The Hymn of the Soul

SYRIAC HYMN OF THE SOUL.

8 They took off from me The corner brackets ⌜ ⌝ in the text indicate a textual variant found in the manuscripts, as noted in the table at the bottom of the page. the bright robe The "bright robe" symbolizes the soul's divine nature or heavenly state which must be set aside to enter the physical world.
  of that dear garment,

9 and the glittering toga Syriac: ma‘ṭpā. This refers to an outer mantle or cloak worn over the primary robe.
  which in their love they had made for me.

10 And they made a compact with me,
  and in exchange for it, the time was set.

11 And they wrote it in my heart,
  so that it might not be forgotten:

12 “If you go down into Egypt In Gnostic and early Christian allegory, "Egypt" often represents the material world or the body, a place of spiritual exile.
  and bring back the one pearl,

13 which is in the midst of the sea,
  surrounding the mouth of the hissing serpent,

14 then you shall put on your bright robe
  and your garment which is laid over it,

15 and with your brother, our next in rank,
  you shall be an heir in our kingdom.”

16 “You brought” This line is difficult to translate as the Syriac text appears somewhat corrupt or abbreviated here. . . . from it shall be,
  because of the priests . . . easy times.

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