I.
The gods are glad they see Ra in his rising; his beams flood the world with light.
The majesty of the god, who is to be feared, setteth forth and cometh unto the land of Manu; he maketh bright the earth at his birth each day; he cometh unto the place where he was yesterday.
O mayest thou be at peace with me; may I behold thy beauties; may I advance above the earth.
II.
Behold, thou Image of gold, who possessest the splendours
of the Disk of heaven, thou lord of terror; thou rollest along and art renewed day by day. Hail, there
is rejoicing in the heavenly horizon, and shouts of joy are raised to the ropes which tow thee along. May the gods who dwell in
heaven ascribe praises unto Osiris, when they behold him in triumph, as unto Ra. May Osiris be a prince.
III.
That which was shut hath been opened is the dead. That which was shut
fast hath been
opened by the command of the Eye of Horus, which hath delivered me.
Established are the
beauties on the forehead of Ra. My steps are long. My legs are lifted up. I have performed the
journey, my members are mighty and are sound.
Let darkness cover your faces…keep not captive my soul.
From the Book of Coming Forth by Day, circa Old Kingdom Egypt.
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