A soul am I of the Great Life,

a soul am I of the mighty Life,

a soul am I of the Great Life,

a creature of rich splendour, of bright glory.

Why did they strip me of my splendour,

bring me here and cast me into the bodily garment?

Into the bodily garment they cast me,

which another put on and took off.

Woe and sorrow are mine in the bodily garment,

into which they brought and cast me.

How often must I take it off, how often put it on,

must again and again settle my quarrel

and not behold life in its abode.

As the soul stands and seeks to be enlightened,

the man, his helper, comes:

"You shall dwell with me,

and we shall take our place in your heart.

We shall take our place in your heart

and lift you up to your exalted abode.

Swiftly passing, I will make the months and draw them together,

like ......

Your measure shall be as nothing,

the whole world I will make contemptible.

You belonged to me here;

now I will take you out of the world and lift you up.

I will take you out of it and lift you up

and quickly leave them all.

I will leave them all,

let them all die and pass away.

You are my likeness,

you I will lift up and keep in my garment.

In my garment which the Great One has granted me,

in the pure fragrance which He has entrusted to me.

This garment in which you dwelt

I will strike upon the head of the deceiver who adorned it.

For those who prepared it fall and perish;

the men of the commission perish."

He became a helper to the soul.

He caressed and fondled him

and laid upon him of his blessing.

Of his blessing he laid upon him

and made him firm in the abode of his forefathers. —

God is victorious over all works.