1. After a period of time, the soul forgot about its divine origin; like a bird in a snare, so too are we while in the body of death, the dwelling of the robbers, over which everyone has wept.

2. The mind itself is great and exalted, but it becomes crooked and petty due to this small, contemptible body, causing the soul to be dull and drugged and to lose all its divine senses.

3. The body which seeks only after material matter, prevents the soul from progression; it is like a prison and a heavy penalty for the soul; it is the gateway of all the hells and the rebirths in the umbral.

4. While we are in the body we are far from Jehovih, sojourning in the earth, rest has not overtaken us because we are lodged in it.
*(Jehovih is outside time and creation – He does not share in the same nature as that of humans because He is spirit)

5. There is none who can boast while he has still an hour in this prison; there is none who can be confident while in the midst of the sea and he has not yet reached port, for he does not know the hour when the storm will rise against him.

6. The desires of our wretched bodies have intoxicated us with drunkenness; many are the pains we have endured while housed in such bodies – the body that we wear [the selfish mind] is the product of the beast.

7. It is like a palace for the lower angels; it is also like a dense forest, a marsh of weeds and rushes, where all evil birds and beasts associate, and venomous insects, lizards, and vipers secretly gather.

8. Sin originates with the beast, and the soul’s desire to affiliate with one of its four heads, but the soul originated from the Great Spirit.

9. It was the beast who, having completed such a den and dwelling as this, snared and grabbed up the light of the soul, and hid behind while its lower angels preached to the soul and continually led it to all evil deeds and all sins of desire.

10. But eventually the King will cause the beast to be burned and shut up in the eternal dungeon.

11. With tears I now humbly pray and implore that I may leave this poisonous fiery sea of my fleshly desires, wherein the surging waves and foaming billows never cease for a moment and sea monsters rise and dive again to swallow ships and boats.

12. Great Shepherd, do not abandon me; be an Evoker of Light and blind them until I pass them by!

13. My true Light, illumine me within; lift me, for I have fallen down, and give me a hand to reach your Height.

14. Be not far from me, O great Physician with the medicines of life.

15. Heal me of the grievous wound of lawlessness! See, I have shown my wounds – it is Yours to give Your cures.