“50:  O quintessence of passion!  Put away all covetousness and seek contentment;...”

O quintessence of passion!  Put away all covetousness and seek contentment; for the covetous hath ever been deprived, and the contented hath ever been loved and praised.

“51:  O Son of My handmaid!  Be not troubled in poverty nor confident in...”

O Son of My handmaid!  Be not troubled in poverty nor confident in riches, for poverty is followed by riches, and riches are followed by poverty.  Yet to be poor in all save God is a wondrous gift, belittle not the value thereof, for in the end it will make thee rich in God, and thus thou shalt know the meaning of the utterance, “In truth ye are the poor,” and the holy words, “God is the all-possessing,” shall even as the true morn break forth gloriously resplendent upon the horizon of the lover’s heart, and abide secure on the throne of wealth.

“52:  O children of negligence and passion!...”

O children of negligence and passion!  Ye have suffered My enemy to enter My house and have cast out My friend, for ye have enshrined the love of another than Me in your hearts.  Give ear to the sayings of the Friend and turn towards His paradise.  Worldly friends, seeking their own good, appear to love one the other, whereas the true Friend hath loved and doth love you for your own sakes; indeed He hath suffered for your guidance countless afflictions.  Be not disloyal to such a Friend, nay rather hasten unto Him.  Such is the daystar of the word of truth and faithfulness, that hath dawned above the horizon of the pen of the Lord of all names.  Open your ears that ye may hearken unto the word of God, the Help in peril, the Self-existent.

“53:  O ye that pride yourselves on mortal riches!...”

O ye that pride yourselves on mortal riches!  Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover and his beloved.  The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation.  Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion.  By the Most Great Name!  The splendor of such a wealthy man shall illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people of the earth!

“54:  O ye rich ones on earth!  The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye...”

O ye rich ones on earth!  The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.

“55:  O Son of passion!  Cleanse thyself from the defilement of riches...”