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 sits in the shining treasure.

In the shining treasure he sits

and speaks with the speech of the angels.

He speaks with the praise of the mighty,

and they speak to him with words,

one of which is more wondrous than the other.

As the soul stands and seeks to be enlightened,

God, the Mighty, desired him and lifted him up.

He said to him:

"Come, I will speak to you, soul,

betake yourself to me, I will instruct you." —

"I have appeared before You,

tell me what You wish."

Then He said to him:

"The world is a place of illusion,

rise, descend and go to it.

If you do not descend,

who shall be a support to it,

who shall cast splendour over it?

Who shall cast splendour over it

and not allow the tribe to be cut off?

The consuming fire has grown fierce

and kindled the fire." —

"I will set out and descend to the world;

what works do You charge me with?"

"Set out, descend to the world,

go and grow up in the body.

Go, grow up in the body,

in that garment which has been appointed to you.

Go and grow up among the mysteries,

and the mysteries shall shine through you.

Through you the mysteries shall shine,

and firmness shall be granted to your tribe.

Your tribe shall ascend to its place,

and the measure of the world shall be fulfilled.

Let the measure of the world be fulfilled,

and two lights shall guard it.

Two lights shall guard it

and splendour arise in high degree.

Through your splendour let the house be preserved,

and through you let the world be set upright.

Pure guardians shall protect you,

your root shall wind upward and climb on high.

Upward shall rise the victory

which I have apportioned in your place."

The soul changed nothing of what

the Great One had commanded him.

He entered the body,

that garment which had been appointed to him.

He dwelt in the trunk,

and the mysteries shone through him.

He bowed before the Great One

and bent himself before the Mighty One.

He bowed before the Great One,

who will show Himself thankful to you and me.

To you and to me He will show Himself thankful,

for between you and me there was no falsehood. —

And praised be God, the Living.