter; that is not in a Body; that is without color, Figure, or Shape; Immutable; Unalterable; which always exists. But Falsehood, O Son, is corrupted.

17. For the Bodies of Heavenly things have one order which they have received from the Father at the beginning, and they are kept indissolveable by their restorative nature. 18. But the restorative nature of earthly Bodies is their consistence, and their dissolution restores them into indissolveable - that is Immortal - matter. 19. And so a deprivation of Sense is made, but not a destruction of Bodies.

7. For I affirm the things that are made to be made by another, and it is impossible that any of the things that are made should be more ancient than all, except for only that which is not made. 8. He is stronger, and one, and only, knowing all things indeed, since there is nothing more ancient than himself.

Therefore, who is this Father? How shall we know him? 14. Or is it fair for us to ascribe to him alone the Title and Honorific of God, or of the Maker, or of the Father, or all Three? We call him God because of his Power; the Maker, because of his Working and Operation; and the Father because of his Goodness.

For this reason, dispensing with great and pointless volumes of speech, we must understand these two things: that which is made, and he who is the Maker; for there is nothing in the Middle, between these Two, nor is there any third thing to understand.

25. This making, or Creation, is the Body of God, in a manner of speaking. And to him who makes or does, there is nothing evil or filthy to be accused of, or there is nothing thought evil or filthy. 26. For these are Passions that follow Generation as Rust follows Copper, or as Excretions follow the Body. 27. But the Coppersmith did not make Rust as the Maker did not make Filth, nor did God make Evilness.