The Cumean Sibyl
50 They say that the Cumean brought nine books of her own prophecies to Tarquinius, Priscus, who then ruled the Roman state, and asked three hundred didrachms for them. She was
55 slighted and was not asked what was contained in them so she consigned three of them to the fire. Again, in another approach to the king, she brought forward the six books and asked the same sum. She was considered of no account, so she again burned three more. Then, a third time, she approached, bringing the three that were left and asked the same
60 price, saying that if he did not accept she would burn them also. Then, they say, the king read them and was amazed. He gave a hundred didrachms for them and took them, and he entreated her about the others. When she answered that she did not have the equivalent of what had been burned, and could not know anything of the sort without inspiration, but that sometimes certain people had selected from various cities and regions what they considered
65 necessary and beneficial and that a collection must be made from them, they did this also with all speed, For that which was given by God did not escape notice, though it truly lay hidden in a nook. The books of all the Sibyls were deposited in the Capitol of ancient Rome.
70 Those of the Cumean were concealed and not released to many since they expressed what would happen in Italy very precisely and clearly, but those of the others were known to all. Those of the Erythrean have as superscription this name by which she is called, derived from the region. But the others are not inscribed as to what belongs to whom, but are not
75 distinguished. Now Firmianus, a not inconsiderable philosopher, and priest of the aforementioned Capitol, looking toward Christ, our eternal light, set forth in his own works what had been said by the Sibyls about the ineffable glory, and capably refuted the absurdity of
80 Greek error. His powerful commentary was in Latin, but the Sibylline verses were set forth in Greek. That this may not appear incredible, I will provide a testimony of the aforementioned man as follows. When the Sibylline verses found with us can easily be despised by those who are knowledgeable in Greek culture. Not only because they are easily available (for
85 things which are rare are thought valuable) but also because not all the verses preserve metrical accuracy, he has a rather clear argument. This is the fault of the secretaries, who did not keep pace with the flow of speech or even were ignorant, not of the prophetess. For the memory of what had been said ceased with the inspiration. With regard to this even Plato
90 said that they describe many great things accurately while knowing nothing of what they say.
For my part, therefore, I will set forth as much as possible of what has been handed on in Rome by the elders. Now she expounded about the God who had no beginning, as follows:
One God, who alone rules, exceedingly great unbegotten
95 But God alone, one highest of all, who made
Heaven and sun and stars and moon
And fruitful earth and waves of water of sea
Who alone is God, abiding as indomitable creator.
He himself established the shape of the form of mortals.He himself mixed the nature of all, begetter of life.

Which she said, meaning either that they join by coming together into one flesh or that he made both the world under heaven and man from the four elements which are opposed to each other.

The Sibylline Oracles
Book One

Introduction
Beginning from the first generation of articulate men
Down to the last, I will prophesy all in turn,
Such things as were before, as are, and as will come upon The world through the impiety of men.
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The Creation
5 First God bids me tell truly how the world
Came to be, But you, devious mortal, so that you may never neglect my commands.Attentively make known the most high king. It was he who created
The whole world, saying, “let it come to be” and it came to be. For he established the earth, draping it around with
10 Tartarus, and he himself gave sweet light.
He elevated heaven, and stretched out the gleaming sea, And he crowned the vault of heaven amply with bright-shining stars And decorated the earth with plants. He mixed the sea With rivers, pouring them in, and with the air he mingled fragrances,
15 And dewy clouds. He placed another species;
Fish, in the seas, and gave birds to the winds;
To the woods, also, shaggy wild beasts, and creeping Serpents to the earth; and all things with a word, and all came to be,
20 Swiftly and truly. For he is self-begotten
Looking down from heaven. Under him the world has been brought to completion. And then later he again fashioned an animate object, Making a copy from his own image, youthful man, Beautiful, wonderful. He bade him live in an
25 Ambrosial garden, so that he might be concerned with beautiful works.But he being alone in the luxuriant plantation of the garden Desired conversation, and prayed to behold another form
Like his own. God himself indeed took a bone from his Flank and made Eve, a wonderful maidenly
30 Spouse, whom he gave to this man to live with him in the garden. And he, when he saw her, was suddenly greatly Amazed in spirit, rejoicing, such a corresponding Copy did he see. They conversed with wise words Which flowed spontaneously, for God had taken care of everything.
35 For they neither covered their minds with licentiousness Nor felt shame, but were far removed from evil heart; And they walked like wild beasts with uncovered limbs.
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The Fall
To these did God then address commands
And instruct them not to touch the tree. But a very horrible
40 Snake craftily deceived them to go to the fate
Of death and receive knowledge of good and evil.
But the woman first became a betrayer to him.
She gave, and persuaded him to sin in his ignorance. He was persuaded by the woman’s words, forgot
45 About his immortal creator, and neglected clear commands. Therefore, instead of good they received evil, as they had done. And then they sewed the leaves of the sweet fig tree And made clothes and put them on each other. They concealed their plans, because shame had come upon them.
50 The immortal became angry with them and expelled them From the place of immortals. For it had been decreed That they remain in a mortal place, since they had not kept The command of the great immortal God. And attended to it. But they, immediately, going out on the fruitful earth
55 Wept with tears and groans. Then The immortal God himself spoke to them for the better:
“Increase, multiply, and work on earth with skill, so that by sweat you may have your fill of food.”
Thus he spoke, but he made the serpent, cause of the deceit,
60 Press the earth with belly and flank, Having bitterly driven him out. He aroused a dire enmity
Between them. The one guards his head To save it, the other his heel, for death is at hand In the proximity of men and malignant poisonous snakes.
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The First Generation
65 And then the race multiplied as the universal ruler Himself commanded, and innumerable peoples grew One after another. They constructed all sorts
Of houses and also made cities and walls,
Well and with understanding. To these he granted
70 A lengthy day for a very lovely life. For they did not Die worn out with troubles, but as if overcome by sleep. Blessed were the great-hearted mortals, whom the Immortal savior king, God, loved. But they also Sinned, smitten with folly. For they shamelessly
75 Ridiculed their fathers and dishonored their mothers. Plotters against their brothers, they did not know their familiar friends. They were polluted, sated with the blood of people, And they made wars. Upon them came a final Ruin, cast from heaven, which removed them, 80 Terrible ones, from life. But Hades received them. They called it Hades, since Adam went (there) Having tasted death, and earth covered him. Therefore all men who are born on earth Are said to go to the House of Hades.
85 But all these, even when they went to Hades,
Had honor, since they were the first race.
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The Second Generation
But when it had received these, he fashioned again
Another very diverse second race from the most righteous men who were left. These were concerned with
90 Fair deeds, noble pursuits, proud honor,
And shrewd wisdom. They practiced skills
Of all kinds, discovering inventions by their needs.
One discovered how to till the earth with plows,
Another, carpentry, and another was concerned with sailing,
95 Another, astronomy and divination by birds,
Another, medicine, again another, magic.
Different one devised that with which they were each concerned, Enterprising Watchers, who received this appellation Because they had a sleepless mind in their hearts
100 And as insatiable personality. They were mighty, of great form, but nevertheless they went under the dread house of Tartarus Guarded by unbreakable bonds, to make retribution, To Gehenna of terrible, raging, undying fire.
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The Third Generation
After these again a third race, mighty in spirit,
105 Of overbearing terrible men appeared,
Who performed many evils among themselves.
Wars, slaughters, and battles destroyed these
Continually, men of proud heart.
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The Fourth Generation
After these things, in succession cane another race of men,
110 Late of fulfillment, the youngest, bloodthirsty, indiscriminate, In the fourth generation. They shed much blood, Neither fearing God nor respecting men. For a raging wrath and grievous impiety
Was indeed inflicted on them.
115 Wars and slaughters and battles Cast some to the netherworld, though they were miserable
Impious men. Others the heavenly God himself
Later removed from his world in wrath, Draping them around with great Tartarus, under the base of the earth.
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The Fifth Generation
120 Again he made afterward another far inferior race of men, For whom thereafter immortal God fashioned no good, Since they suffered many evils.
For they were insolent, much more than those Giants, Crooked ones, abominably pouring forth slander.
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Noah Bidden Prepare for the Flood
125 Noah alone among all was most upright and true, A most trustworthy man, concerned for noble deeds. To him God himself spoke as follows from heaven: “Noah, embolden yourself, and proclaim repentance to all the peoples, so that all may be saved.
130 But if they do not heed, since they have a shameless spirit, I will destroy the entire race with great floods of waters. But I bid you to construct quickly an imperishable Wooden house, flourishing with unthirsting roots. I will place a mind in your breast, and crafty
135 Skill, and (will put) measures in your lap; I will take care of everything So that you and as many as live with you will be saved.
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A Riddle On the Name of God
I am the one who is, but you consider in your heart.
I am robed with heaven, draped around with sea,
The earth is the support of my feet, around my body is poured
140 The air, the entire chorus of stars revolves around me. I have nine letters, I am of four syllables. Consider me. The first three have two letters each. The last has the rest, and five are consonants. The entire number is: twice eight
145 Plus three hundred, three tens and seven. If you know who I am You will not be uninitiated in my wisdom.
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Noah Preaches Repentance
Thus he spoke, but an immeasurable fear seized the man, such a thing did he hear. And then, having craftily devised all in turn, He entreated the peoples and began to speak in words like these.
150 “Men sated with faithlessness, smitten with a great madness, What you did will not escape the notice of God, for he knows all things, The immortal savior, who oversees everything, who commanded me To announce to you, so that you may not be destroyed by your hearts. Be sober, cut off evils, and stop fighting violently
155 With each other, having a bloodthirsty heart,
Drenching much earth with human blood.
Mortals, stand in awe of the exceedingly great, fearless Heavenly creator, imperishable God, who inhabits the vault of heaven, And entreat him, all of you-for he is good-
160 For life, cities, and the whole world,
Four-footed animals and birds, so that he will be gracious to all. For the time will come when the whole immense world of men Perishing by waters will wail with a dread refrain.Suddenly you will find the air in confusion
165 And the wrath of the great God will come upon you from heaven. It will truly come to pass that the immortal savior Will cast forth upon men…unless you propitiate God And repent as from now, and no longer anyone Do anything ill-tempered or evil, lawlessly against on another
170 But be guarded in holy life.” When they heard him they sneered at him, each one, Calling him demented, a man gone mad. Then again Noah cried out a refrain; “O very wretched, evil-hearted fickle men,”
175 Abandoning modesty, desiring shamelessness,
Tyrants in fickleness and violent sinners, Liars, sated with faithlessness, evildoers, truthful in nothing, Adulterers, ingenious at pouring out slander, Not fearing the anger of the most high God,
180 You who were preserved till the fifth generation to make retribution. You do not bewail each other, cruel ones, but laugh. You will laugh with a bitter smile when this comes to pass,
I say, the terrible and strange water of God.
Whenever the abominable race of Rheia, a perennial shoot (Rhea=daughter of Ouranos and Gaia, wife of Cronos, mother of Zeus and the gods)
185 On the earth, flourishing with unthirsting roots,
Disappears root and all in a single night, And the earth-shaking land-quaker will scatter cities
Complete with their inhabitants, and the hiding places of the earth and will undo walls, Then also the entire world of innumerable men
190 Will die. But as for me, how much will I lament, how much will I weep In my wooden house, how many tears will I mingle with the waves? For if this water commanded by God comes on, Earth will swim, mountains will swim, even the sky will swim. All will be water and all things will perish in water.
195 Winds will stop, and there will be a second age. O Phrygia, you will emerge first from the surface of the water. You, first, will nourish another generation of men As it begins again. You will be nurse for all.”
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Noah Enters the Ark
But when he had spoken these things in vain to a lawless generation 200 The Most High appeared. He again cried out and spoke. “Now the time is at hand, Noah, (to say all in turn), to do to the immense world everything which on that day I promised and indicated to you, as much as the myriad evils generations did previously, on account of a faithless people.
205 But quickly go on board with your sons and wife And daughters-in-law. Call as many as I bid you to address, Species of four-footed animals, and serpents and birds. I will subsequently put in the breasts Of as many as I apportion life to go willingly.”
210 Thus he spoke. But the man went, cried out loudly and spoke and then his spouse and sons and daughters-in-law Entered the wooden house. But then The other creatures went in turn, as many as God wished to save. But when the joining bolt was about the shutter,
215 Fitted to a side in the polished wall, Then indeed the plan of the heavenly God was ccomplished.
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The Flood
He threw clouds together and hid the brightly gleaming disk. Having covered the moon, together with the stars, and the crown of heaven All around, he thundered loudly, a terror to mortals,
220 Sending out hurricanes. All the storm winds were gathered together And all the springs of waters were released As the great cataracts were opened from heaven, And from the recesses of the earth and the endless abyss Measureless waters appeared and the entire immense earth was covered.
225 The wondrous house itself swam on the flood.
Battered by many raging waves and swimming
Under the impact of the winds, it surged terribly.
The keel cut immense foam As the rushing waters were moved.
230 But when God had deluged the entire world with rains Then Noah considered that he might look on The counsel of the immortal, and see the Hades of Nereus. (Nereus=an old sea-god) He quickly opened the shutter from the polished wall,
Fixed as it was skillfully with fastenings opposite each other.
235 Beholding the great mass of limitless waters,
Noah was struck with terror to see with his eyes
Only death on all sides, and he quivered greatly at heart. And then the air drew back a little, since it had labored many days Drenching the whole world, and showed then the great vault
240 Of heaven at evening, as it were bloodied, greenish-yellow, And the brightly gleaming disk hard pressed. Noah barely maintained his courage.
And then taking one dove aside, He cast it out, so that he might know in his heart Whether firm land had yet appeared. But she, laboring with her wings,
245 Having flown all over, returned again; for the water Was not receding, but rather it had filled everything. But he waited again some days and sent a dove once more, So that he might know if the great waters had ceased. But she, flying, winged herself a little on the damp land.
250 Having rested herself a little on the damp land,
She returned to Noah again, bringing an olive twig,
A great sign of her message. Courage And great joy seized them all because they were hoping to see land. And then afterward he sent out quickly another black-winged
255 Bird. But this one, trusting in his wings,
Flew prudently, and when he came to the land he stayed there. And Noah knew that land was near, closer by. But when the heavenly craft had swum to and fro On the dashing waves, by the billows of the sea,
260 It was fastened on a small beach and made fast.
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The Ark Lands in Phrygia
There is a certain tall lofty mountain on the dark
Mainland of Phrygia. It is called Ararat. When all were about to be saved on it, Thereupon there was a great heart felt longing.
265 There the springs of the great river Marsyos had sprung up. In this place the Ark remained on lofty summits When the waters had subsided. Then again from heaven The wondrous voice of the great God cried out As follows: “Noah, trustworthy righteous man who has been preserved,
270 Go forth boldly with your sons and wife
And three daughters-in-law and fill the whole earth
Increasing and multiplying, dealing justly
With each other, to generations of generations, until
The whole race of men comes to trial, when there will be judgment for all.”
275 Thus the heavenly voice spoke. But Noah took courage And jumped to the land from the Ark, and his sons with him And his wife, and daughters-in-law and serpents and birds, The species of four-footed animals and all the other creatures together
Went out of the wooden house into one place.
280 And then Noah, most righteous of men,
Came out eighth, having fulfilled forty-one dawns
On the waters, through the counsels of the great God.
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The Sixth Generation
Then again a new generation of life dawned,
The first golden, excellent one, which is the sixth
285 Since the time of the first formed man. Its name is “heavenly”, for God will take care of everything.
O the first race of the sixth generation! O great joy!
In which I later shared, when I escaped dire destruction, Having been much buffeted by waves, suffering terrible things with my husband and brothers-in-law,
290 And father-in-law and mother-in-law, and fellow brides, I will tell exactly. There will be a multicolored flower On the fig tree. Time will be at its midpoint. There will be A royal scepter-bearing rule. For three great-spirited kings, Most righteous men, will destroy the fates
295 And will rule for a period of many years, administering justice To men. They will be concerned with labor, and fair deeds. The earth will rejoice, sprouting with many Spontaneous fruits, overladen with offspring. Those who give nourishment will be ageless, always.
300 Free from hard raging diseases
They will die, smitten by sleep, and will go away
To Acheron in the halls of Hades, and there
They will have honor, since they were a race of blessed ones, Happy men, to whom Sabaoth gave a noble mind.
305 To these also be always confided his counsels.
But they will be blessed, even entering Hades.
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The Seventh Generation: the Titans
(The Titans in Greek mythology were half man and half god) Then thereafter another grievous, mighty second Race of earthborn men (will arise), The Titans. Each individual will have a similar form,
310 Appearance, and size; there will be one nature and one language, As God previously put in their breasts, from the first generation. But they also will have a proud heart And finally rushing toward destruction will plot To fight in opposition against the starry heaven.
315 And then the rushing of the mighty ocean of raging waters Will be among them. But the great Sabaoth in anger Will shut them out, preventing them, because he promised Not to make a flood again against evil-spirited men. But when he will make the immense billow of many waters
320 Of a wave surging this way and that,
To cease from anger, the great loud thundering God will reduce The depths of the sea to other measures, having defined it Around the land with harbors and rough shores.
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Christian Passage on the Incarnation and Life of Christ
Then indeed the son of the great God will come,
325 Incarnate, likened to mortal men on earth,
Bearing four vowels, and the consonants in him are two. I will state explicitly the entire number for you.
For eight units, and equal number of tens in addition to these, And eight hundreds will reveal the name
330 To men who are sated with faithlessness. But you, consider in your heart Christ, the son of the most high, immortal God. He will fulfill the law of God-he will not destroy it- Bearing a likeness which corresponds to types, and he will teach everything.
Priests will bring gifts to him, bringing forward gold,
335 Myrrh, and incense. For he will also do all these things. But when a certain voice will come through the desert land Bringing tidings to mortals, and will cry out to all To make the paths straight and cast away Evils from the heart, and that every human person
340 Be illumined by waters, so that, being born from above They may no longer in any respect at all transgress justice -but a man with barbarous mind, enslaved to dances will cut out this voice and give it as a reward- then there will suddenly be a sign to mortals when a beautiful
345 stone which has been preserved will come from the land of Egypt. Against this the people of the Hebrews will stumble. But the gentiles
Will be gathered under his leadership. For they will also recognize God who rules on high On account of this man’s path in common light. For he will show eternal life to chosen men
350 But will bring the fire upon the lawless for (all) ages. Then indeed he will cure the sick and all who are Blemished, as many as put faith in him. The blind will see, and the lame will walk. The deaf will hear; those who cannot speak will speak.
355 He will drive out demons, there will be a resurrection of the dead; He will walk the waves, and in a desert place He will satisfy five thousand from five loaves And a fish of the sea, and the leftovers of these Will fill twelve baskets for the hope of the peoples.
360 And then Israel, intoxicated, will not perceive
Nor yet will she hear, afflicted with weak ears.
But when the raging wrath of the Most High comes upon the Hebrews It will also take faith away from them, Because they did harm to the son of the heavenly God.
365 Then indeed Israel, with abominable lips
And poisonous spittings, will give this man blows.
For food they will give him gall and for drink
Unmixed vinegar, inpiously smitten in breast
And heart with an evil craze, not seeing with their eyes
370 More blind than blind rats, more terrible than poisonous Creeping beasts, shackled with heavy sleep. But when he will stretch out his hands and measure all, And bear the crown of thorns-and they will stab His side with reeds-on account of this, for three hours
375 There will be monstrous dark night in midday.
And then indeed the temple of Solomon will effect
A great sign of men, when he goes to the house of Adonis Announcing the resurrection to the dead.
But when he comes to light again in three days
380 And shows a model to men and teaches all things, He will mount on clouds and journey to the house of heaven Leaving to the world the account of the gospel. Named after him, a new shoot will sprout From the nations, of those who follow the law of the Great One.
385 But also after these things there will be wise leaders, And then there will be thereafter a cessation of prophets.
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Prophecy of Dispersion of the Jews
Then when the Hebrews reap the bad harvest,
A Roman king will ravage much gold and silver.
Thereafter there will be other kingdoms
390 Continuously, as kingdoms perish,
And they will afflict mortals. But there will be
A great fall for those men when they launch on unjust haughtiness. But when the temple of Solomon falls in the illustrious land Cast down by men of barbarian speech
395 With bronze breastplates, the Hebrews will be driven from their land; Wandering, being slaughtered, they will mix much darnel in their wheat. There will be evil strife for all men;
And the cities, violated in turn, Will weep for each other on receiving the wrath of the great
400 God in their bosom, since they committed an evil deed.