Verse 1-8. Eine allgemeine Zusammenfassung.

Verse 9-18. Die Auswahl der richtigen Prinzipien im Geist.

Verse 19-21. Aufforderung zum Eintritt in das himmlische Leben.

Verse 22-25. Eine Untersuchung darüber, was das himmlische Leben ausmacht.

Verse 26-40. Der Unwille des unerneuerten Herzens, es zu betreten.

Verse 41-46. Der Versuch, dies aus der Selbstbezogenheit und der Niederlage in der Versuchung heraus zu tun.

939. The ideas comprising the thought of people who have been disgustingly avaricious are converted into disgusting delusions. How disgusting is clear from their hell, which is deep down underfoot. A steamy vapour exudes from it like that coming from pigs whose bristles are being scraped off in a trough [of hot water]. It is here that the greedy have their dwelling-places. At first the appearance of those who enter that place is black. But then on being shaven like pigs they seem to themselves to become shining white. This is how they appear to themselves at this point, but a mark is nevertheless left after shaving to indicate their true character wherever they go. A certain black spirit who had not yet been taken down into his own hell because he was required to stay on longer in the world of spirits was sent down to where they were. He had not been so avaricious a person, but nevertheless during his lifetime he had gazed with envy and evil intent at other people's wealth. As he drew near, the avaricious people there fled, saying that as he was black he was a robber who, being such, would murder them. For the avaricious flee from such people, fearing greatly for their own lives. At length however they learned that he was no such robber and they then told him that if he wished to become shining white he had merely to get rid of the hair covering him, like the pigs which were in full view, and he would then be shining white. But he did not wish to, and so he was taken up to be among spirits.