"Vaunt not thyself over the poor ..."

© Chuck Egerton 2025

 

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 forevermore.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #25 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/585415953

"How couldst thou forget thine own faults ..."

 

photo by Margarete P.

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #26 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/568477331

"Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner."

 

St. Croix photo by Trina Ridvan

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #27 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/605082403

"Know thou of a truth ..."

 

photo By Trina Ridvan 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #28 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/470987721

" ... say not that which thou doest not."

 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #29 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/762019759

"Deny not My servant should he ask anything from thee ..."

 

photo by Margarete P. 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #30 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/172419670

"Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning ..."

© Chuck Egerton 2025

 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #31 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/048313746

"I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?"

 

© Chuck Egerton 2025

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?

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #32 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/674148173

"With the joyful tidings of light I hail thee: rejoice! "

 

© Chuck Egerton 2025

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 forevermore.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #33 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/687429569

"The light of His countenance doth lead thee; how canst thou go astray?"

 

photo by trina ridvan

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?

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #34 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/955217479

"Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us."

 

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #35 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/695756189

"Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart ..."

 

photo by Trina Ridvan

SON OF MAN!

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

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #36 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/745110864

"Divest not thyself of My beauteous robe ..."

 

© Chuck Egerton 2025

O SON OF MAN!

Divest not thyself of My beauteous robe, and forfeit not thy portion from My wondrous fountain, lest thou shouldst thirst forevermore.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #37 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/457228072

"Walk in My statutes for love of Me ..."

 

photo by JAM

O SON OF BEING!

Walk in My statutes for love of Me and deny thyself that which thou desirest if thou seekest My pleasure.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #38 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/348139945

" ... forget not My counsels if thou wouldst attain My good pleasure."

Photo by Trina Ridvan

  

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.

(Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, #39 Arabic)
www.bahai.org/r/231198685

"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