| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Adorn yourselves with the raiment of goodly deeds. He whose deeds attain unto God's good pleasure is assuredly of the people of Baha and is remembered before His throne. |
 |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Adorn yourselves with the embroidered garment of actions, and he who attains, through actions and deeds, unto the good pleasure of God, verily be is of the people of Baha, and is mentioned before His throne. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Adorn (izayyinu) yourselves with the beautiful garments of (good) works. Whoever attains unto a good work in pleasing Him is of the people of al-Baha (Splendour). He has been remembered before the Throne. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Assist ye the Lord of all creation with works of righteousness, and also through wisdom and utterance. Thus, indeed, have ye been commanded
in most of the Tablets by Him Who is the All-Merciful. He, truly, is cognizant of what I say. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Render victorious the ruler of creation, first by good actions and then by
wisdom and Beyan: Thus ye are commanded by most of the tablets on the part of the merciful. Verily He is the All-Knowing of all things. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Assist the Possessor of Mankind by good works, then by Wisdom and Explanation. Thus have you been commanded in most of the Tablets by the Merciful One. He has knowledge of what I say. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Let none contend with another, and let no soul slay another; this, verily, is
that which was forbidden you in a Book that hath lain concealed within the Tabernacle of glory. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| You must not oppose one another and no soul is permitted to murder another soul; this is that which was forbidden unto you in a book which was concealed behind the pavilion of might. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Let no one oppose another; nor one person kill another. This is what you were forbidden in a Book which was veiled in the tent of Might.[note 1] |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| What! Would ye kill him whom God hath quickened, whom He hath endowed with spirit through a breath from Him? Grievous then would be
your trespass before His throne! |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Do ye slay him whom God hath quickened with a spirit on His part? Verily this is naught but a great transgression before the throne. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Do you kill him whom God brought to life through a Spirit from Him? This is an error, which was great before the Throne. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Fear God, and lift not the hand of injustice and oppression to destroy what He hath Himself raised up; nay, walk ye in the way of God, the True One. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Fear God and destr[o]y not by the hand of oppression and disobedience that which God bath built up; then follow the path of truth. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Fear God, and do not raze by hands of oppression and tyranny what God has built. Then take a way to Truth. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| No sooner did the hosts of true knowledge appear, bearing the standards of
Divine utterance, than the tribes of the religions were put to flight, save only those who willed to drink from the stream of everlasting life in a Paradise created by the breath of the All-Glorious. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| When the hosts of knowledge appeared with the standards of Beyan, the people of all religions were put to flight except those who desired to drink the pure water of life in a garden which existed through the breath of the glorious. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
When the hosts of spiritual knowledge (al'irfan) appeared with the standards of al-Bayan (the Explanation), the hordes of religions retreated, with the
exception of the one who desired to drink the river of Life (kawthar al-hayawan) [note 2] in Paradise, which came into being from the breath of the Praised One. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| God hath decreed, in token of His mercy unto His creatures, that semen is not unclean. Yield thanks unto Him with joy and radiance, and follow not such as are remote from the Dawning-place of His nearness. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| God has decreed the purity of the seed, as a bounty on His part to the people. Thank him with fragrance and spirituality, and follow not those who are remote from the day-spring of nearness. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
God has commanded that liquid semen is ceremonially pure. [note 3] This is
one of His mercies to mankind. Thank Him with joy and sweetness and do not follow one who was far from the Rising-place of Nearness. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Arise ye, under all conditions, to render service to the Cause, for God will assuredly assist you through the power of His sovereignty which overshadoweth the worlds. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Arise with steadfastness to serve the cause under all circumstances. Verily He will strengthen you with a dominion that encompasseth the worlds. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Arise to the service of the Cause in all circumstances. He aids you with an authority which encircles the worlds. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Cleave ye unto the cord of refinement with such tenacity as to allow no trace
of dirt to be seen upon your garments. Such is the injunction of One Who is sanctified above all refinement. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
|
Take hold of the rope of refinement and delicacy in such wise that no trace of dirt appears on your clothes. This is that which is commanded by Him who is more elegant than the elegant; |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Catch hold of the rope of Purity so that no traces of filth are seen on your clothes. This is what He has commanded, He who is purer than all the pure. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Whoso falleth short of this standard with good reason shall incur no blame. God, verily, is the Forgiving, the Merciful. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| but there is no obligation upon the one who has a valid excuse. Verily He is the pardoner, the clement. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
There is no harm, however, in one who has an excuse (for not being clean). Indeed, He is the Merciful, Forgiving One. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Wash ye every soiled thing with water that hath undergone no alteration in
any one of the three respects; take heed not to use water that hath been altered through exposure to the air or to some other agent. Be ye the very essence of cleanliness amongst mankind. This, truly, is what your
Lord, the Incomparable, the All-Wise, desireth for you. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Cleanse every foul thing with water, three qualities of which are unchanged (i.e. color, taste and smell) and beware not to use that water which is changed by the air or any other thing. Be the element of refinement amongst creatures. This is that which your Lord the mighty, has desired unto you; |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Cleanse every unseemly thing (makruh) [note 4] with water which has
not changed in three respects. Beware of using water which is changed by the air or something else. Be the very element of purity among mankind. This is what your Master, the Mighty, the Wise One desired of you. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| God hath, likewise, as a bounty from His presence, abolished the concept of "uncleanness", whereby divers things and peoples have been held to be impure. He, of a certainty, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| so also legal impurities of things and that of religious communities is abolished by God as a gift on His part: Verily He is the forgiver, the generous. |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Thus God has removed the commandment regarding uncleanness from everything, [note 1] and from other religious groups (milal), a free gift from God. Indeed, He is the Generous Forgiver. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Verily, all created things were immersed in the sea of purification when, on that first day of Ridvan, We shed upon the whole of creation the
splendours of Our most excellent Names and Our most exalted Attributes. This, verily, is a token of My loving providence, which hath encompassed all the worlds. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| All things have been immersed in the sea of purity since the first day of
Rizwan whereon, with our most comely names and supreme attributes, we revealed ourselves to whosoever is in the realm of creation. This is from My bounty which hath encompassed the worlds, |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
All things were dipped in the Sea of Cleansing on the First of al-Ridwan when we appeared in glory to him who is in (the realm of) the possible with our Most Beautiful Names and our most high attributes. [note 2] This is of My Favour which encompassed the worlds. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) |
Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Consort ye then with the followers of all religions, and proclaim ye the Cause of your Lord, the Most Compassionate; this is the very crown of deeds, if ye be of them who understand. |
|
| Haddad translation (1900-01) |
Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| that ye may consort with all religions and deliver to them the command of your Lord, the merciful. This is indeed the crown of actions, were ye of those who know! |
|
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) |
Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
|
Associate with (people of) other religions and propagate the Cause of your Lord, the Merciful. This is certainly the crown of (good) deeds, if you only knew it. |
| Notes to Translations (1998) |
Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |