2991、属世事物代表属灵事物，并且它们相对应，这一点也可从以下事实得知：属世之物若没有一个先于它自身的原因，是绝不可能产生或形成的。它的原因就在于属灵之物；在那里没有自己原因的属世事物是不存在的。属世形式是结果，无法作为原因显现，更无法作为原因的原因，或最初起源显现。相反，它们照着它们在它们所在之地发挥的功用而取得自己的形式。尽管如此，结果所取的形式代表存在于原因当中的事物，这些原因反过来又代表存在于最初起源当中的事物。因此，一切属世事物都代表那些存在于它们所对应的属灵事物当中的事物，而这些属灵事物反过来又代表那些它们所来源于的属天事物当中的事物。
Potts(1905-1910) 2991
2991. That natural things represent spiritual things, and that they correspond, may also be known from the fact that what is natural cannot possibly come forth except from a cause prior to itself. Its cause is from what is spiritual; and there is nothing natural which does not thence derive its cause. Natural forms are effects; nor can they appear as causes, still less as causes of causes, or beginnings; but they receive their forms according to the use in the place where they are; and yet the forms of the effects represent the things which are of the causes; and indeed these latter things represent those which are of the beginnings. Thus all natural things represent those which are of the spiritual things to which they correspond; and in fact the spiritual things also represent those which are of the celestial things from which they are.
Elliott(1983-1999) 2991
2991. The representation of spiritual things by natural, and the correspondence of natural things with spiritual, may also be known from the consideration that what is natural cannot in any sense come into being without a cause prior to itself. Its cause exists in that which is spiritual. Nothing natural exists which does not have its cause there. Natural forms are effects and cannot appear as causes, let alone as the causes of causes, or first origins. Instead they take the forms they do from the use they perform in the place where they belong. Nevertheless the forms taken by effects represent the things that exist among causes, and these causes in turn represent those that exist among first origins. Thus all natural things represent those that exist among the spiritual things to which they correspond, and those spiritual things in turn represent those that exist among the celestial things in which they have their origin.
Latin(1748-1756) 2991
2991. Quod naturalia repraesentent spiritualia, et quod correspondeant, etiam sciri potest ex eo quod naturale nullatenus existere possit nisi a causa se priore; causa ejus est ex spirituali; naturale quod non inde causam ducit, non datur; formae naturales sunt effectus, nec apparere possunt sicut causae, minus sicut causarum causae, seu principia, sed accipiunt formas secundum usum in loco in quo sunt; sed usque formae effectuum repraesentant illa quae sunt causarum; immo haec repraesentant illa quae sunt principiorum; ita omnia naturalia repraesentant illa quae sunt spiritualium quibus correspondent; immo etiam spiritualia repraesentant illa quae sunt caelestium ex quibus sunt.