Χρύσεα Ἔπη

The Golden Verses of Pythagoras

The Chrysa Epe (Golden Verses) ,

Collected by Hierocles of Alexandria (c.430 AD)

Verses 1-45 are of practical philosophy regarding moral virtues. The verses remind the initiate of the
moral duties which promote the soul to the realization of its enlightenment.

Verses 46-61 are about the fundaments of the Law of Destiny, how soul chooses its destiny, either evil or
good.

Verses 61-71 are of religious philosophy containing a brief prayer to Zeus Pater, and the revelation of
immortality as the liberation from death.

Illustration von J. August Knapp (1853-1938)

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 1. Honor the immortal gods1 as it is established by the law.
2. Venerate the oath and also the noble heroes.
3. The same for daimons of the underworld2, according to the traditional rites.
4. Honor your father and mother as well as your relatives.
5. Make your best friend one who is outstanding by his virtues
6. Be kind with your words and useful with your works.
7. Be not enraged by the lesser faults accounted to your friends.
8. Act according to your faculties, aware that power is very close to necessity.
9. Learn that, on the one hand, that things are thus3; and on the other accustom yourself to
dominate this:
10. First the stomach and later sleep, sexual impulse and rage.
11. Do not commit any shameful action.
12. Neither with another or by yourself; for you must, firstly and beforehand, respect
yourself.
13. By just in words and actions.
14. Reasonable and conscious in all that you do.
15. Do not forget that death is the destiny for everyone.
16. And that it is the condition of destiny to augment and diminish.
17. The sufferings proportioned by destiny proceed from the gods.
18. Face destiny with dignity.
19. Although it is best to correct this destiny according to your faculties.
20. Know that destiny does not give more suffering to the good.
21. Of the many words uttered by men, ones are good and others are not.
22. Be not perturbed by then, do not allow them to influence you.
23. Face lies with patience and kindness.
24. See to abide by what I will say to you now:
25. May nobody, neither with words or acts,
26. Convince you that you should say or do what is not best.

1
The gods are the vital functions acting within Man.
2
The “impulses” of the unconscious psyche.
3
That is, according to necessity or destiny, the godess Ananké.

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27. Reflect before you commit a foolish act.
28. For it is proper of men to utter foolish words and perform evil acts.
29. Do now what cannot hurt you later.
30. Always abstain from what you do not know.
31. Learn all that is necessary so that your life may be happier.
32. It is inconvenient to neglect bodily health.
33. So you will procure the just measure of food, drink, and exercise.
34. Know the just measure as that which causes no pain.
35. Accustom yourself to living a pure life, clean and virile.
36. See that you do nothing that would bring envy upon yourself.
37. Do not spend unwisely, as those who ignore the honest proportion of beauty.
38. But do not be cheap. The best in all things is the just measure.
39. Do that which does not damage you, but reflect before you act.
40. Do not allow sweet dreams to close your eyes.
41. Without having gone over with yourself what you have done in the day.
42. In what have I come to fault? What have I done? Have I passed by my duty?
43. Go over the actions you have realized, starting with the first and without omitting any
other.
44. Reprimand yourself if you have committed an evil act and rejoice with the good ones.
45. This is what you must do. This is the duty requiring your care.

46. Here is what you must love. Here is what will commend you on the path of divinity.
47. I swear by He that has given our soul the Tetractys, fountain and root of the Eternal
Nature.
48. Before starting any task
49. Ask the gods to sanctify your effort.
50. If you practice these rules, you shall know the bonds that unite the immortal gods
with mortal men.
51. And you shall learn the elements that pass and those which stay.

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52. And you shall know as it is just to know, that it is Law that the essence of the universe is
one and similar in all.
53. So you will not hope for what should not be hoped for, nor shall there be any secret
to you.
54. And you will also know that the evils suffered by men are those which they chose by
their will.
55. Because they are so disgraceful that they do not see the good that is by their side.
56. Neither do they hear, because there are very few which know how to be liberated from
evil.
57. Thus is the destiny which blinds their mind. As cylinders which roll around,
58. They go from one place to the next, suffering infinite evils.
59. Incapable of recognizing the dreaded discord which is innate to them.
60. Instead of stirring it up, one should avoid it.

61. Father Zeus! You can liberate men from infinite evils!
62. Showing each man the daimon which guides him!
63. And you, oh man, have faith, for the race of mortals is of divine origin.
64. And his divine essence reveals all things to him.
65. Practicing what I exhort you to, you will enjoy its benefits.
66. En when your soul is liberated you shall be free of all evil.
67. Avoid the food indicated in the book of purifications and the salvation of the soul.
68. However, reflect upon everything.
69. Take as your guide in the chariot of the soul reason.
70. And once you have been freed from the covering of flesh, you shall go to the intangible
aether.
71. And you shall be a god incorruptible, immortal, liberated from death.