"Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and traverse the expanse of heaven ..."

photo by Trina Riḍván

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #40 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/815268217

"Magnify My cause that I may reveal unto thee the mysteries of My greatness ..."

 

photo by Margarete P.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #41 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/847002213

"Arise for the triumph of My cause ..."

 

photo by Trina G.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #42 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/588699010

"Make mention of Me on My earth ..."

 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #43 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/483970230

"Thy sight is My sight, do thou see therewith ..."

 

photo by Margarete P.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #44 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/856926883

" ... that thou mayest repose with Me beneath the canopy of majesty behind the tabernacle of glory."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2024

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #45 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/900928409

"Ponder and reflect. Is it thy wish to die upon thy bed, or to shed thy lifeblood on the dust, a martyr in My path ..."

photo by Trina G. 

 

O SON OF MAN!

Ponder and reflect. Is it thy wish to die upon thy bed, or to shed thy lifeblood 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!

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #46 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/950471653

"To tinge thy hair with thy blood is greater in My sight than the creation of the universe and the light of both worlds."

 

blood stone

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!

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #47 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/147382821

"For everything there is a sign."

 

Flora's Profile, Enslaved 1796 Stratford, Connecticut

O SON OF MAN!

For everything there is a sign. The sign of love is fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words #48 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/200697020

"The true lover yearneth for tribulation ..."

winter solstice

O SON OF MAN!

The true lover yearneth for tribulation even as doth the rebel for forgiveness and the sinful for mercy.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words. #49 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/930638360

"If trials afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the light in thy love for My beauty?"

 

photo by Margarete P.

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?

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, # 50 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/472999964

in memory of Dennis Cline

"Hasten thereunto that thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit."

 

photo by trina G.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #51 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/746355706

" ... should abasement come upon thee, grieve not ..."

 

photo by Margarete p.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #52 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/118018611

"If poverty overtake thee, be not sad ..."

 

photo by Trina G.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #53 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/956386997

" ... forsake this mortal and fleeting sovereignty."

 

photo by Pamela S. 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #54)

www.bahai.org/r/562190408

"... with fire We test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants."

 

photo by trina G.

O SON OF BEING!

Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire We test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #55 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/561352140

"By My life! This is My knowledge, and that is thy fancy; how can My way accord with thine?"

 

photo by Margarete P. 

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?

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words #56 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/748392247

"To offer up thy soul is a more glorious thing couldst thou but see with Mine eye."

photo by Dina S. 

 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, # 57 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/636691280

"The temple of being is My throne ..."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2024

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #58 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/543261789

" ...Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for My manifestation."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2024

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.

( Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #59, Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/804011987

"Put thy hand into My bosom ..."

photo by Trina G. 

 

O SON OF MAN!

Put thy hand into My bosom, that I may rise above thee, radiant and resplendent.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #60 Arabic)

www.bahai.org/r/287468342

"Ascend unto My heaven ..."

 

Photo by Margarete P. 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic #61)
www.bahai.org/r/755666283

"How long art thou to slumber on thy bed?"

photo by Trina G.

 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh,  The Hidden Words, #62 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/677243732

"Wherefore, free thyself from the veils of idle fancies and enter into My court ..."

 

photo by Trina G. 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #63 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/244905205

"My unity is My handiwork; I have wrought it for thee; clothe thyself therewith ..."

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, # 64 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/101409766

"That which beseemeth Me none shall understand, nor can anyone recount."

 

© Chuck EGerton 2024

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, # 65 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/439014978

"Ye shall be hindered from loving Me ..."

 

photo by trina G.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #66 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/716805208

"All that I have revealed unto thee with the tongue of power, and have written for thee ..."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2024

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #67 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/044427246

In memory of Dr. William “Smitty” Smith 

"Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other."

 

photo by Margarete P. 

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. 

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, # 68 Arabic)

www.bahai.org/r/685666862

"Ye are My treasury, for in you I have treasured the pearls of My mysteries and the gems of My knowledge."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2024 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words # 69 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/414744315

"Be then content with My pleasure and thankful unto Me."

 

photo by trina G.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, # 70 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/186817587