In the name of the Great Life,
may the sublime light be exalted!
An avatar is calling out from beyond, saying,
“Come, be a shepherd’s helper for me,
and tend for me a thousand out of a myriad!”
“So, I shall be a shepherd’s helper for you,
and I shall tend for you a thousand out of a myriad.
How full the world is with wickedness,
and sown about with thistles and thorns!”
“Come, be a shepherd’s helper for me,
and tend for me a thousand out of a myriad!
What if I bring to you radiant sandals,
to tread the thistles and thorns with?
Heaven and Earth will come to nothing,
but the radiant sandals are everlasting.
The Sun and the Moon will come to nothing,
but the radiant sandals are everlasting.
The stars and constellations of the sky will come to nothing,
but the radiant sandals are everlasting.
Wind, fire, and water will come to nothing,
but the radiant sandals are everlasting.
The four winds of the House will come to nothing,
but the radiant sandals are everlasting.
The fruits, grapes, and trees will come to nothing,
but the radiant sandals are everlasting.
All that is made and done is will come to nothing,
but the radiant sandals are everlasting.
Come, be a shepherd’s helper for me,
and tend for me a thousand out of a myriad!”
“Then [I will] be a shepherd’s helper for you,
and I shall tend for you a thousand out of a myriad.
If a lion comes and takes one,
where will I get a replacement from?
If a wolf comes and takes one,
where will I get a replacement from?
If a thief comes and steals one,
where will I get a replacement from?
If one falls in a fire and burns up,
where will I get a replacement from?
If one falls in the muck and gets stuck,
where will I get a replacement from?
If one falls in the water and drowns,
where will I get a replacement from?
If one remains behind in the fold,
where will I get a replacement from?”
“Come, be a shepherd’s helper for me,
and tend for me a thousand out of a myriad!
If a lion comes and takes one,
she will go be the lion’s share.
She will go be the lion’s share,
because she worships the Sun.
If a wolf comes and takes one,
she will go be the wolf’s share.
She will go be the wolf’s share,
because she worships the Moon.
If a thief comes and steals one,
she will go be the thief’s share.
She will go be the thief’s share,
because she worships Mars.
If one falls in a fire and burns up,
she will go be the fire’s share.
She will go be the fire’s share,
because she worships fire.
If one falls in the muck and gets stuck,
she will go be the muck’s share.
She will go be the muck’s share,
because she worships the “anointed” one.
If one falls in the water and drowns,
she will go be the sea’s share.
She will go be the sea’s share,
because she worships the seas.
If one remains behind in the fold,
she will go be the foldergeist’s share.
She will go be the foldergeist’s share,
because she worships the gods of Nippur.
{and she does not worship the one of the House} she worships.
If one remains beside the foldergeist,
she will go be beside the foldergeist’s share.
She will go be beside foldergeist’s share,
because she worships the Evil Spirit.”
“Come, be a shepherd’s helper for me,
and tend for me a thousand out of a myriad!”
“Then I’ll be a shepherd’s helper for you,
and I’ll tend for you a thousand out of a myriad.
I’ll tend a thousand thousands!”
From the myriad that bow down before Him
some of them were lost to me;
I climbed tall mountains,
and I plumbed deep ravines.
I went and found her,
where she could graze nothing.
One by one I take them with my right hand
and I set them in the balance.
Balancing, a thousand out of a myriad clear the way.
The victorious life speaks/is upheld,
and victorious is the man who went thither.
The End.
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