The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh
by Bahá’u’lláh
Edition 1, (October 21, 2005)

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Contents

Part I.—From the Arabic

Preamble

HE IS THE GLORY OF GLORIES

This is that which hath descended from the realm
of glory, uttered by the tongue of power and might, and revealed unto
the Prophets of old. We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed
it in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous,
that they may stand faithful unto the Covenant of God, may fulfill in
their lives His trust, and in the realm of spirit obtain the gem of
Divine virtue.

“1: O
SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly
and…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and
radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and
everlasting.

“2:
O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is
Justice;…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is
Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not
that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own
eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own
knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in
thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to
thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.

“3: O SON OF
MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient…”

O SON OF MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient
eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created
thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.

“4: O
SON OF MAN! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee.
Wherefore,…”

O SON OF MAN! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore,
do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the
spirit of life.

“5: O SON
OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me…”

O SON OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not,
My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.

“6: O
SON OF BEING! Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home,
reunion…”

O SON OF BEING! Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home, reunion
with Me. Enter therein and tarry not. This is that which hath been
destined for thee in Our kingdom above and Our exalted dominion.

“7: O SON OF
MAN! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if…”

O SON OF MAN! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou
seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me
and I may eternally live in thee.

“8: O SON
OF SPIRIT! There is no peace for thee save by renouncing…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! There is no peace for thee save by renouncing
thyself and turning unto Me; for it behooveth thee to glory in My name,
not in thine own; to put thy trust in Me and not in thyself, since I
desire to be loved alone and above all that is.

“9: O SON OF BEING! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth
therein…”

O SON OF BEING! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is
safe and secure, and he that turneth away shall surely stray and perish.

“10: O
SON OF UTTERANCE! Thou art My stronghold; enter therein that…”

O SON OF UTTERANCE! Thou art My stronghold; enter therein that thou
mayest abide in safety. My love is in thee, know it, that thou mayest
find Me near unto thee.

“11: O SON OF
BEING! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee….”

O SON OF BEING! Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou
from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me. For I have created
thee rich and have bountifully shed My favor upon thee.

“12: O SON
OF BEING! With the hands of power I made thee and with…”

O SON OF BEING! With the hands of power I made thee and with the
fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the
essence of My light. Be thou content with it and seek naught else, for
My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, nor have
a doubt thereof.

“13:
O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring
thyself…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself
down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself?
Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou
enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded
thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto
thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful
and self-subsisting.

“14: O SON
OF MAN! Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth…”

O SON OF MAN! Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not;
wherefore fearest thou thy perishing? Thou art My light and My light
shall never be extinguished; why dost thou dread extinction? Thou art My
glory and My glory fadeth not; thou art My robe and My robe shall never
be outworn. Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in
the realm of glory.

“15: O
SON OF UTTERANCE! Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all
save…”

O SON OF UTTERANCE! Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save Me;
for My sovereignty endureth and My dominion perisheth not. If thou
seekest another than Me, yea, if thou searchest the universe for
evermore, thy quest will be in vain.

“16: O SON
OF LIGHT! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit….”

O SON OF LIGHT! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This
is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it.

“17: O SON OF
MAN! Be thou content with Me and seek no other…”

O SON OF MAN! Be thou content with Me and seek no other helper. For
none but Me can ever suffice thee.

“18: O
SON OF SPIRIT! Ask not of Me that which We desire not for
thee,…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! Ask not of Me that which We desire not for thee,
then be content with what We have ordained for thy sake, for this is
that which profiteth thee, if therewith thou dost content thyself.

“19: O SON OF THE WONDROUS VISION! I have breathed within thee a
breath of My own…”

O SON OF THE WONDROUS VISION! I have breathed within thee a breath of
My own Spirit, that thou mayest be My lover. Why hast thou forsaken Me
and sought a beloved other than Me?

“20: O
SON OF SPIRIT! My claim on thee is great, it cannot be
forgotten….”

O SON OF SPIRIT! My claim on thee is great, it cannot be forgotten.
My grace to thee is plenteous, it cannot be veiled. My love has made in
thee its home, it cannot be concealed. My light is manifest to thee, it
cannot be obscured.

“21: O
SON OF MAN! Upon the tree of effulgent glory I have hung for…”

O SON OF MAN! Upon the tree of effulgent glory I have hung for thee
the choicest fruits, wherefore hast thou turned away and contented
thyself with that which is less good? Return then unto that which is
better for thee in the realm on high.

“22: O SON OF SPIRIT! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast
abased…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased
thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.

“23: O SON OF THE SUPREME! To the eternal I call thee, yet thou
dost seek that…”

O SON OF THE SUPREME! To the eternal I call thee, yet thou dost seek
that which perisheth. What hath made thee turn away from Our desire and
seek thine own?

“24: O
SON OF MAN! Transgress not thy limits, nor claim that which…”

O SON OF MAN! Transgress not thy limits, nor claim that which
beseemeth thee not. Prostrate thyself before the countenance of thy God,
the Lord of might and power.

“25:
O SON OF SPIRIT! Vaunt not thyself over the poor, for I lead him
on…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! Vaunt not thyself over the poor, for I lead him on
his way and behold thee in thy evil plight and confound thee for
evermore.

“26: O SON
OF BEING! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and…”

O SON OF BEING! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy
thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.

“27: O
SON OF MAN! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou
art…”

O SON OF MAN! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art
thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed
wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness.

“28: O SON OF SPIRIT! Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be
just…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be just
and himself committeth iniquity is not of Me, even though he bear My
name.

“29: O
SON OF BEING! Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst…”

O SON OF BEING! Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not
have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not. This is My
command unto thee, do thou observe it.

“30: O SON
OF MAN! Deny not My servant should he ask anything from…”

O SON OF MAN! Deny not My servant should he ask anything from thee,
for his face is My face; be then abashed before Me.

“31: O
SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art…”

O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art
summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and
thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds.

“32:
O SON OF THE SUPREME! I have made death a messenger of joy to
thee….”

O SON OF THE SUPREME! I have made death a messenger of joy to thee.
Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its
splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?

“33: O SON OF SPIRIT! With the joyful tidings of light I hail
thee: rejoice!…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee:
rejoice! To the court of holiness I summon thee; abide therein that thou
mayest live in peace for evermore.

“34: O SON OF SPIRIT! The spirit of holiness beareth unto thee the
joyful…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! The spirit of holiness beareth unto thee the joyful
tidings of reunion; wherefore dost thou grieve? The spirit of power
confirmeth thee in His cause; why dost thou veil thyself? The light of
His countenance doth lead thee; how canst thou go astray?

“35: O
SON OF MAN! Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us.
Rejoice…”

O SON OF MAN! Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. Rejoice not
save that thou art drawing near and returning unto Us.

“36: O SON OF MAN! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that
thou…”

O SON OF MAN! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou
mayest be worthy to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty.

“37: O
SON OF MAN! Divest not thyself of My beauteous robe, and
forfeit…”

O SON OF MAN! Divest not thyself of My beauteous robe, and forfeit
not thy portion from My wondrous fountain, lest thou shouldst thirst for
evermore.

“38: O
SON OF BEING! Walk in My statutes for love of Me and deny
thyself…”

O SON OF BEING! Walk in My statutes for love of Me and deny thyself
that which thou desirest if thou seekest My pleasure.

“39: O
SON OF MAN! Neglect not My commandments if thou lovest My…”

O SON OF MAN! Neglect not My commandments if thou lovest My beauty,
and forget not My counsels if thou wouldst attain My good pleasure.

“40: O SON OF
MAN! Wert thou to speed through the immensity of…”

O SON OF MAN! Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and
traverse the expanse of heaven, yet thou wouldst find no rest save in
submission to Our command and humbleness before Our Face.

“41: O SON
OF MAN! Magnify My cause that I may reveal unto thee the…”

O SON OF MAN! Magnify My cause that I may reveal unto thee the
mysteries of My greatness and shine upon thee with the light of
eternity.

“42: O SON
OF MAN! Humble thyself before Me, that I may graciously…”

O SON OF MAN! Humble thyself before Me, that I may graciously visit
thee. Arise for the triumph of My cause, that while yet on earth thou
mayest obtain the victory.

“43: O SON OF
BEING! Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My…”

O SON OF BEING! Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My heaven I
may remember thee, thus shall Mine eyes and thine be solaced.

“44:
O SON OF THE THRONE! Thy hearing is My hearing, hear thou
therewith….”

O SON OF THE THRONE! Thy hearing is My hearing, hear thou therewith.
Thy sight is My sight, do thou see therewith, that in thine inmost soul
thou mayest testify unto My exalted sanctity, and I within Myself may
bear witness unto an exalted station for thee.

“45: O
SON OF BEING! Seek a martyr’s death in My path, content with…”

O SON OF BEING! Seek a martyr’s death in My path, content with My
pleasure and thankful for that which I ordain, that thou mayest repose
with Me beneath the canopy of majesty behind the tabernacle of glory.

“46: O SON
OF MAN! Ponder and reflect. Is it thy wish to die upon thy…”

O SON OF MAN! Ponder and reflect. Is it thy wish to die upon thy bed,
or to shed thy life-blood on the dust, a martyr in My path, and so
become the manifestation of My command and the revealer of My light in
the highest paradise? Judge thou aright, O servant!

“47: O SON OF
MAN! By My beauty! To tinge thy hair with thy blood…”

O SON OF MAN! By My beauty! To tinge thy hair with thy blood is
greater in My sight than the creation of the universe and the light of
both worlds. Strive then to attain this, O servant!

“48: O SON
OF MAN! For everything there is a sign. The sign of love…”

O SON OF MAN! For everything there is a sign. The sign of love is
fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials.

“49:
O SON OF MAN! The true lover yearneth for tribulation even as…”

O SON OF MAN! The true lover yearneth for tribulation even as doth
the rebel for forgiveness and the sinful for mercy.

“50: O SON OF
MAN! If adversity befall thee not in My path, how…”

O SON OF MAN! If adversity befall thee not in My path, how canst thou
walk in the ways of them that are content with My pleasure? If trials
afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the
light in thy love for My beauty?

“51: O SON
OF MAN! My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is…”

O SON OF MAN! My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is fire and
vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy. Hasten thereunto that
thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit. This is My
command unto thee, do thou observe it.

“52: O
SON OF MAN! Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and…”

O SON OF MAN! Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and should
abasement come upon thee, grieve not, for both shall pass away and be no
more.

“53: O SON OF
BEING! If poverty overtake thee, be not sad; for in…”

O SON OF BEING! If poverty overtake thee, be not sad; for in time the
Lord of wealth shall visit thee. Fear not abasement, for glory shall one
day rest on thee.

“54: O SON OF BEING! If thine heart be set upon this eternal,
imperishable…”

O SON OF BEING! If thine heart be set upon this eternal, imperishable
dominion, and this ancient, everlasting life, forsake this mortal and
fleeting sovereignty.

“55:
O SON OF BEING! Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire
We…”

O SON OF BEING! Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire We
test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants.

“56: O
SON OF MAN! Thou dost wish for gold and I desire thy freedom…”

O SON OF MAN! Thou dost wish for gold and I desire thy freedom from
it. Thou thinkest thyself rich in its possession, and I recognize thy
wealth in thy sanctity therefrom. By My life! This is My knowledge, and
that is thy fancy; how can My way accord with thine?

“57: O SON OF
MAN! Bestow My wealth upon My poor, that in heaven…”

O SON OF MAN! Bestow My wealth upon My poor, that in heaven thou
mayest draw from stores of unfading splendor and treasures of
imperishable glory. But by My life! To offer up thy soul is a more
glorious thing couldst thou but see with Mine eye.

“58: O SON OF
MAN! The temple of being is My throne; cleanse it of…”

O SON OF MAN! The temple of being is My throne; cleanse it of all
things, that there I may be established and there I may abide.

“59:
O SON OF BEING! Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My
descent….”

O SON OF BEING! Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy
spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for My manifestation.

“60: O
SON OF MAN! Put thy hand into My bosom, that I may rise above…”

O SON OF MAN! Put thy hand into My bosom, that I may rise above thee,
radiant and resplendent.

“61: O SON OF
MAN! Ascend unto My heaven, that thou mayest obtain…”

O SON OF MAN! Ascend unto My heaven, that thou mayest obtain the joy
of reunion, and from the chalice of imperishable glory quaff the
peerless wine.

“62: O SON OF
MAN! Many a day hath passed over thee whilst thou…”

O SON OF MAN! Many a day hath passed over thee whilst thou hast
busied thyself with thy fancies and idle imaginings. How long art thou
to slumber on thy bed? Lift up thy head from slumber, for the Sun hath
risen to the zenith, haply it may shine upon thee with the light of
beauty.

“63: O SON
OF MAN! The light hath shone on thee from the horizon of…”

O SON OF MAN! The light hath shone on thee from the horizon of the
sacred Mount and the spirit of enlightenment hath breathed in the Sinai
of thy heart. Wherefore, free thyself from the veils of idle fancies and
enter into My court, that thou mayest be fit for everlasting life and
worthy to meet Me. Thus may death not come upon thee, neither weariness
nor trouble.

“64: O
SON OF MAN! My eternity is My creation, I have created it for…”

O SON OF MAN! My eternity is My creation, I have created it for thee.
Make it the garment of thy temple. My unity is My handiwork; I have
wrought it for thee; clothe thyself therewith, that thou mayest be to
all eternity the revelation of My everlasting being.

“65: O SON OF
MAN! My majesty is My gift to thee, and My grandeur…”

O SON OF MAN! My majesty is My gift to thee, and My grandeur the
token of My mercy unto thee. That which beseemeth Me none shall
understand, nor can anyone recount. Verily, I have preserved it in My
hidden storehouses and in the treasuries of My command, as a sign of My
loving-kindness unto My servants and My mercy unto My people.

“66: O CHILDREN OF
THE DIVINE AND INVISIBLE ESSENCE!…”

O CHILDREN OF THE DIVINE AND INVISIBLE ESSENCE! Ye shall be hindered
from loving Me and souls shall be perturbed as they make mention of Me.
For minds cannot grasp Me nor hearts contain Me.

“67: O SON
OF BEAUTY! By My spirit and by My favor! By My mercy and…”

O SON OF BEAUTY! By My spirit and by My favor! By My mercy and by My
beauty! All that I have revealed unto thee with the tongue of power, and
have written for thee with the pen of might, hath been in accordance
with thy capacity and understanding, not with My state and the melody of
My voice.

“68: O
CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from the…”

O CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from the same
dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all
times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all
from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul,
to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the
same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the
signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.
Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel
that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous
glory.

“69: O YE SONS OF SPIRIT! Ye are My treasury, for in you I have
treasured the…”

O YE SONS OF SPIRIT! Ye are My treasury, for in you I have treasured
the pearls of My mysteries and the gems of My knowledge. Guard them from
the strangers amidst My servants and from the ungodly amongst My people.

“70: O SON OF HIM THAT STOOD BY HIS OWN ENTITY IN THE KINGDOM OF
HIS SELF!…”

O SON OF HIM THAT STOOD BY HIS OWN ENTITY IN THE KINGDOM OF HIS SELF!
Know thou, that I have wafted unto thee all the fragrances of holiness,
have fully revealed to thee My word, have perfected through thee My
bounty and have desired for thee that which I have desired for My Self.
Be then content with My pleasure and thankful unto Me.

“71: O SON
OF MAN! Write all that We have revealed unto thee with the…”

O SON OF MAN! Write all that We have revealed unto thee with the ink
of light upon the tablet of thy spirit. Should this not be in thy power,
then make thine ink of the essence of thy heart. If this thou canst not
do, then write with that crimson ink that hath been shed in My path.
Sweeter indeed is this to Me than all else, that its light may endure
for ever.

Part II—From the Persian

Preamble

In the Name of the Lord of Utterance,
The Mighty.

“1: O YE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE MINDS TO KNOW AND EARS TO HEAR!…”

O YE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MINDS TO KNOW AND EARS TO HEAR! The first call
of the Beloved is this: O mystic nightingale! Abide not but in the
rose-garden of the spirit. O messenger of the Solomon of love! Seek thou
no shelter except in the Sheba of the well-beloved, and O immortal
phoenix! dwell not save on the mount of faithfulness. Therein is thy
habitation, if on the wings of thy soul thou soarest to the realm of the
infinite and seekest to attain thy goal.

“2: O SON OF
SPIRIT! The bird seeketh its nest; the nightingale the…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! The bird seeketh its nest; the nightingale the charm
of the rose; whilst those birds, the hearts of men, content with
transient dust, have strayed far from their eternal nest, and with eyes
turned towards the slough of heedlessness are bereft of the glory of the
divine presence. Alas! How strange and pitiful; for a mere cupful, they
have turned away from the billowing seas of the Most High, and remained
far from the most effulgent horizon.

“3: O FRIEND! In
the garden of thy heart plant naught but the…”

O FRIEND! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of
love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy
hold. Treasure the companionship of the righteous and eschew all
fellowship with the ungodly.

“4: O SON OF
JUSTICE! Whither can a lover go but to the land of his…”

O SON OF JUSTICE! Whither can a lover go but to the land of his
beloved? and what seeker findeth rest away from his heart’s desire? To
the true lover reunion is life, and separation is death. His breast is
void of patience and his heart hath no peace. A myriad lives he would
forsake to hasten to the abode of his beloved.

“5: O SON OF DUST! Verily I say unto thee: Of all men the most
negligent…”

O SON OF DUST! Verily I say unto thee: Of all men the most negligent
is he that disputeth idly and seeketh to advance himself over his
brother. Say, O brethren! Let deeds, not words, be your adorning.

“6: O
SON OF EARTH! Know, verily, the heart wherein the least
remnant…”

O SON OF EARTH! Know, verily, the heart wherein the least remnant of
envy yet lingers, shall never attain My everlasting dominion, nor inhale
the sweet savors of holiness breathing from My kingdom of sanctity.

“7: O SON OF
LOVE! Thou art but one step away from the glorious…”

O SON OF LOVE! Thou art but one step away from the glorious heights
above and from the celestial tree of love. Take thou one pace and with
the next advance into the immortal realm and enter the pavilion of
eternity. Give ear then to that which hath been revealed by the pen of
glory.

“8: O SON
OF GLORY! Be swift in the path of holiness, and enter the…”

O SON OF GLORY! Be swift in the path of holiness, and enter the
heaven of communion with Me. Cleanse thy heart with the burnish of the
spirit, and hasten to the court of the Most High.

“9:
O FLEETING SHADOW! Pass beyond the baser stages of doubt and rise
to…”

O FLEETING SHADOW! Pass beyond the baser stages of doubt and rise to
the exalted heights of certainty. Open the eye of truth, that thou
mayest behold the veilless Beauty and exclaim: Hallowed be the Lord, the
most excellent of all creators!

“10:
O SON OF DESIRE! Give ear unto this: Never shall mortal eye
recognize…”

O SON OF DESIRE! Give ear unto this: Never shall mortal eye recognize
the everlasting Beauty, nor the lifeless heart delight in aught but in
the withered bloom. For like seeketh like, and taketh pleasure in the
company of its kind.

“11: O SON
OF DUST! Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My…”

O SON OF DUST! Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My beauty;
stop thine ears, that thou mayest hearken unto the sweet melody of My
voice; empty thyself of all learning, that thou mayest partake of My
knowledge; and sanctify thyself from riches, that thou mayest obtain a
lasting share from the ocean of My eternal wealth. Blind thine eyes,
that is, to all save My beauty; stop thine ears to all save My word;
empty thyself of all learning save the knowledge of Me; that with a
clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive ear thou mayest enter the
court of My holiness.

“12:
O MAN OF TWO VISIONS! Close one eye and open the other. Close one
to…”

O MAN OF TWO VISIONS! Close one eye and open the other. Close one to
the world and all that is therein, and open the other to the hallowed
beauty of the Beloved.

“13: O MY
CHILDREN! I fear lest, bereft of the melody of the dove of…”

O MY CHILDREN! I fear lest, bereft of the melody of the dove of
heaven, ye will sink back to the shades of utter loss, and, never having
gazed upon the beauty of the rose, return to water and clay.

“14: O
FRIENDS! Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty…”

O FRIENDS! Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must
die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust.

“15:
O SON OF SPIRIT! The time cometh, when the nightingale of
holiness…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! The time cometh, when the nightingale of holiness
will no longer unfold the inner mysteries and ye will all be bereft of
the celestial melody and of the voice from on high.

“16: O ESSENCE OF NEGLIGENCE! Myriads of mystic tongues find
utterance in one…”

O ESSENCE OF NEGLIGENCE! Myriads of mystic tongues find utterance in
one speech, and myriads of hidden mysteries are revealed in a single
melody; yet, alas, there is no ear to hear, nor heart to understand.

“17: O
COMRADES! The gates that open on the Placeless stand wide…”

O COMRADES! The gates that open on the Placeless stand wide and the
habitation of the loved one is adorned with the lovers’ blood, yet all
but a few remain bereft of this celestial city, and even of these few,
none but the smallest handful hath been found with a pure heart and
sanctified spirit.

“18: O YE DWELLERS IN THE
HIGHEST PARADISE!…”

O YE DWELLERS IN THE HIGHEST PARADISE! Proclaim unto the children of
assurance that within the realms of holiness, nigh unto the celestial
paradise, a new garden hath appeared, round which circle the denizens of
the realm on high and the immortal dwellers of the exalted paradise.
Strive, then, that ye may attain that station, that ye may unravel the
mysteries of love from its wind-flowers and learn the secret of divine
and consummate wisdom from its eternal fruits. Solaced are the eyes of
them that enter and abide therein!

“19: O MY
FRIENDS! Have ye forgotten that true and radiant morn,…”

O MY FRIENDS! Have ye forgotten that true and radiant morn, when in
those hallowed and blessed surroundings ye were all gathered in My
presence beneath the shade of the tree of life, which is planted in the
all-glorious paradise? Awe-struck ye listened as I gave utterance to
these three most holy words: O friends! Prefer not your will to Mine,
never desire that which I have not desired for you, and approach Me not
with lifeless hearts, defiled with worldly desires and cravings. Would
ye but sanctify your souls, ye would at this present hour recall that
place and those surroundings, and the truth of My utterance should be
made evident unto all of you.

“20: O YE THAT
ARE LYING AS DEAD ON THE COUCH OF HEEDLESSNESS!…”

In the eighth of the most holy lines, in the fifth Tablet of
Paradise, He saith: O YE THAT ARE LYING AS DEAD ON THE COUCH OF
HEEDLESSNESS! Ages have passed and your precious lives are well-nigh
ended, yet not a single breath of purity hath reached Our court of
holiness from you. Though immersed in the ocean of misbelief, yet with
your lips ye profess the one true faith of God. Him whom I abhor ye have
loved, and of My foe ye have made a friend. Notwithstanding, ye walk on
My earth complacent and self-satisfied, heedless that My earth is weary
of you and everything within it shunneth you. Were ye but to open your
eyes, ye would, in truth, prefer a myriad griefs unto this joy, and
would count death itself better than this life.

“21: O MOVING FORM OF DUST! I desire communion with thee, but thou
wouldst…”

O MOVING FORM OF DUST! I desire communion with thee, but thou wouldst
put no trust in Me. The sword of thy rebellion hath felled the tree of
thy hope. At all times I am near unto thee, but thou art ever far from
Me. Imperishable glory I have chosen for thee, yet boundless shame thou
hast chosen for thyself. While there is yet time, return, and lose not
thy chance.

“22: O SON OF
DESIRE! The learned and the wise have for long years…”

O SON OF DESIRE! The learned and the wise have for long years striven
and failed to attain the presence of the All-Glorious; they have spent
their lives in search of Him, yet did not behold the beauty of His
countenance. Thou without the least effort didst attain thy goal, and
without search hast obtained the object of thy quest. Yet,
notwithstanding, thou didst remain so wrapt in the veil of self, that
thine eyes beheld not the beauty of the Beloved, nor did thy hand touch
the hem of His robe. Ye that have eyes, behold and wonder.

“23: O DWELLERS IN THE CITY OF LOVE! Mortal blasts
have beset the everlasting candle,…”

O DWELLERS IN THE CITY OF LOVE! Mortal blasts have beset the
everlasting candle, and the beauty of the celestial Youth is veiled in
the darkness of dust. The chief of the monarchs of love is wronged by
the people of tyranny and the dove of holiness lies prisoned in the
talons of owls. The dwellers in the pavilion of glory and the celestial
concourse bewail and lament, while ye repose in the realm of negligence,
and esteem yourselves as of the true friends. How vain are your
imaginings!

“24: O YE THAT ARE
FOOLISH, YET HAVE A NAME TO BE WISE!…”

O YE THAT ARE FOOLISH, YET HAVE A NAME TO BE WISE! Wherefore do ye
wear the guise of shepherds, when inwardly ye have become wolves, intent
upon My flock? Ye are even as the star, which riseth ere the dawn, and
which, though it seem radiant and luminous, leadeth the wayfarers of My
city astray into the paths of perdition.

“25: O YE SEEMING FAIR YET INWARDLY FOUL! Ye are
like clear but bitter water, which to outward…”

O YE SEEMING FAIR YET INWARDLY FOUL! Ye are like clear but bitter
water, which to outward seeming is crystal pure but of which, when
tested by the divine Assayer, not a drop is accepted. Yea, the sun beam
falls alike upon the dust and the mirror, yet differ they in reflection
even as doth the star from the earth: nay, immeasurable is the
difference!

“26:
O MY FRIEND IN WORD! Ponder awhile. Hast thou ever heard that
friend…”

O MY FRIEND IN WORD! Ponder awhile. Hast thou ever heard that friend
and foe should abide in one heart? Cast out then the stranger, that the
Friend may enter His home.

“27: O SON
OF DUST! All that is in heaven and earth I have ordained…”

O SON OF DUST! All that is in heaven and earth I have ordained for
thee, except the human heart, which I have made the habitation of My
beauty and glory; yet thou didst give My home and dwelling to another
than Me; and whenever the manifestation of My holiness sought His own
abode, a stranger found He there, and, homeless, hastened unto the
sanctuary of the Beloved. Notwithstanding I have concealed thy secret
and desired not thy shame.

“28:
O ESSENCE OF DESIRE! At many a dawn have I turned from the realms
of…”

O ESSENCE OF DESIRE! At many a dawn have I turned from the realms of
the Placeless unto thine abode, and found thee on the bed of ease busied
with others than Myself. Thereupon, even as the flash of the spirit, I
returned to the realms of celestial glory and breathed it not in My
retreats above unto the hosts of holiness.

“29: O
SON OF BOUNTY! Out of the wastes of nothingness, with the
clay…”

O SON OF BOUNTY! Out of the wastes of nothingness, with the clay of
My command I made thee to appear, and have ordained for thy training
every atom in existence and the essence of all created things. Thus, ere
thou didst issue from thy mother’s womb, I destined for thee two founts
of gleaming milk, eyes to watch over thee, and hearts to love thee. Out
of My loving-kindness, ’neath the shade of My mercy I nurtured thee, and
guarded thee by the essence of My grace and favor. And My purpose in all
this was that thou mightest attain My everlasting dominion and become
worthy of My invisible bestowals. And yet heedless thou didst remain,
and when fully grown, thou didst neglect all My bounties and occupied
thyself with thine idle imaginings, in such wise that thou didst become
wholly forgetful, and, turning away from the portals of the Friend didst
abide within the courts of My enemy.

“30: O BOND SLAVE OF THE WORLD! Many a dawn hath the breeze of My
loving-kindness…”

O BOND SLAVE OF THE WORLD! Many a dawn hath the breeze of My
loving-kindness wafted over thee and found thee upon the bed of
heedlessness fast asleep. Bewailing then thy plight it returned whence
it came.

“31: O SON OF
EARTH! Wouldst thou have Me, seek none other than…”

O SON OF EARTH! Wouldst thou have Me, seek none other than Me; and
wouldst thou gaze upon My beauty, close thine eyes to the world and all
that is therein; for My will and the will of another than Me, even as
fire and water, cannot dwell together in one heart.

“32: O BEFRIENDED STRANGER! The candle of thine heart is lighted
by the hand…”

O BEFRIENDED STRANGER! The candle of thine heart is lighted by the
hand of My power, quench it not with the contrary winds of self and
passion. The healer of all thine ills is remembrance of Me, forget it
not. Make My love thy treasure and cherish it even as thy very sight and
life.

“33: O
MY BROTHER! Hearken to the delightsome words of My honeyed…”

O MY BROTHER! Hearken to the delightsome words of My honeyed tongue,
and quaff the stream of mystic holiness from My sugar-shedding lips. Sow
the seeds of My divine wisdom in the pure soil of thy heart, and water
them with the water of certitude, that the hyacinths of My knowledge and
wisdom may spring up fresh and green in the sacred city of thy heart.

“34: O
DWELLERS OF MY PARADISE! With the hands of loving-kindness I
have…”

O DWELLERS OF MY PARADISE! With the hands of loving-kindness I have
planted in the holy garden of paradise the young tree of your love and
friendship, and have watered it with the goodly showers of My tender
grace; now that the hour of its fruiting is come, strive that it may be
protected, and be not consumed with the flame of desire and passion.

“35: O MY
FRIENDS! Quench ye the lamp of error, and kindle within…”

O MY FRIENDS! Quench ye the lamp of error, and kindle within your
hearts the everlasting torch of divine guidance. For ere long the
assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored, accept
naught but purest virtue and deeds of stainless holiness.

“36: O SON
OF DUST! The wise are they that speak not unless they…”

O SON OF DUST! The wise are they that speak not unless they obtain a
hearing, even as the cup-bearer, who proffereth not his cup till he
findeth a seeker, and the lover who crieth not out from the depths of
his heart until he gazeth upon the beauty of his beloved. Wherefore sow
the seeds of wisdom and knowledge in the pure soil of the heart, and
keep them hidden, till the hyacinths of divine wisdom spring from the
heart and not from mire and clay.

“37: O
MY SERVANT! Abandon not for that which perisheth an
everlasting…”

In the first line of the Tablet it is recorded and written, and
within the sanctuary of the tabernacle of God is hidden: O MY SERVANT!
Abandon not for that which perisheth an everlasting dominion, and cast
not away celestial sovereignty for a worldly desire. This is the river
of everlasting life that hath flowed from the well-spring of the pen of
the merciful; well is it with them that drink!

“38:
O SON OF SPIRIT! Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the
phoenix…”

O SON OF SPIRIT! Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of
love soar into the firmament of holiness. Renounce thyself and, filled
with the spirit of mercy, abide in the realm of celestial sanctity.

“39: O
OFFSPRING OF DUST! Be not content with the ease of a passing
day,…”

O OFFSPRING OF DUST! Be not content with the ease of a passing day,
and deprive not thyself of everlasting rest. Barter not the garden of
eternal delight for the dust-heap of a mortal world. Up from thy prison
ascend unto the glorious meads above, and from thy mortal cage wing thy
flight unto the paradise of the Placeless.

“40: O MY
SERVANT! Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and…”

O MY SERVANT! Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose
thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to
thee no more.

“41:
O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Didst thou behold immortal sovereignty,
thou…”

O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Didst thou behold immortal sovereignty, thou
wouldst strive to pass from this fleeting world. But to conceal the one
from thee and to reveal the other is a mystery which none but the pure
in heart can comprehend.

“42: O MY
SERVANT! Purge thy heart from malice and, innocent of…”

O MY SERVANT! Purge thy heart from malice and, innocent of envy,
enter the divine court of holiness.

“43: O MY
FRIENDS! Walk ye in the ways of the good pleasure of…”

O MY FRIENDS! Walk ye in the ways of the good pleasure of the Friend,
and know that His pleasure is in the pleasure of His creatures. That is:
no man should enter the house of his friend save at his friend’s
pleasure, nor lay hands upon his treasures nor prefer his own will to
his friend’s, and in no wise seek an advantage over him. Ponder this, ye
that have insight!

“44: O COMPANION OF MY THRONE! Hear no evil, and see no evil,
abase not thyself,…”

O COMPANION OF MY THRONE! Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not
thyself, neither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear
it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own
faults may not appear great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that
thine own abasement be not exposed. Live then the days of thy life, that
are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart
unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified, so that, free
and content, thou mayest put away this mortal frame, and repair unto the
mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom for evermore.

“45: ALAS! ALAS! O LOVERS OF
WORLDLY DESIRE!…”

ALAS! ALAS! O LOVERS OF WORLDLY DESIRE! Even as the swiftness of
lightning ye have passed by the Beloved One, and have set your hearts on
satanic fancies. Ye bow the knee before your vain imagining, and call it
truth. Ye turn your eyes towards the thorn, and name it a flower. Not a
pure breath have ye breathed, nor hath the breeze of detachment been
wafted from the meadows of your hearts. Ye have cast to the winds the
loving counsels of the Beloved and have effaced them utterly from the
tablet of your hearts, and even as the beasts of the field, ye move and
have your being within the pastures of desire and passion.

“46: O BRETHREN IN THE PATH! Wherefore have ye neglected the
mention of the…”

O BRETHREN IN THE PATH! Wherefore have ye neglected the mention of
the Loved One, and kept remote from His holy presence? The essence of
beauty is within the peerless pavilion, set upon the throne of glory,
whilst ye busy yourselves with idle contentions. The sweet savors of
holiness are breathing and the breath of bounty is wafted, yet ye are
all sorely afflicted and deprived thereof. Alas for you and for them
that walk in your ways and follow in your footsteps!

“47:
O CHILDREN OF DESIRE! Put away the garment of vainglory, and
divest…”

O CHILDREN OF DESIRE! Put away the garment of vainglory, and divest
yourselves of the attire of haughtiness.

“48: O
BRETHREN! Be forbearing one with another and set not your…”

In the third of the most holy lines writ and recorded in the Ruby
Tablet by the pen of the unseen this is revealed: O BRETHREN! Be
forbearing one with another and set not your affections on things below.
Pride not yourselves in your glory, and be not ashamed of abasement. By
My beauty! I have created all things from dust, and to dust will I
return them again.

“49:
O CHILDREN OF DUST! Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the
poor,…”

O CHILDREN OF DUST! Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the
poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of destruction, and
deprive them of the Tree of Wealth. To give and to be generous are
attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My
virtues.

“50: O QUINTESSENCE OF PASSION! Put away all covetousness and seek
contentment;…”

O QUINTESSENCE OF PASSION! Put away all covetousness and seek
contentment; for the covetous hath ever been deprived, and the contented
hath ever been loved and praised.

“51: O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Be not troubled in poverty nor
confident in…”

O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Be not troubled in poverty nor confident in
riches, for poverty is followed by riches, and riches are followed by
poverty. Yet to be poor in all save God is a wondrous gift, belittle not
the value thereof, for in the end it will make thee rich in God, and
thus thou shalt know the meaning of the utterance, “In truth ye are the
poor,” and the holy words, “God is the all-possessing,” shall even as
the true morn break forth gloriously resplendent upon the horizon of the
lover’s heart, and abide secure on the throne of wealth.

“52: O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE
AND PASSION!…”

O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE AND PASSION! Ye have suffered My enemy to
enter My house and have cast out My friend, for ye have enshrined the
love of another than Me in your hearts. Give ear to the sayings of the
Friend and turn towards His paradise. Worldly friends, seeking their own
good, appear to love one the other, whereas the true Friend hath loved
and doth love you for your own sakes; indeed He hath suffered for your
guidance countless afflictions. Be not disloyal to such a Friend, nay
rather hasten unto Him. Such is the daystar of the word of truth and
faithfulness, that hath dawned above the horizon of the pen of the Lord
of all names. Open your ears that ye may hearken unto the word of God,
the Help in peril, the Self-existent.

“53: O YE THAT PRIDE
YOURSELVES ON MORTAL RICHES!…”

O YE THAT PRIDE YOURSELVES ON MORTAL RICHES! Know ye in truth that
wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover
and his beloved. The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the
court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation.
Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches
from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion.
By the Most Great Name! The splendor of such a wealthy man shall
illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people
of the earth!

“54:
O YE RICH ONES ON EARTH! The poor in your midst are My trust; guard
ye…”

O YE RICH ONES ON EARTH! The poor in your midst are My trust; guard
ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.

“55: O
SON OF PASSION! Cleanse thyself from the defilement of riches…”

O SON OF PASSION! Cleanse thyself from the defilement of riches and
in perfect peace advance into the realm of poverty; that from the
well-spring of detachment thou mayest quaff the wine of immortal life.

“56: O MY SON! The
company of the ungodly increaseth sorrow,…”

O MY SON! The company of the ungodly increaseth sorrow, whilst
fellowship with the righteous cleanseth the rust from off the heart. He
that seeketh to commune with God, let him betake himself to the
companionship of His loved ones; and he that desireth to hearken unto
the word of God, let him give ear to the words of His chosen ones.

“57: O SON OF
DUST! Beware! Walk not with the ungodly and seek…”

O SON OF DUST! Beware! Walk not with the ungodly and seek not
fellowship with him, for such companionship turneth the radiance of the
heart into infernal fire.

“58: O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy
Spirit,…”

O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy Spirit,
enter into fellowship with the righteous, for he hath drunk the cup of
eternal life at the hands of the immortal Cup-bearer and even as the
true morn doth quicken and illumine the hearts of the dead.

“59: O HEEDLESS ONES! Think not the secrets of hearts are hidden,
nay,…”

O HEEDLESS ONES! Think not the secrets of hearts are hidden, nay,
know ye of a certainty that in clear characters they are engraved and
are openly manifest in the holy Presence.

“60: O
FRIENDS! Verily I say, whatsoever ye have concealed within…”

O FRIENDS! Verily I say, whatsoever ye have concealed within your
hearts is to Us open and manifest as the day; but that it is hidden is
of Our grace and favor, and not of your deserving.

“61: O SON OF
MAN! A dewdrop out of the fathomless ocean of My…”

O SON OF MAN! A dewdrop out of the fathomless ocean of My mercy I
have shed upon the peoples of the world, yet found none turn thereunto,
inasmuch as every one hath turned away from the celestial wine of unity
unto the foul dregs of impurity, and, content with mortal cup, hath put
away the chalice of immortal beauty. Vile is that wherewith he is
contented.

“62: O
SON OF DUST! Turn not away thine eyes from the matchless wine…”

O SON OF DUST! Turn not away thine eyes from the matchless wine of
the immortal Beloved, and open them not to foul and mortal dregs. Take
from the hands of the divine Cup-bearer the chalice of immortal life,
that all wisdom may be thine, and that thou mayest hearken unto the
mystic voice calling from the realm of the invisible. Cry aloud, ye that
are of low aim! Wherefore have ye turned away from My holy and immortal
wine unto evanescent water?

“63: O YE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD! Know, verily, that an
unforeseen calamity followeth…”

O YE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD! Know, verily, that an unforeseen calamity
followeth you, and grievous retribution awaiteth you. Think not that
which ye have committed hath been effaced in My sight. By My beauty! All
your doings hath My pen graven with open characters upon tablets of
chrysolite.

“64: O
OPPRESSORS ON EARTH! Withdraw your hands from tyranny, for I
have…”

O OPPRESSORS ON EARTH! Withdraw your hands from tyranny, for I have
pledged Myself not to forgive any man’s injustice. This is My covenant
which I have irrevocably decreed in the preserved tablet and sealed with
My seal.

“65: O
REBELLIOUS ONES! My forbearance hath emboldened you and My…”

O REBELLIOUS ONES! My forbearance hath emboldened you and My
long-suffering hath made you negligent, in such wise that ye have
spurred on the fiery charger of passion into perilous ways that lead
unto destruction. Have ye thought Me heedless or that I was unaware?

“66: O
EMIGRANTS! The tongue I have designed for the mention of…”

O EMIGRANTS! The tongue I have designed for the mention of Me, defile
it not with detraction. If the fire of self overcome you, remember your
own faults and not the faults of My creatures, inasmuch as every one of
you knoweth his own self better than he knoweth others.

“67: O CHILDREN OF FANCY! Know, verily, that while the radiant
dawn breaketh…”

O CHILDREN OF FANCY! Know, verily, that while the radiant dawn
breaketh above the horizon of eternal holiness, the satanic secrets and
deeds done in the gloom of night shall be laid bare and manifest before
the peoples of the world.

“68: O WEED THAT SPRINGETH OUT OF DUST! Wherefore have not
these soiled hands of thine…”

O WEED THAT SPRINGETH OUT OF DUST! Wherefore have not these soiled
hands of thine touched first thine own garment, and why with thine heart
defiled with desire and passion dost thou seek to commune with Me and to
enter My sacred realm? Far, far are ye from that which ye desire.

“69: O
CHILDREN OF ADAM! Holy words and pure and goodly deeds ascend…”

O CHILDREN OF ADAM! Holy words and pure and goodly deeds ascend unto
the heaven of celestial glory. Strive that your deeds may be cleansed
from the dust of self and hypocrisy and find favor at the court of
glory; for ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence
of the Adored One, accept naught but absolute virtue and deeds of
stainless purity. This is the daystar of wisdom and of divine mystery
that hath shone above the horizon of the divine will. Blessed are they
that turn thereunto.

“70: O SON OF WORLDLINESS! Pleasant is the realm of being, wert
thou to attain…”

O SON OF WORLDLINESS! Pleasant is the realm of being, wert thou to
attain thereto; glorious is the domain of eternity, shouldst thou pass
beyond the world of mortality; sweet is the holy ecstasy if thou
drinkest of the mystic chalice from the hands of the celestial Youth.
Shouldst thou attain this station, thou wouldst be freed from
destruction and death, from toil and sin.

“71: O
MY FRIENDS! Call ye to mind that covenant ye have entered
into…”

O MY FRIENDS! Call ye to mind that covenant ye have entered into with
Me upon Mount Paran, situate within the hallowed precincts of Zaman. I
have taken to witness the concourse on high and the dwellers in the city
of eternity, yet now none do I find faithful unto the covenant. Of a
certainty pride and rebellion have effaced it from the hearts, in such
wise that no trace thereof remaineth. Yet knowing this, I waited and
disclosed it not.

“72: O
MY SERVANT! Thou art even as a finely tempered sword
concealed…”

O MY SERVANT! Thou art even as a finely tempered sword concealed in
the darkness of its sheath and its value hidden from the artificer’s
knowledge. Wherefore come forth from the sheath of self and desire that
thy worth may be made resplendent and manifest unto all the world.

“73: O MY
FRIEND! Thou art the daystar of the heavens of My holiness,…”

O MY FRIEND! Thou art the daystar of the heavens of My holiness, let
not the defilement of the world eclipse thy splendor. Rend asunder the
veil of heedlessness, that from behind the clouds thou mayest emerge
resplendent and array all things with the apparel of life.

“74: O CHILDREN OF VAINGLORY! For a fleeting sovereignty ye have
abandoned My…”

O CHILDREN OF VAINGLORY! For a fleeting sovereignty ye have abandoned
My imperishable dominion, and have adorned yourselves with the gay
livery of the world and made of it your boast. By My beauty! All will I
gather beneath the one-colored covering of the dust and efface all these
diverse colors save them that choose My own, and that is purging from
every color.

“75: O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE! Set not your affections on mortal
sovereignty…”

O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE! Set not your affections on mortal
sovereignty and rejoice not therein. Ye are even as the unwary bird that
with full confidence warbleth upon the bough; till of a sudden the
fowler Death throws it upon the dust, and the melody, the form and the
color are gone, leaving not a trace. Wherefore take heed, O bondslaves
of desire!

“76:
O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Guidance hath ever been given by words, and
now…”

O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Guidance hath ever been given by words, and now
it is given by deeds. Every one must show forth deeds that are pure and
holy, for words are the property of all alike, whereas such deeds as
these belong only to Our loved ones. Strive then with heart and soul to
distinguish yourselves by your deeds. In this wise We counsel you in
this holy and resplendent tablet.

“77: O SON OF JUSTICE! In the night-season the beauty of the
immortal…”

O SON OF JUSTICE! In the night-season the beauty of the immortal
Being hath repaired from the emerald height of fidelity unto the
Sadratu’l-Muntahá, and wept with such a weeping that the concourse on
high and the dwellers of the realms above wailed at His lamenting.
Whereupon there was asked, Why the wailing and weeping? He made reply:
As bidden I waited expectant upon the hill of faithfulness, yet inhaled
not from them that dwell on earth the fragrance of fidelity. Then
summoned to return I beheld, and lo! certain doves of holiness were sore
tried within the claws of the dogs of earth. Thereupon the Maid of
heaven hastened forth unveiled and resplendent from Her mystic mansion,
and asked of their names, and all were told but one. And when urged, the
first letter thereof was uttered, whereupon the dwellers of the
celestial chambers rushed forth out of their habitation of glory. And
whilst the second letter was pronounced they fell down, one and all,
upon the dust. At that moment a voice was heard from the inmost shrine:
“Thus far and no farther.” Verily We bear witness to that which they
have done and now are doing.

“78:
O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Quaff from the tongue of the merciful the
stream…”

O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Quaff from the tongue of the merciful the
stream of divine mystery, and behold from the dayspring of divine
utterance the unveiled splendor of the daystar of wisdom. Sow the seeds
of My divine wisdom in the pure soil of the heart, and water them with
the waters of certitude, that the hyacinths of knowledge and wisdom may
spring up fresh and green from the holy city of the heart.

“79: O
SON OF DESIRE! How long wilt thou soar in the realms of
desire?…”

O SON OF DESIRE! How long wilt thou soar in the realms of desire?
Wings have I bestowed upon thee, that thou mayest fly to the realms of
mystic holiness and not the regions of satanic fancy. The comb, too,
have I given thee that thou mayest dress My raven locks, and not
lacerate My throat.

“80: O
MY SERVANTS! Ye are the trees of My garden; ye must give
forth…”

O MY SERVANTS! Ye are the trees of My garden; ye must give forth
goodly and wondrous fruits, that ye yourselves and others may profit
therefrom. Thus it is incumbent on every one to engage in crafts and
professions, for therein lies the secret of wealth, O men of
understanding! For results depend upon means, and the grace of God shall
be all-sufficient unto you. Trees that yield no fruit have been and will
ever be for the fire.

“81: O MY
SERVANT! The basest of men are they that yield no fruit…”

O MY SERVANT! The basest of men are they that yield no fruit on
earth. Such men are verily counted as among the dead, nay better are the
dead in the sight of God than those idle and worthless souls.

“82: O MY
SERVANT! The best of men are they that earn a livelihood…”

O MY SERVANT! The best of men are they that earn a livelihood by
their calling and spend upon themselves and upon their kindred for the
love of God, the Lord of all worlds. The mystic and wondrous Bride,
hidden ere this beneath the veiling of utterance, hath now, by the grace
of God and His divine favor, been made manifest even as the resplendent
light shed by the beauty of the Beloved. I bear witness, O friends! that
the favor is complete, the argument fulfilled, the proof manifest and
the evidence established. Let it now be seen what your endeavors in the
path of detachment will reveal. In this wise hath the divine favor been
fully vouchsafed unto you and unto them that are in heaven and on earth.
All praise to God, the Lord of all Worlds.

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