Nudity Is a Human Right

 

Text and image Copyright © 2023 by Donald C, Traxler.

There Is Nothing to Say

 

Text and image Copyright © 2023 by Donald C. Traxler.

Aging Project LXVIII

 

Text and image Copyright © 2023 by Donald C. Traxler.

Gospel of Thomas 49 in English and Udugi

 

Saying 49: Those Who Are Chosen (2)

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are one – those who are chosen, because you'll find the kingdom. You've come from there and will return there."

tsisa hinegise, "adadoligita gesvase nasgidv na saquu gesvase--nasgidv na gesvase asuyesdita, igvnisisgi nihi awadvdose ugvwiyuhiyine. nihi nvlise uhna-nidvlenvda ale nihi hulutsose uhna."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎠᏓᏙᎵᎩᏔ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏛ Ꮎ ᏌᏊ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ--ᎾᏍᎩᏛ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏑᏰᏍᏗᏔ, ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ ᏂᎯ ᎠᏩᏛᏙᏎ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎯᏱᏁ. ᏂᎯ ᏅᎵᏎ ᎤᎿ-ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ ᎠᎴ ᏂᎯ ᎱᎷᏦᏎ ᎤᎿ."

Eighty-somethings

 

Do eighty-somethings

really do these things?

Why not?

We have the same organs,

the very same chakras,

the same desires.

Our souls are enflamed

by the sacred fires.

Text and image Copyright © 2023 by Donald C. Traxler aka Yablom.

Gospel of Thomas 48 in English and Udugi

 

Saying 48: Unity (1)

Jesus said, "If two make peace with each other in a single house, they'll say to the mountain, 'Go away,' and it will."

tsisa hinegise, "iyuno tali yvwi gotlvdase dohiyvne siyvwi soi gvdodi saquu galitsode hawina, nasgidv hinegose odalv didla 'anagisdu' ale odalv anagisdose."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎢᏳᏃ ᏔᎵ ᏴᏫ ᎪᏢᏓᏎ ᏙᎯᏴᏁ ᏏᏴᏫ ᏐᎢ ᎬᏙᏗ ᏌᏊ ᎦᎵᏦᏕ ᎭᏫᎾ, ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎯᏁᎪᏎ ᎣᏓᎸ ᏗᏜ 'ᎠᎾᎩᏍᏚ' ᎠᎴ ᎣᏓᎸ ᎠᎾᎩᏍᏙᏎ."

Gospel of Thomas 47 in English and Udugi

 

Saying 47: The Parables of Divided Loyalties,
New Wine in Old Wineskins, and New Patch on Old Cloth

Jesus said, "It's not possible for anyone to mount two horses or stretch two bows, and it's not possible for a servant to follow two leaders, because they'll respect one and despise the other.

"No one drinks old wine and immediately wants to drink new wine. And new wine isn't put in old wineskins, because they'd burst. Nor is old wine put in new wineskins, because it'd spoil.

"A new patch of cloth isn't sewn onto an old coat, because it'd tear apart."

tsisa hinegise, "tla yeliquase agilohisdi tali soquilidine ale didanesdodi tali galitsadidine, ale tla yeliquase na atsinatlai iyadadvnedase tali nugvwiyusadegidine, igvnisisgi nasgidv gohiyudose saquune ale hagatose-eladi soine.

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎠᎩᎶᎯᏍᏗ ᏔᎵ ᏐᏈᎵᏗᏁ ᎠᎴ ᏗᏓᏁᏍᏙᏗ ᏔᎵ ᎦᎵᏣᏗᏗᏁ, ᎠᎴ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ Ꮎ ᎠᏥᎾᏝᎢ ᎢᏯᏓᏛᏁᏓᏎ ᏔᎵ ᏄᎬᏫᏳᏌᏕᎩᏗᏁ, ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎪᎯᏳᏙᏎ ᏌᏊᏁ ᎠᎴ ᎭᎦtᎣᏎ-ᎡᎳᏗ ᏐᎢᏁ.

tlagiloi aditasdase agayvli gigage-aditasdine ale gilaquo-iyvdv aduladase aditasdi itse gigage-aditasdine. ale itse gigage-aditasdi tla gesvase wadiyita agayvli ganegadi nahnai, igvnisisgi nasgidv ayoguse. vtla ale agayvli gigage-aditasdi gesvase wadiyita itse ganegadi nahnai, yeno nasgi uyoasduse.

ᏝᎩᎶᎢ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏓᏎ ᎠᎦᏴᎵ ᎩᎦᎨ-ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗᏁ ᎠᎴ ᎩᎳᏉ-ᎢᏴᏛ ᎠᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᎢᏤ ᎩᎦᎨ-ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗᏁ. ᎠᎴ ᎢᏤ ᎩᎦᎨ-ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏩᏗᏱᏔ ᎠᎦᏴᎵ ᎦᏁᎦᏗ ᎾᎿᎢ, ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎠᏲᎫᏎ. ᎥᏝ ᎠᎴ ᎠᎦᏴᎵ ᎩᎦᎨ-ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏩᏗᏱᏔ ᎢᏤ ᎦᏁᎦᏗ ᎾᎿᎢ, ᏰᏃ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎤᏲᎠᏍᏚᏎ.

nasgidv tla gayewisdase itse galisdlavne agayvli anuwo-gayewadv nahna igvnisisgi gesvuse hitsagalv."

ᎾᏍᎩᏛ Ꮭ ᎦᏰᏫᏍᏓᏎ ᎢᏤ ᎦᎵᏍᏜᎥᏁ ᎠᎦᏴᎵ ᎠᏄᏬ-ᎦᏰᏩᏛ ᎾᎿ ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ ᎨᏒᎤᏎ ᎯᏣᎦᎸ."

Gospel of Thomas 46 in English and Udugi

 

Saying 46: Greater than John the Baptizer

Jesus said, "From Adam to John the Baptizer, no one's been born who's so much greater than John the Baptizer that they shouldn't avert their eyes. But I say that whoever among you will become a little child will know the kingdom and become greater than John."

tsisa hinegise, "adawi nidvlenvda tsani didawosgi didla, tlagiloi gesvise udenita na gesvase equa-igesdodi sinv tsani didawosgi. aseno aya hinegase nihi didla na nasgiquo-yigi nihi-nunadvnv didolagose usdi ayotli unvtose ugvwiyuhiyine ale didolagose equa-igesdodi sinv tsani."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎠᏓᏫ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ ᏣᏂ ᏗᏓᏬᏍᎩ ᏗᏜ, ᏝᎩᎶᎢ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎤᏕᏂᏔ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎢᎨᏍᏙᏗ ᏏᏅ ᏣᏂ ᏗᏓᏬᏍᎩ. ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᏯ ᎯᏁᎦᏎ ᏂᎯ ᏗᏜ Ꮎ ᎾᏍᎩᏉ-ᏱᎩ ᏂᎯ-ᏄᎾᏛᏅ ᏗᏙᎳᎪᏎ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎠᏲᏟ ᎤᏅtᎣᏎ ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎯᏱᏁ ᎠᎴ ᏗᏙᎳᎪᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎢᎨᏍᏙᏗ ᏏᏅ ᏣᏂ."

Aging Project LXVII

 

I should have said, "Sandy and I, and our dog, Betty. . . "

Text and image Copyright © 2023 by Donald C. Traxler.

May There Be Peace under the Sun

 

May no one have less,

so that I can have more;

may no one go without.

so that I can have;

may no one be naked,

so that I can be clothed.

May there be peace

under the sun.

May there be peace

under the sun.

Que personne n'ait moins

pour que je puisse en avoir plus

que personne ne puisse s'en passer

pour que je puisse avoir

que personne ne soit nu,

pour que je puisse être habillé.

Qu'il y ait la paix

sous le soleil.

Qu'il y ait la paix

sous le soleil.

שלא יהיה לאף אחד פחות,

כדי שאוכל לקבל יותר;

שאף אחד לא ילך בלעדיו.

כדי שאוכל לקבל:

שאף אחד לא יהיה עירום,

כדי שאוכל להתלבש.

שיהיה שלום

תחת השמש.

שיהיה שלום

תחת השמש.

Copyright © 2023 by Donald C. Traxler.

This Mortal Gyre I

 

Text and image Copyright © 2023 by Donald C. Traxler aka Yablom.

Gospel of Thomas 40-42 in English and Udugi ꭴꮪꭹ

 

Saying 40: A Grapevine

Jesus said, "A grapevine has been planted outside of the Father. Since it's malnourished, it'll be pulled up by its root and destroyed."

 tsisa hinegise, "telvladi gesvise awisgita edoda doyehi. igvnisisgi gesvase agona-ayohuhisgv, gesvose asesihita unasdetlv digvwalosv ale ayosdodita.

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᏖᎸᎳᏗ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎠᏫᏍᎩᏔ ᎡᏙᏓ ᏙᏰᎯ. ᎢᎬᏂᏏᏍᎩ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᎪᎾ-ᎠᏲᎱᎯᏍᎬ, ᎨᏒᎣᏎ ᎠᏎᏏᎯᏔ ᎤᎾᏍᏕᏢ ᏗᎬᏩᎶᏒ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏲᏍᏙᏗᏔ.

Saying 41: More and Less

Jesus said, "Whoever has something in hand will be given more, but whoever doesn't have anything will lose even what little they do have."

 tsisa hinegise, "nasgiquo-yigi didla na uhase gohusdi uwoyeni hawina, ugodesdi gesvose adanedita, ayeno nasgiquo-yigi na tla uhase nigavquo ayohusedose usdine na nasgidv uhase."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎾᏍᎩᏉ-ᏱᎩ ᏗᏜ Ꮎ ᎤᎭᏎ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᎤᏬᏰᏂ ᎭᏫᎾ, ᎤᎪᏕᏍᏗ ᎨᏒᎣᏎ ᎠᏓᏁᏗᏔ, ᎠᏰᏃ ᎾᏍᎩᏉ-ᏱᎩ Ꮎ Ꮭ ᎤᎭᏎ ᏂᎦᎥᏉ ᎠᏲᎱᏎᏙᏎ ᎤᏍᏗᏁ Ꮎ ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎤᎭᏎ."

Saying 42: Passing By

Jesus said, "Become passersby."

tsisa hinegise, "didolagu galosgisgidi."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᏗᏙᎳᎫ ᎦᎶᏍᎩᏍᎩᏗ."

Gospel of Thomas 37-39 in English and Udugi ꭴꮪꭹ

 

Saying 37: Seeing Jesus

His disciples said, "When will you appear to us? When will we see you?"

Jesus said, "When you strip naked without being ashamed, and throw your clothes on the ground and stomp on them as little children would, then [you'll] see the Son of the Living One and won't be afraid."

 utseli adasdawadidohidi hinegise, "hilayvi nihi gananugoisdose itsulv didla? hilayviitsula gowatose nihine? " tsisa hinegise, "hilayvi nihi igvnadesdase uyelvha adehohisdi nutloyasdvna, ale wadinvdase nihi dinuwonegadohi nahna ale alasgvdase nasgidv nahna tilv usdi ayotlidi hnadvguse, nahiyui nihi gowatose uwetsine alenidohv vhnai, ale tla gesvose asgaihv."

ᎤᏤᎵ ᎠᏓᏍᏓᏩᏗᏙᎯᏗ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎯᎳᏴᎢ ᏂᎯ ᎦᎾᏄᎪᎢᏍᏙᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ ᏗᏜ? ᎯᎳᏴᎢᎢᏧᎳ ᎪᏩtᎣᏎ ᏂᎯᏁ? " ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎯᎳᏴᎢ ᏂᎯ ᎢᎬᎾᏕᏍᏓᏎ ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᏕᎰᎯᏍᏗ ᏄᏠᏯᏍᏛᎾ, ᎠᎴ ᏩᏗᏅᏓᏎ ᏂᎯ ᏗᏄᏬᏁᎦᏙᎯ ᎾᎿ ᎠᎴ ᎠᎳᏍᎬᏓᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎾᎿ ᏘᎸ ᎤᏍᏗ ᎠᏲᏟᏗ ᎿᏛᎫᏎ, ᏀᎢᏳᎢ ᏂᎯ ᎪᏩtᎣᏎ ᎤᏪᏥᏁ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎥᎿᎢ, ᎠᎴ Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎣᏎ ᎠᏍᎦᎢᎲ.

Saying 38: Finding Jesus

Jesus said, "Often you've wanted to hear this message that I'm telling you, and you don't have anyone else from whom to hear it. There will be days when you'll look for me, but you won't be able to find me."

 tsisa hinegise, "iyudaliha nihi aduladise advgi hia vdatinohisedi na aya gesvase kanohedanete nihi didla, ale nihi tla uhase nanivquo alenasgi advgi nasgine nidvlenvda. gesvose igadi hilayvi nihi ayasdose ayv aseno nihi tla yeliquose awadvdi ayv."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎢᏳᏓᎵᎭ ᏂᎯ ᎠᏚᎳᏗᏎ ᎠᏛᎩ ᎯᎠ ᎥᏓᏘᏃᎯᏎᏗ Ꮎ ᎠᏯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎧᏃᎮᏓᏁᏖ ᏂᎯ ᏗᏜ, ᎠᎴ ᏂᎯ Ꮭ ᎤᎭᏎ ᎾᏂᎥᏉ ᎠᎴᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏛᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ. ᎨᏒᎣᏎ ᎢᎦᏗ ᎯᎳᏴᎢ ᏂᎯ ᎠᏯᏍᏙᏎ ᎠᏴ ᎠᏎᏃ ᏂᎯ Ꮭ ᏰᎵᏉᏎ ᎠᏩᏛᏗ ᎠᏴ."

Saying 39: The Keys of Knowledge

Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scholars have taken the keys of knowledge and hidden them. They haven't entered, and haven't let others enter who wanted to. So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

tsisa hinegise, "aniqualisi ale dideloquasgidi agisdise asduisdidine vgatahvi vhnai ale adisgalodise nasgidvne. nasgidv tla ayvsdise, ale tla alisgolvdodise soidine ayvsdi na aduladise. hia-iyv gesvu agatahnai tsilv inadvdi ale nasganvna tsilv guledisgonihidi."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎠᏂᏆᎵᏏ ᎠᎴ ᏗᏕᎶᏆᏍᎩᏗ ᎠᎩᏍᏗᏎ ᎠᏍᏚᎢᏍᏗᏗᏁ ᎥᎦᏔᎲᎢ ᎥᎿᎢ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏗᏍᎦᎶᏗᏎ ᎾᏍᎩᏛᏁ. ᎾᏍᎩᏛ Ꮭ ᎠᏴᏍᏗᏎ, ᎠᎴ Ꮭ ᎠᎵᏍᎪᎸᏙᏗᏎ ᏐᎢᏗᏁ ᎠᏴᏍᏗ Ꮎ ᎠᏚᎳᏗᏎ. ᎯᎠ-ᎢᏴ ᎨᏒᎤ ᎠᎦᏔᎿᎢ ᏥᎸ ᎢᎾᏛᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎦᏅᎾ ᏥᎸ ᎫᎴᏗᏍᎪᏂᎯᏗ."

Aging Project LXVI

 

Text and image Copyright © 2023 by Donald C. Traxler.

Gospel of Thomas 34-36 in English and Udugi ꭴꮪꭹ

 

Saying 34: The Parable of Those Who Can't See

Jesus said, "If someone who's blind leads someone else who's blind, both of them fall into a pit."

 tsisa hinegise, "iyuno gilo-asiyvwi na gesvase digewi datinase giloine na gesvase nasquv digewi, igvla ulosvgase atalesv nahnai."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᎢᏳᏃ ᎩᎶ-ᎠᏏᏴᏫ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏗᎨᏫ ᏓᏘᎾᏎ ᎩᎶᎢᏁ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎾᏍᏋ ᏗᎨᏫ, ᎢᎬᎳ ᎤᎶᏒᎦᏎ ᎠᏔᎴᏒ ᎾᎿᎢ."

Saying 35: The Parable of Binding the Strong

Jesus said, "No one can break into the house of the strong and take it by force without tying the hands of the strong. Then they can loot the house."

 tsisa hinegise, "tlagiloi yeliquase ayogi galitsode nahnai nulinigvgvhi yvwi ale agisdi nasgine gasadoyasdi gvdodi nutloyasdvna igvyi dakanete uwoyenidine nulinigvgvhi yvwi vhnai. gila nasgidv yeliquase usiwasgisdi galitsodine.

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "ᏝᎩᎶᎢ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎠᏲᎩ ᎦᎵᏦᏕ ᎾᎿᎢ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬᎯ ᏴᏫ ᎠᎴ ᎠᎩᏍᏗ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ ᎦᏌᏙᏯᏍᏗ ᎬᏙᏗ ᏄᏠᏯᏍᏛᎾ ᎢᎬᏱ ᏓᎧᏁᏖ ᎤᏬᏰᏂᏗᏁ ᏄᎵᏂᎬᎬᎯ ᏴᏫ ᎥᎿᎢ. ᎩᎳ ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎤᏏᏩᏍᎩᏍᏗ ᎦᎵᏦᏗᏁ.

Saying 36: Anxiety

Jesus said, "Don't be anxious from morning to evening or from evening to morning about what you'll wear."

 tsisa hinegise, "tla gesvu owanvgv sunalei nidvlenvda svhiyeyi didla ale svhiyeyi nidvlenvda sunalei didla gado aniyelvsgv nihi dunuwose."

ᏥᏌ ᎯᏁᎩᏎ, "Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎤ ᎣᏩᏅᎬ ᏑᎾᎴᎢ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ ᏒᎯᏰᏱ ᏗᏜ ᎠᎴ ᏒᎯᏰᏱ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ ᏑᎾᎴᎢ ᏗᏜ ᎦᏙ ᎠᏂᏰᎸᏍᎬ ᏂᎯ ᏚᏄᏬᏎ."

Translator's Note: Saying 36 is extant in two versions: the one I've given above, which is the shorter and is the one found in the Coptic text; and a longer. older, fragmentary Greek version, known as P. Oxy. 655 (which depends upon modern reconstructions to make it complete). April D. DeConick, whom I consider to be the world's foremost GTh scholar at present, has shown how the longer, Greek version of Logion 36 came to be replaced by the short version after the accretion of Logion 37 (which also has to do with clothing), in order to avoid the appearance of a contradiction between the two Logia. I have stayed with the version in the Coptic text, since it is in excellent condition and requires no modern, hypothetical reconstructions. An interesting point though, brought out by DeConick and by Guillaumont before her, is that the phrase "from morning until evening and from evening until morning" is a Semitic idiom, meaning "continuously." DeConick points to examples at Ex. 18:13 and 27:21. All of this goes to show that, while the Greek version predated the Coptic one, there was, in all probability, an even older text in Aramaic or Hebrew. I wish we had that older text, but perhaps one day we can do the next best thing by translating GTh back into one of those Semitic languages. I'm sure that it would be quite illuminating.