Egyptian Book of the Dead - Chapter XLII

1.

Land of the Rod, of the White Crown of the Image, and the Pedestal of the gods

2.

O Serpent Abur! Thou sayest this day, “The Block of Execution is furnished with what thou knowest,” and thou art come to soil the Mighty One

3.

But I am he whose honours are abiding

4.

I am the Link, the god within the Tamarisk, who connecteth the Solar orb with Yesterday. ( Four Times

5.

I am the Link, the god within the Tamarisk

6.

My course is the course of Râ, and the course of Râ is my course

7.

My two hands those of the Soul most Mighty, Lord of Tattu

8.

My shoulders those of Neith, Mistress of Sais

9.

My liver is that of the Lords of Cher-ābat

10.

My knees those of the most Mighty one

11.

My belly and my back are those of Sechit

12.

My hinder parts are those of the Eye of Horus

13.

My nails and bones those of the Living Uræi Uræi

14.

There is not a limb in me which is without a god. And Thoth is a protection to my flesh

15.

I shall not be grasped by my arms or seized by my hands

16.

Not men or gods, or the glorified ones or the damned; not generations past, present, or future, shall inflict any injury upon me

17.

I am he who cometh forth and proceedeth, and whose name is unknown to man

18.

I am Yesterday, “Witness of Eternity” is my Name: the persistent traveller upon the heavenly highways which I survey. I am the Everlasting one

19.

I am felt and thought of as Chepera. I am the Crowned one

20.

I am the Dweller in the Eye and in the Egg

21.

It is an attribute of mine that I live within them

22.

I am the Dweller in the Eye, even in its closing

23.

I am that by which it is supported

24.

I come forth and I rise up: I enter and I have life

25.

I am the Dweller in the Eye; my seat is upon my throne, and I sit conspicuously upon it

26.

I am Horus, who steppeth onwards through Eternity

27.

I have instituted the throne of which I am the master

28.

As regards my mouth: whether in speech or in silence, I am right and fair

29.

As regards my attributes: I hasten headlong, I the god Unen, [61] with all that pertaineth to me, hour proceeding from hour, the One proceeding from the One, in my course

30.

I am the Dweller in the Eye; no evil or calamitous things befall me

31.

It is I who open the gates of Heaven; it is I who am master of the throne, and who open the series of births upon this day

32.

I am the the Babe, who treadeth his path of Yesterday

33.

I am “This Day” to generation of men after generation

34.

I am he who giveth you stableness for eternity, whether ye be in heaven or upon earth; in the South or in the North, in the West or in the East—and the fear of me is upon you

35.

I am he who fashioneth with his eye, and who dieth not a second time

36.

A moment of mine belongeth to you, but my attributes belong to my own domain

37.

I am the Unknown one, but the gods of Ruddy Countenance belong to me

38.

I am the Gladsome one, and no time hath been found, but served to create for me the Heaven and the increase of Earth, and the increase of their offspring

39.

They sever and join not—they sever my name from all evil things, according to the words which I say unto you

40.

It is I who rise up and shine forth; strength proceeding from strength, the One proceeding from the One

41.

There is not a day devoid of that which belongeth to it; for ever and for ever

42.

I am Unbu, [62] who proceedeth from Nu, and my mother is Nut

43.

O thou who hast set me in motion! for I was motionless, a mighty link within the close of Yesterday; my present activity is a link within the close of my hand

44.

I am not known, but I am one who knoweth thee

45.

I am not to be grasped, but I am one who graspeth thee

46.

Oh Dweller in the Egg! Oh Dweller in the Egg!

47.

I am Horus, Prince of Eternity, a fire before your faces, which inflameth your hearts towards me

48.

I am master of my throne and I pass onwards. The present time is the path which I have opened, and I have set myself free from all things evil

49.

I am the golden Cynocephalus, three palms in height, without legs or arms in the Temple of Ptah; and my course is the course of the golden Cynocephalus, three palms in height, without legs or arms in the Temple of Ptah

50.

This chapter is in itself most interesting, and it is one of the most important as illustrative of Egyptian mythology. It is impossible at present to explain every detail, but the general drift of the chapter is not to be mistaken. And the same drift is to be recognised in the whole course of Egyptian religious literature from the beginning

51.

The speaker throughout identifies himself with the divinity whose manifestation is the Sun; he is not the Sun of this or that moment but of Yesterday, To-day and of all eternity, the “One proceeding from the One.”