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The tenth Glad-Tidings

As a token of grace from God, the Revealer of this Most Great

Announcement, We have removed from the Holy Scriptures and Tablets the law

prescribing the destruction of books.

The eleventh Glad-Tidings

It is permissible to study sciences and arts, but such sciences as are

useful and would redound to the progress and advancement of the people.

Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Ordainer, the All-Wise.

The twelfth Glad-Tidings

It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation,

such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your

engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One.

Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render

thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness

and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and

others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon the

day-star of wisdom and utterance shineth resplendent.

The most despised of men in the sight of God are those who sit idly and

beg. Hold ye fast unto the cord of material means, placing your whole

trust in God, the Provider of all means. When anyone occupieth himself in

a craft or trade, such occupation itself is regarded in the estimation of

God as an act of worship; and this is naught but a token of His infinite

and all-pervasive bounty.

The thirteenth Glad-Tidings

The men of God’s House of Justice have been charged with the affairs of

the people. They, in truth, are the Trustees of God among His servants and

the daysprings of authority in His countries.

O people of God! That which traineth the world is Justice, for it is

upheld by two pillars, reward and punishment. These two pillars are the

sources of life to the world. Inasmuch as for each day there is a new

problem and for every problem an expedient solution, such affairs should

be referred to the Ministers of the House of Justice that they may act

according to the needs and requirements of the time. They that, for the

sake of God, arise to serve His Cause, are the recipients of divine

inspiration from the unseen Kingdom. It is incumbent upon all to be

obedient unto them. All matters of State should be referred to the House

of Justice, but acts of worship must be observed according to that which

God hath revealed in His Book.

O people of Bahá! Ye are the dawning-places of the love of God and the

daysprings of His loving-kindness. Defile not your tongues with the

cursing and reviling of any soul, and guard your eyes against that which

is not seemly. Set forth that which ye possess. If it be favourably

received, your end is attained; if not, to protest is vain. Leave that

soul to himself and turn unto the Lord, the Protector, the

Self-Subsisting. Be not the cause of grief, much less of discord and

strife. The hope is cherished that ye may obtain true education in the

shelter of the tree of His tender mercies and act in accordance with that

which God desireth. Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one

ocean.

The fourteenth Glad-Tidings

It is not necessary to undertake special journeys to visit the

resting-places of the dead. If people of substance and affluence offer the

cost of such journeys to the House of Justice, it will be pleasing and

acceptable in the presence of God. Happy are they that observe His

precepts.

The fifteenth Glad-Tidings

Although a republican form of government profiteth all the peoples of the

world, yet the majesty of kingship is one of the signs of God. We do not

wish that the countries of the world should remain deprived thereof. If

the sagacious combine the two forms into one, great will be their reward

in the presence of God.

In former religions such ordinances as holy war, destruction of books, the

ban on association and companionship with other peoples or on reading

certain books had been laid down and affirmed according to the exigencies

of the time; however, in this mighty Revelation, in this momentous

Announcement, the manifold bestowals and favours of God have overshadowed

all men, and from the horizon of the Will of the Ever-Abiding Lord, His

infallible decree hath prescribed that which We have set forth above.

We yield praise unto God—hallowed and glorified be He—for whatsoever He

hath graciously revealed in this blessed, this glorious and incomparable

Day. Indeed if everyone on earth were endowed with a myriad tongues and

were to continually praise God and magnify His Name to the end that

knoweth no end, their thanksgiving would not prove adequate for even one

of the gracious favours We have mentioned in this Tablet. Unto this

beareth witness every man of wisdom and discernment, of understanding and

knowledge.

We earnestly beseech God—exalted be His glory—to aid the rulers and

sovereigns, who are the exponents of power and the daysprings of glory, to

enforce His laws and ordinances. He is in truth the Omnipotent, the

All-Powerful, He Who is wont to answer the call of men.