Chapter 67
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Translation of "beauties of divine mystery" as things rather than souls (Prophets).
In passage 1 below, "the beauties of divine mystery" is a symbolic reference to the pre-existent Dependent/Lesser Prophets of
Bahá'u'lláh (also referred to as "Maids of Heaven", "Brides of inner meaning", "handmaidens", and so on, in other writings of Baha'u'llah). What is translated as, "which are hidden within the chambers" can be more accurately translated as, "who are hidden within the chambers", based on context.
1)
Praise be unto God Who hath made the Most Great Infallibility
the shield for the temple of His Cause in the realm of creation, and
hath assigned unto no one a share of this lofty and sublime station --
a station which is a vesture which the fingers of transcendent power
have woven for His august Self. It befitteth no one except Him Who is
seated upon the mighty throne of 'He doeth what He pleaseth'. Whoso
accepteth and recognizeth that which is written down at this moment by
the Pen of Glory is indeed reckoned in the Book of God, the Lord of the
beginning and the end, among the exponents of divine unity, they that uphold the concept of the oneness of God.
When the stream of words reached this stage, the sweet savours of true
knowledge were shed abroad and the day-star of divine unity shone forth
above the horizon of His holy utterance. Blessed is he whom His Call
hath attracted to the summit of glory, who hath drawn nigh to the
ultimate Purpose, and who hath recognized through the shrill voice of
My Pen of Glory that which the Lord of this world and of the next hath
willed. Whoso faileth to quaff the choice wine which We have unsealed
through the potency of Our Name, the All-Compelling, shall be unable to
discern the splendours of the light of divine unity
or to grasp the essential purpose underlying the Scriptures of God, the
Lord of heaven and earth, the sovereign Ruler of this world and of the
world to come. Such a man shall be accounted among the faithless in the
Book of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
O thou honoured enquirer! We bear witness that thou didst firmly adhere
unto seemly patience during the days when the Pen was held back from
movement and the Tongue hesitated to set forth an explanation regarding
the wondrous sign, the Most Great Infallibility.
Thou hast asked this Wronged One to remove for thee its veils and
coverings, to elucidate its mystery and character, its state and
position, its excellence, sublimity and exaltation. By the life of God!
Were We to unveil the pearls of testimony which lie hid within the shells of the ocean of knowledge and assurance or to let the beauties of divine mystery which [who] are hidden within the chambers of utterance in the Paradise of true understanding, step out of
their habitation [appear on earth], then from every direction violent commotion would
arise among the leaders of religion and thou wouldst witness the people
of God held fast in the teeth of such wolves as have denied God both in
the beginning and in the end. Therefore We restrained the Pen for a
considerable lapse of time in accordance with divine wisdom and for the
sake of protecting the faithful from those who have bartered away
heavenly blessings for disbelief and have chosen for their people the
abode of perdition.
O thou seeker who art gifted with keen insight. I swear by Him Who
attracted the Concourse on High through the potency of His most sublime
Word! Verily, the birds abiding within the domains of My Kingdom and the doves dwelling in the rose-garden of My wisdom
utter such melodies and warblings as are inscrutable to all but God,
the Lord of the kingdoms of earth and heaven; and were these melodies
to be revealed even to an extent smaller than a needle's eye, the
people of tyranny would utter such calumnies as none among former
generations hath ever uttered, and would commit such deeds as no one in
past ages and centuries hath ever committed. They have rejected the
bounty of God and His proofs and have repudiated the testimony of God and His signs.
They have gone astray and have caused the people to go astray, yet
perceive it not. They worship vain imaginings but know it not. They
have taken idle fancies for their lords and have neglected God, yet
understand not. They have abandoned the most great Ocean and are
hastening towards the pool, but comprehend not. They follow their own
idle fancies while turning aside from God, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 106-107
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