The fallen soul and the bridegroom

1Wise men of old gave the soul a feminine name. Indeed she is female by her nature: she even has a womb.

2As long as she was alone with the Father, she was a virgin and androgynous in form. But when she fell down into a body and came into this life, then she fell into the hands of many robbers. The wanton ones passed her from one to another and used her violently. Some defiled her by force; others did so by seducing her with a gift.

3In short, she was raped and lost her virginity, and prostituted her body. She gave herself to one and to another, never expelling them. They have flattered her in deceit, and have given her gifts. Some have lain with her, others not. They have neither tilled her field nor brought her to fruit, except that they have used her for their pleasure.

4When she perceived the things that have happened to her, she wept before the Father. She repented. Then the Father, when he saw her sighing — with her sufferings — and saw her repenting from the prostitution that she had performed — he had mercy on her, and turned her womb from outside to within.

5When the womb of the soul, by the will of the Father, turns inwards, she is baptized, and is purged of the pollution she had received. She is renewed; her form is restored; she is alive again. She prays to the Father.

6And the Father has mercy on her, and sends her her bridegroom, who is her brother, the firstborn from the Pleroma. They embrace. They become a single unity. The marriage is consummated, and the soul becomes whole again.

7This is the great wonder, the great salvation: the wandering soul finds her brother-bridegroom, and turns home. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.