MANICHAEAN LITERATUREWho will rip off this body?
Who will rip off this body
and dress me in a new one?
After I spoke with trembling soul I saw the savior.
After I spoke with trembling soul I saw the savior
and saw his helmsmen, who came down to dress my soul.
I raised my eyes that way and saw deaths hidden by the envoy.
Hurt was remote. So too sickness and distress.
Their vision left, their darkness fled.
Everything was holy and unsurpassed.
Light shone elating and lovely,
swelling my mind with gladness.HE SPOKE TO ME THROUGH JOY
He spoke to me through joy,
lifting my soul from hell. He said, Come, spirit,
and don't fear. I am your mind,
your hope. You are the garment of my body,
which dismayed the powers of darkness.
I am your primeval light, your great mind
and total hope. You are my word,
my panoply of war, saving me from struggle
with sinners. I will release you from dungeons,
carry you far from your wounds. I will lead you
from physical torment.
You will not fear encounter.
First human, you will have the portals of heaven.
Beloved! beauty of my bright nature!
From filth and corrosion I will cleanse you
through perfect light.
You are my beloved, the love in my limbs,
and I am the light of your whole structure,
your soul and base of being.
From the holiness of my limbs you descended in the beginning
into dark places and became their light.