The Emerald Tablet (Tabula Smaragdina)

This is one of the many translations of "The Emerald Tablet" that is said to have been written by Hermes Trimagistus.  There are many translations.

 

1) It is true without untruth, certain and most true:

2) that which is below is like that which is on high, and that which is on high is like that

which is below; by these things are made the miracles of one thing.

3) And as all things are, and come from One, by the mediation of One, So all things are born

from this unique thing by adaption.

4) The Sun is the father and the Moon the mother.

5) The wind carries it in its stomach. The earth is its nourisher and its receptacle.

6 The Father of all the Theleme of the universal world is here.

6a) Its force, or power, remains entire,

7) if it is converted into earth.

7a) You separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, gently with great

industry.

8) It climbs from the earth and descends from the sky, and receives the force of things

superior and things inferior.

9) You will have by this way, the glory of the world and all obscurity will flee from you.

10) It is the power strong with all power, for it will defeat every subtle thing and penetrate

every solid thing

11a) In this way the world was created.

12) From it are born wonderful adaptations, of which the way here is given.

13) That is why I have been called Hermes Tristmegistus, having the three parts of the

universal philosophy.

14) This, that I have called the solar Work, is complete.

Here is an Arabic translation from Wikipedia (Links external to this website)

A new translation bypassing the Latin has just been published by Nineveh Shadrach from the original Arabic of Book of Causes attributed to Apollonius of Tyana.^[3]

1. It contains an accurate commentary that can't be doubted.
2. It states: What is the above is from the below and the below is from the above. The work of wonders is from one.
3. And all things sprang from this essence through a single projection. How marvelous is its work! It is the principle [sic] part of the world and its custodian.
4. Its father is the sun and its mother is the moon. Thus the wind bore it within it and the earth nourished it.
5. Father of talismans and keeper of wonders.
6. Perfect in power that reveals the lights.
7. It is a fire that became our earth. Separate the earth from the fire and you shall adhere more to that which is subtle than that which is coarse, through care and wisdom.
8. It ascends from the earth to the heaven. It extracts the lights from the heights and descends to the earth containing the power of the above and the below for it is with the light of the lights. Therefore the darkness flees from it.
9. The greatest power overcomes everything that is subtle and it penetrates all that is coarse.
10. The formation of the microcosm is in accordance with the formation of the macrocosm.
11. The scholars made this their path.
12. This is why Thrice Hermes was exalted with wisdom.
13. This is his last book that he hid in the catacomb.

Here is a translation said to have been made by Sir Isaac Newton

One translation, by Isaac Newton, found among his alchemical papers as reported by B. J. Dobbs^[4] in modern spelling:

1. Tis true without lying, certain most true.
2. That which is below is like that which is above that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracles of one only thing.
3. And as all things have been arose from one by the mediation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.
4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother,
5. the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nurse.
6. The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.
7. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.
   • Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry.
8. It ascends from the earth to the heaven again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior.
9. By this means ye shall have the glory of the whole world thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.
10. Its force is above all force. for it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.
    • So was the world created.
11. From this are and do come admirable adaptations whereof the means (Or process) is here in this.
12. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegist, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.
13. That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished and ended.

Here is a translation by Beato

Another translation from Aureliae Occultae Philosophorum by Giorgio Beato:

1. This is true and remote from all cover of falsehood.
2. Whatever is below is similar to that which is above. Through this the marvels of the work of one thing are procured and perfected.
3. Also, as all things are made from one, by the consideration of one, so all things were made from this one, by conjunction.
4. The father of it is the sun, the mother the moon.
5. The wind bore it in the womb. Its nurse is the earth, the mother of all perfection.
6. Its power is perfected.
7. If it is turned into earth,
8. Separate the earth from the fire, the subtle and thin from the crude and coarse, prudently, with modesty and wisdom.
9. This ascends from the earth into the sky and again descends from the sky to the earth, and receives the power and efficacy of things above and of things below.
10. By this means you will acquire the glory of the whole world, and so you will drive away all shadows and blindness.
11. For this by its fortitude snatches the palm from all other fortitude and power. For it is able to penetrate and subdue everything subtle and everything crude and hard.
12. By this means the world was founded
13. And hence the marvelous cojunctions of it and admirable effects, since this is the way by which these marvels may be brought about.
14. And because of this they have called me Hermes Tristmegistus since I have the three parts of the wisdom and Philosophy of the whole universe.
15. My speech is finished which I have spoken concerning the solar work.

Here is said to be the original Latin text and an English Translation

Latin text

Original edition of the Latin text. (Chrysogonus Polydorus, Nuremberg 1541):

1. Verum, sine mendatio, certum et verissimum:
2. Quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius, et quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius, ad perpetranda miracula rei unius.
3. Et sicut res omnes fuerunt ab uno, meditatione unius, sic omnes res natae ab hac una re, adaptatione.
4. Pater eius est Sol. Mater eius est Luna.
5. Portavit illud Ventus in ventre suo.
6. Nutrix eius terra est. Pater omnis telesmi^[5] totius mundi est hic.
7. Virtus eius integra est si versa fuerit in terram.
8. Separabis terram ab igne, subtile ab spisso, suaviter, magno cum ingenio.
9. Ascendit a terra in coelum, iterumque descendit in terram, et recipit vim superiorum et inferiorum.
10. Sic habebis Gloriam totius mundi.
11. Ideo fugiet a te omnis obscuritas.
12. Haec est totius fortitudinis fortitudo fortis, quia vincet omnem rem subtilem, omnemque solidam penetrabit.
13. Sic mundus creatus est.
14. Hinc erunt adaptationes mirabiles, quarum modus est hic. Itaque vocatus sum Hermes Trismegistus, habens tres partes philosophiae totius mundi.
15. Completum est quod dixi de operatione Solis.

Contemporary rendering of Latin text

1. [It is] true, without error, certain and most true,
2. That which is below is as that which is above, and that which is above is as that which is below, to perform the miracles of the one thing.
3. And as all things were from the one, by means of the meditation of the one, thus all things were born from the one, by means of adaptation.
4. Its father is the Sun, its mother is the Moon, the Wind carried it in its belly, its nurse is the earth.
5. The father of the whole world [or "of all of the initiates"?] is here.
6. Its power is whole if it has been turned into earth.
7. You will separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the dense, sweetly, with great skill.
8. It ascends from earth into heaven and again it descends to the earth, and receives the power of higher and of lower things.
9. Thus you will have the Glory of the whole world.
10. Therefore will all obscurity flee from you.
11. Of all strength this is true strength, because it will conquer all that is subtle, and penetrate all that is solid.
12. Thus was the world created.
13. From this were wonderful adaptations, of which this is the means. Therefore am I named Thrice-Great Hermes, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.
14. It is finished, what I have said about the working[s] of the Sun.

Also see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet