Some Background
"The Tablet probably first appeared in the West in editions of the pseudo-Aristotelian Secretum Secretorum which was actually a translation of the Kitab Sirr al-Asar, a book of advice to kings which was translated into Latin by Johannes Hispalensis c. 1140 and by Philip of Tripoli c. 1243. Other translations of the Tablet may have been made during the same period by Plato of Tivoli and Hugh of Santalla, perhaps from different sources. The date of the Kitab Sirr al-Asar is uncertain, though c. 800 has been suggested, and it is not clear when the tablet became part of this work. Holmyard was the first to find another early Arabic version in the Kitab Ustuqus al-Uss al-Thani (Second Book of the Elements of Foundation) attributed to Jabir."
-- Jon Marshall, The Emerald Tablet of Hermes
An early version:
Truth!
Certainty! That in which there is no doubt!
That which is above is
from that which is below,
And that which is below is from that
which is above,
Working the miracle of One.
As all things were
from One.
Its father is the Sun and its mother the Moon.
The
Earth carried it in her belly,
And the Wind nourished it in her
belly,
As Earth which shall become Fire.
It ascends from the
earth to the heaven
And becomes ruler over that which is above
And
that which is below.
Another early Arabic version:
0) Here is that which the priest Sagijus of Nabulus has dictated concerning the entrance of Balinas into the hidden chamber... After my entrance into the chamber, where the talisman was set up, I came up to an old man sitting on a golden throne, who was holding an emerald table in one hand. And behold the following – in the primordial language – was written thereon:
1) Here is a true explanation, concerning which there can be no doubt.
2) It attests: The above from the below, and the below from the above: behold the Work of the Miracle of the One.
3) And things have been from this primal substance through a single act. How wonderful is this work! It is the main principle of the world and is its Maintainer.
4) Its father is the Sun and its mother the Moon;
5) The wind has borne it in its body, and the Earth has nourished it.
6) The father of talisman and the protector of miracles
6a) Whose powers are perfect, and whose Light is confirmed,
7) A fire that becomes Earth.
7a) Separate the earth from the fire, so you will attain the subtle as more inherent than the gross, with care and sagacity.
8) It rises from earth to heaven, so as to draw the lights of the heights to itself, and descends to the earth; thus within it are the forces of the above and the below;
9) Because the Light of Lights within it, thus does the Darkness flee before it.
10) The Force of Forces, which overcomes every subtle thing and penetrates into everything gross.
11) The structure of the Microcosm is in accordance with the structure of the Macrocosm.
12) And accordingly proceed the Knowers.
13) And to this aspired Hermes, who was threefold graced with Wisdom.
14) And this is his last book, which he concealed in the Chamber.