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.

The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh · 第 3 / 4 章