Figures 8 to 15 ~ The Prayer

 

The figures to the right and left of the central icon are a combination of hieroglyphics and hieratic, which is sort of a cursive form.  They constitute, for the most part, a prayer for the safety and ultimate salvation of the spirit of the dead person, in this case, Shishaq.  The pictures of the glyphs is from Wikipedia and the translations are from the Egyptologists quoted below,  I apologize that it has run outside the frame.  I was unable to alter the size of this image:

 

Figure No. 11		"O god, sleeping in the time"
Figure No. 10		"of the beginning. Great God, Lord of Heaven and earth,"
Figure No. 9		"and below the earth and of the waters" (Damaged in the original.)
Figure No. 8		"Grant that the Ba of Osiris Sheshonq live."

 

Michael D. Rhodes gives the following translation: "O God of the Sleeping Ones from the time of the creation. O Mighty God, Lord of heaven and earth, of the hereafter, and of his great waters, may the soul of the Osiris Shishaq be granted life."

 

Joseph Smith said of figure 8 in particular, "Contains writings that cannot be revealed unto the world; but is to be had in the Holy Temple of God." 

 

Those who have had a temple experience will recall the blessings, covenants, and promises of God to be had therein.

 

Figure No. 12
Figure No. 13
Figure No. 14
Figure No. 15

The right portion of these characters are hieratic and appear to have been copied from Joseph Smith Papyrus XI.

Val Sederholm  gives the translation as "I invoke that special, particular, transcendent god, who lives by breathing, who negotiates the waters: So may Re descend to hear Osiris' words. Come to Osiris Shoshenq."

 

Here is the translation again with my personal understanding or interpretation given in brackets.  "I invoke that special, particular, transcendent god [has transcended and overcome all things], who lives by breathing [resurrected], who negotiates the waters [who can calm and walk on water]: So may Ra [sun god or Celestial God] descend to hear Osiris' [Sheshaq's]words. Come to Osiris Shoshenq [alternate spelling of Sheshaq, the owner of this particular hypocephalus]." 

 

This funeral prayer is asking that the God of the Celestial heaven, who has power over the waters, and who lives as a resurrected being to come to Sheshaq and protect him on his journey through the Valley of the Shadow of Death and ultimately welcome him into Thy Kingdom to become as the gods.  Wouldn't this prayer be in the heart of most people as they approach death's door with a hope for universal resurrection and the promise of eternal life to those who hearts are weighed in the balance and found worthy.