CHAPTER 55

1. Then I saw the souls of the wicked who died, and ever suffer torment and punishment, in that dreadful, dark place of punishment of various kinds, such as driving snow, and severe cold, and the heat of brisk-burning fire, and foul stench, and stone and ashes, hail and rain, and many other evils. 2. And I asked thus: 'What sin was committed by the body of these, whose soul suffers so severe a punishment?' 3. Srosh the pious, and Adar the angel, said (4) thus: 'These are the souls of those wicked people, by whom, in the world, mortal sin was much committed, (5) and the Warharan (most sacred) fire was extinguished, and a bridge of a rapid river was demolished; (6) and falsehood and irreverence were spoken, and much false evidence was given.

7. And their desire was anarchy; and because of their greediness and avarice and lust and wrath and envy, the innocent, pious man was slain; (8) and they have proceeded very deceitfully. 9. Now the soul must suffer such severe torment and punishment.'