The Papyrus of Ani, Chapter 18

Text:

[introduction, upper left:]

Adoration of Osiris, lord of Re-Staw and the great company of gods in the underworld, by the Osiris scribe Ani. He says, Homage to you, at the head of the west, Wen-Nefer in Abydos. My heart comes before you in truth, without deceit in my body. I do not knowingly speak falsehoods; I will not act thus a second time. May you give me bread, and grant that I may come forth in the presence of the altar of the lords of truth, and that I may go and return in the underworld, without dispute against my soul, to see the Disk of the Sun, and look at the Moon-God, for ever and ever.

[introduction, upper right:]

Words spoken by the Pillar-of-his-Mother priest. He says, I come before you, great Council of heaven and earth and the underworld, I have brought you the Osiris Ani. He has not sinned before any god; let him be with you every day.

[introduction, lower left:]

Adoration of Osiris, lord of infinity and all the councils of Re-Staw, by the Osiris [scribe Ani]. He says, Homage to you, king of the underworld, ruler of the necropolis of Heliopolis. I come before you; I know your counsels. You are provided with your images in the underworld. May you give me a place in the underworld at the side of the lords of truth, and grant me an abiding estate in the Field of Offerings, and that I may receive bread in your presence.

[introduction, lower right:]

Words spoken by the His-Beloved-Son priest. He says, I come before you, Council in Re-Staw; I have brought you the Osiris Ani. Give him bread, and water, and breath, and an estate in the Field of Offerings like the followers of Horus.

[The main text begins here. The scribe has accidentally omitted the usual first few lines, which should probably read something like the opening lines from Chapter 18 in the Papyrus of Nebseni: "O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the scribe Nebseni against his enemies, as you make true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, in the presence of the great Council with Ra and Osiris in Heliopolis, on the night of the twilight ceremony, and the night of the fight to perform the fettering of the demons, and the day when the enemies of Neb-er-djer are destroyed."]

As for the great Council in Heliopolis, it is Atum, Shu, and Tefnut. As for the fettering of the demons, it is when the minions of Set were destroyed again, when he did harm. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris Ani against his enemies, in the great Council of Busiris, on that night of standing up the Djed in Busiris.

As for the great Council in Busiris, it is Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, and Horus, the avenger of his father. As for the standing up of the Djed in Busiris, it is the shoulder of Horus at the head of Letopolis. They are behind Osiris in his bundle of bandages. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris Ani, true of voice, against his enemies, in the great Council in Letopolis, on the night of the twilight ceremony in Letopolis.

As for the great Council in Letopolis, it is Horus at the Head of the Blind, and Thoth who is in the Council of the Place where Nothing Grows. As for the night of the twilight ceremony, it is dawn at the coffin of Osiris. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris scribe Ani against his enemies, in the great Council in the two districts of Buto, on the night of the standing up of the columns of Horus, when he was established as heir of the affairs of his father Osiris.

As for the great Council in the two districts of Buto, it is Horus, Isis, Imset, and Hapi. As for the standing up of the columns of Horus, is is when Set said to his followers, Stand up the columns. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris scribe Ani, true of voice in peace, against his enemies, in the great Council in the Lands of the Sisters, on the night when Isis lay down, and watch was kept to perform mourning for her bother Osiris.

As for the great Council in the Lands of the Sisters, it is Isis, Horus, and Imset. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris scribe Ani, true of voice in peace, against his enemies, in the great Council in Abydos, on the night of Haker, at the promotion of the dead, at the accounting of the glorified spirits, when joy comes into being in Thinis.

As for the great Council in Abydos, it is Osiris, Isis, and the Opener of Ways. O Thoth, tho makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris scribe and accountant of the offerings of all the gods, Ani, against his enemies, in the Council of judgement of the dead, on the night of making the account of their dead.

As for the great Council in judgement of the dead, it is Thoth, Osiris, Anubis, and Asden. As for the accounting of their dead, it is when the things were imprisoned, because of the souls of the children of impotent revolt. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris scribe Ani, true of voice, against his enemies, in the great Council when it takes away the earth in Busiris, on the night when it takes away the earth with their blood which makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies.

As for the great Council when it takes away the earth in Busiris, it is the coming of the minions of Set to make their transformations into animals, when they are slain in the presence of these gods, and their blood flows out from them, as was allowed in the accounting of those who are in Busiris. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris Ani against his enemies, in the great Council in the Land where Nothing Grows, on the night of the hidden of forms.

As for the great Council in the Land where Nothing Grows, it is Ra, Osiris, Shu, and Bebi. As for the hidden of forms, the arm, buttocks, and thigh of Osiris are in the coffin. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris Ani, true of voice before Osiris, against his enemies, in the great Council in Re-Staw, on the night when Anubis lays his arms upon the things behind Osiris, and when the the voice of Horus is made true against his enemies.

As for the great Council in Re-Staw, it is Horus, Osiris, and Isis. The heart of Osiris is joyful, and the heart of Horus is glad; therefore the Temples of Upper and Lower Egypt are in peace. O Thoth, who makes true the voice of Osiris against his enemies, make true the voice of the Osiris scribe and accountant of the offerings of all the gods Ani, true of voice, against his enemies, in the ten great Councils, with Ra and Osiris and all the gods and goddesses, in the presence of Neb-er-djer. He casts away his enemies; he casts away all the sin which he possesses.

If this spell is spoken by the priest, he will come forth by day after his form arrives at the haven, as his heart allows. Now if this spell is recited fully over him, he will progress over the earth, and come forth from every flame, and nothing of any of the evil he possesses will encircle him, regularly and continuously, countless times.