text
stringlengths
0
76
numbered with them who, though enjoying near access to Thee, have been
kept back from recognizing Thy face, and who, though meeting with Thee,
are deprived of Thy presence.
These are Thy servants, O my Lord, who have entered with Thee in this, the
Most Great Prison, who have kept the fast within its walls according to
what Thou hadst commanded them in the Tablets of Thy decree and the Books
of Thy behest. Send down, therefore, upon them what will thoroughly purge
them of all Thou abhorrest, that they may be wholly devoted to Thee, and
may detach themselves entirely from all except Thyself.
Rain down, then, upon us, O my God, that which beseemeth Thy grace and
befitteth Thy bounty. Enable us, then, O my God, to live in remembrance of
Thee and to die in love of Thee, and supply us with the gift of Thy
presence in Thy worlds hereafter--worlds which are inscrutable to all
except Thee. Thou art our Lord and the Lord of all worlds, and the God of
all that are in heaven and all that are on earth.
Thou beholdest, O my God, what hath befallen Thy dear ones in Thy days.
Thy glory beareth me witness! The voice of the lamentation of Thy chosen
ones hath been lifted up throughout Thy realm. Some were ensnared by the
infidels in Thy land, and were hindered by them from having near access to
Thee and from attaining the court of Thy glory. Others were able to
approach Thee, but were kept back from beholding Thy face. Still others
were permitted, in their eagerness to look upon Thee, to enter the
precincts of Thy court, but they allowed the veils of the imaginations of
Thy creatures and the wrongs inflicted by the oppressors among Thy people
to come in between them and Thee.
This is the hour, O my Lord, which Thou hast caused to excel every other
hour, and hast related it to the choicest among Thy creatures. I beseech
Thee, O my God, by Thy Self and by them, to ordain in the course of this
year what shall exalt Thy loved ones. Do Thou, moreover, decree within
this year what will enable the Day-Star of Thy power to shine brightly
above the horizon of Thy glory, and to illuminate, by Thy sovereign might,
the whole world.
Render Thy Cause victorious, O my Lord, and abase Thou Thine enemies.
Write down, then, for us the good of this life and of the life to come.
Thou art the Truth, Who knoweth the secret things. No God is there but
Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.
Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I yield Thee thanks for that Thou hast
made me the target of divers tribulations and the mark of manifold trials,
in order that Thy servants may be endued with new life and all Thy
creatures may be quickened.
I swear by Thy glory, O Thou the Best Beloved of the worlds and the Desire
of all such as have recognized Thee! The one reason I wish to live is that
I may reveal Thy Cause, and I seek the continuance of life only that I may
be touched by adversity in Thy path.
I implore Thee, O Thou by Whose summons the hearts of all them who were
nigh unto Thee have soared into the atmosphere of Thy presence, to send
down upon Thy loved ones what will enable them to dispense with all else
except Thee. Endue them, then, with such constancy that they will arise to
proclaim Thy Cause, and will call on Thy name, before all that are in Thy
heaven and on Thy earth, in such wise that the Pharaonic cruelties
inflicted by the oppressors among Thy servants will not succeed in keeping
them back from Thee.
Thou art, verily, the God of power, the God of glory, the God of strength
and wisdom.
Magnified be Thy name, O Lord my God! Behold Thou mine eye expectant to
gaze on the wonders of Thy mercy, and mine ear longing to hearken unto Thy
sweet melodies, and my heart yearning for the living waters of Thy
knowledge. Thou seest Thy handmaiden, O my God, standing before the
habitation of Thy mercy, and calling upon Thee by Thy name which Thou hast
chosen above all other names and set up over all that are in heaven and on
earth. Send down upon her the breaths of Thy mercy, that she may be
carried away wholly from herself, and be drawn entirely towards the seat
which, resplendent with the glory of Thy face, sheddeth afar the radiance
of Thy sovereignty, and is established as Thy throne. Potent art Thou to
do what Thou willest. No God is there beside Thee, the All-Glorious, the
Most Bountiful.
Cast not out, I entreat Thee, O my Lord, them that have sought Thee, and
turn not away such as have directed their steps towards Thee, and deprive
not of Thy grace all that love Thee. Thou art He, O my Lord, Who hath
called Himself the God of Mercy, the Most Compassionate. Have mercy, then,
upon Thy handmaiden who hath sought Thy shelter, and set her face towards
Thee.
Thou art, verily, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.