And the one who fears natural death has lost the sweetness of security. Can there be any soul more wretched than one that is ignorant, sorrowful, impoverished, and fearful?

O soul: If the rank of patience were established within you—enduring the agony of non-existence that leads you to the point of separation from nature—you would be devoid of both fear and poverty together. Therefore, O soul, embrace patience; do not combine poverty and fear with sorrow, captivity, and exile, lest you perish.

O soul: Death while maintaining patience and steadfastness is glory; but death amidst defeat and failure is humiliation.

O soul: "Slaughter" (sacrifice) is but a passing hour that ends, while enduring the humiliation of captivity is a prolonged state. Therefore, be content with being "slain" within nature, and do not be content with captivity; for being slain within nature is eternal life, while captivity within nature is eternal death.

O soul: These are three ranks; so be at the noblest and most beautiful of them.

The lowest of these ranks: A man who is knowledgeable but does not act. This is like a man who possesses a weapon but lacks courage. And what can a coward possibly achieve with a weapon?

The second rank: A man who acts but is not knowledgeable.