A soul am I of the Great Life,

a soul am I of the mighty Life,

a soul am I of the Great Life.

Who cast me into the misery of the wretched spirits?

Who cast me into the misery of the spirits

who are ugly, whose scent smells foul

and whose form is ugly and misshapen?

Very ugly is their form;

who cast me among them?

How shall I grow up among them,

where their dwellings are not fit for me?

How shall I put on their garment

and dwell in their dwelling?

As the soul stands and seeks to be enlightened,

his helper drew near to him.

His helper came to him

and let him hear a clear call.

He let him hear a clear call

and spoke to him in shining speech:

"Abominable is the smell of the spirits,

but [do not trouble yourself] about their smell, for it does not cling to you.

If their form is misshapen,

why do you ask about them?

You have heard our voice,

our imperishable speech was heard by you.

We spoke to you with our shining speech,

so endure and dwell in the house of misery.

Abominable are the spirits,

their own darkness has made them abominable.

Look at us and keep yourself pure

and turn your gaze toward your place.

Toward your place turn your gaze,

we belong to you.

We are with you,

and your form shines through us."

When he spoke thus to the soul,

the soul offered a right prayer.

A right prayer he offered

and prayed in firm words:

"I have heard my helper,

now I will endure and dwell in the world.

I will endure in the world and dwell in it

as long as it pleases my Lord.

When it pleases my Lord,

let Him send my helper to me.

Let him go and come to me

and take me out of the misery of the spirits.

Out of the misery of the spirits let him take me,

whose form is ugly and misshapen."

Soon my helper came,

he brightened me and enlightened me.

He took me out of my body

and led me away under his escort.

He brought me to the treasure to which he betook himself,

and made me firm in the place where he was firm.

He made me firm and formed fellowship with me

and counted me with his own reckoning. —

God is held high and is victorious,

and victorious is the messenger who came here.