CHAPTER CLIV.
The Chapter of not letting the body decay([1]) in the Netherworld.
Hail to thee, my father Osiris. I have come to embalm thee. Do thou embalm this flesh of mine, for I am perfect like my father Chepera, who is my image, he who does not know corruption.
Come, take hold of my breath of life, lord of the breath, lofty above his equals; vivify([2]) me, build me up, thou lord of the funeral chest.
Grant me to go down into the land of eternity, as thou doest when thou art with thy father Tmu, he whose body never decays, he who does not know destruction.
I have not done what thou hatest, the command (which I obey) is that which thy ka loveth,([3]) I have not transgressed it.
I have been delivered, being thy follower, O Tmu, from the rottenness which thou allowest to come over every god, every goddess, every animal, every creeping thing which is corruptible.
After his soul has departed he dies,([4]) and when it has gone down he decays; he is all corruption; all his bones are rottenness, putrefaction([5]) seizes his limbs and makes his bones break down, his flesh becomes a fetid liquid, his breath is stink, he becomes a multitude of worms.
(As for me) there are no worms([6]). He is impotent whoever has lost the eye of Shu([7]) among all gods and goddesses, all birds and fishes, all snakes and worms, all animals altogether, for I cause them to crawl before me, they recognise me and the fear of me prevails over them, and behold every being is alike dead among all animals, all birds, all fishes, all snakes, all worms, their life is like death.