Hydrogen sulfide H2S is prepared from a crude gas stream containing H2S and polysulfanes (H2Sx). The crude gas stream is passed at temperatures of from 114 to 165° C. through catalytically active material present in a vessel, and sulfur is collected in the bottom of the vessel and recycled to the preparation of H2S. This process may be accomplished in an apparatus including a reactor for reacting sulfur and hydrogen, a cooler for receiving and cooling an H2S-containing crude gas stream passed out of the reactor to between 114 to 165° C., a vessel coupled to the cooler, the vessel including catalytically active material and a bottom for collecting sulfur obtained from the crude gas stream, and a line which is connected to the bottom of the vessel and opens into the cooler or into the reactor, for recycling sulfur.