He is God, the Sovereign Ruler, the Ever-Living, He Whose
help all men implore.
Lauded and glorified art Thou, O Lord! Both the world of
existence and the souls of men bear witness that Thou art transcendent above
the revelations of Thy handiwork, and the bearers of Thy names and attributes
proclaim that Thou art immeasurably exalted above such praise as the dwellers
of the dominions of creation and invention may render unto Thee. All
appearances and realities indicate the oneness of Thine Essence, and all
evidences and signs reflect the truth that Thou art God
and there is no peer or partner for Thee throughout the kingdoms of heaven and
earth.
Immensely high and sanctified art Thou, O Lord! Thy divine
Being testifieth that Thou art inscrutable to all that dwell in Thy realm of
existence, and Thine inmost Essence proclaimeth that Thou art far above the
description of those who reveal Thy glory.
The signs which the sanctified essences reveal and the words
which the exalted realities express and the allusions manifested by the
ethereal entities all proclaim that Thou art immeasurably exalted above the reach
of the embodiments of the realm of being, and all solemnly affirm that Thou art
immensely high above the description of such as are wrapt in the veils of
fancy.
Praise be unto Thee, O Lord! Thy divine Being is a sure
testimony of the oneness of Thine inmost Essence and Thy supreme divinity
beareth witness to the unity of Thy Self, and the realities of all created
things testify that no tie of intercourse bindeth Thee to anything in the
kingdom of creation which Thou hast fashioned.
Every man of perception who hath scaled the noble heights of
detachment, and every man of eloquence who hath attained the most sublime
station, beareth witness that Thou art God, the Incomparable, and that Thou
hast assigned no associate unto Thyself in the kingdom of creation, nor is
there anyone to compare with Thee in the realm of invention. Men of wisdom, who
had but a notion of the revelation of Thy glory, conceived a likeness of Thee
according to their own understanding, and men of erudition, who had gained but
a glimpse of the manifold evidences of Thy loving-kindness and glory, have
contrived peers for Thee in conformity with their own imaginations.
Glorified, immeasurably glorified art Thou, O Lord! Every man of insight is far astray in his attempt to
recognize Thee, and every man of consummate learning is sore perplexed in his
search after Thee. Every evidence falleth short of Thine unknowable Essence and
every light retreateth and sinketh below the horizon when confronted with but a
glimmer of the dazzling splendour of Thy might.
Bestow on me, O my Lord, Thy gracious bounty and benevolent
gifts and grant me that which beseemeth the sublimity of Thy glory. Aid me, O
my Lord, to achieve a singular victory. Open Thou the door of unfailing success
before me and grant that the things Thou hast promised may be close at hand.
Thou art in truth potent over all things. Refresh my heart, O my God, with the
living waters of Thy love and give me a draught, O my Master, from the chalice
of Thy tender mercy. Let me abide, O my Lord, within the habitation of Thy
glory, and suffer me, O my God, to emerge from the darkness in which Thy divine
obscurity is shrouded. Enable me to partake of every good Thou hast vouchsafed
unto Him Who is the Point and unto such as are the exponents of His Cause, and
ordain for me that which beseemeth Thee and well becometh Thy station. Do Thou
graciously forgive me for the things that I have wrought in Thy holy presence,
and look not upon me with the glance of justice, but rather deliver me through
Thy grace, treat me with Thy mercy and deal with me according to Thy bountiful
favours, as is worthy of Thy glory.
Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Glorious, the Bestower
of favours and gifts, the Lord of grace abounding. Verily no God is there but
Thee. Thou art the All-Possessing, the Most High.
Sanctified art Thou, O Lord, Thou unto Whom all render
thanksgiving. Whatever I may affirm of Thee would be but
a wanton crime before Thee, and whatever mention I may choose to make of Thee
would be the essence of transgression, and whatever the praise whereby I may
glorify Thee, it would amount to sheer blasphemy. No one else besides Thee hath
been or will ever be able to fathom Thy mystery, neither hath any one succeeded
nor will anyone succeed at any time in discovering Thine Essence.
Magnified art Thou! No God is there but Thee. Thou art in
truth the Supreme Ruler, the Help in Peril, the Most High, the Incomparable,
the Omnipotent, the All-Powerful. Verily Thou art mighty in Thy prowess, the
Lord of transcendent glory and majesty.
Protect Thou, O God, whosoever learneth this prayer by heart
and reciteth it in the day-time and in the night season. Verily Thou art God,
the Lord of creation, the All-Sufficing. Thou art faithful to Thy promise and
doest whatsoever Thou pleasest. Thou art the One Who holdeth in His hands the
dominions of earth and heaven. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Inaccessible,
the Help in Peril, the All-Compelling.
- The Báb (‘Selections from the Writings
of the Báb)
