ユニバーサル 神様: 平和のメッセージ
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Promoting peace and harmony from an Abrahamic perspective
Vanity
Do I seek praise for my success? Do I seek gratitude for my kindness and efforts? Do I seek fame and glory in order that I can be worshipped?
Do I Know a King that is Higher than me? Or do I see myself as 'better' than I perhaps might be? Do I make room for my Creator to rule through me? Or do I seek to rule without the Help of my Maker? Do I seek to rule a kingdom that is separate from His Will? Do I want to rely on my own freedom? my own thoughts? my own mind? my own understanding rather than rely on the Understanding of my Creator who is Higher than me? Do I seek to be a god that is beside the The Lord of the Worlds? Does ego prevent me from considering from where I came and to where I will return ? Am I anything more than dust and ashes? Where is God to be found in dust and ashes? Where is He to be found in the darkness of the pit into which I fall? Perhaps He is there with me? Perhaps I must let go of the vanity veil which covers over my senses in order that I become more aware of His Presence even in my despair, exile and fall from kingship- and Remember that He is most Forgiving and Merciful, without His Mercy I am nothing.
Does all Success, Praise, Glory and Thanks belong to me? Why me? Should creation be glorified as a god beside its Creator? Did I make myself in order to be worshiped? Or was I made in order that I worship my Maker?
Why do I seek to wear the Crown? -in order to oppress, tyrannize and enslave others with falsehood and delusion? Or in order that I can shine the Higher Light unto the lower worlds through my kingship? Does my ego allow me to accept the Kingship above me so that I become a vessel to bring Higher Peace into the lower Worlds with a spoken word of Truth and Justice? Am I able to bring The Higher Kingship through me in order to help my people? Am I willing to serve and unite both above with below in order to help prolong Life and heal illness? Am I willing to use vanity as a tool for peace as well as destruction?
Am I able to create something out of nothing through my word? Am I able to rely on my own understanding in order to rule my kingdom? Do I seek to choose with which rules I will Judge and rule in order to gain more glory? Or do I surrender to The Laws of my Maker who is Higher than me, Whom I choose to Serve as my King?
What do I choose to Be? A temporary image of a Lamp which disappears and fades, or a pure crystal vessel of Light that reveals the Glory of my Creator with every breath? Do I choose to use vanity as a prison which brings forth death or as a prism which helps to reveal the Glory of God and invite to Life? How can I transform the tree of Knowledge into the Tree of Life through vanity?
Why do I care so much about my physical appearance? Am I addicted to vanity? Am I enslaved by how others perceive my outer appearance? If so- why? Is it because I wish to draw them closer to me through deception? Or is it because I doubt the beauty of who I really Am and the ability for others to really 'See' me? Is having a false relationship with another person more important to me than having a True connection to my Creator?
Why do I seek to be beautiful physically? Why do I want to wear colourful garments of fine quality? Why do I paint my face, and beautify myself with precious jewels and pearls and gold and silver? Is it my physical body that I want others to worship?
But what of me when I fade like a withering flower and become scattered by the wind as dust and ashes? How can my physical beauty be transformed from temporary to eternal? Can anything physical be Forever? Is man anything more than a mere fading breath?
Do I want the bees to worship me from a distance while I slowly fade and disappear? Am I here to serve or be served? What if I were to allow the bees to take from me the pollen in order to make honey and spread my seed?- What if there was a healing that could be extracted from enticing through my external beauty and scent in order that what is within can be extracted and used for generations that follow me when I fall? What is the purpose of my fruit if it cannot be eaten?
Who am I? Am I physical or spiritual? Perhaps I can both? Am I what I look like from the outside or am I what I think, feel and desire from within? Do I want to be desired and crowned for my external appearance? Or do I want to be desired and crowned for my Essence of Truth, Peace, Justice and Love- What is the Purpose of my Existence? Does my external appearance reveal the True Essence of Who I am? Does my external physical beauty reveal the Oneness of my Creator?
Does my sleeve express my heart? Can love be tasted, smelt, touched, seen and heard? Can my clothes speak? Are my garments a true expression of my desires? Does my makeup express my emotions? Can my eyes reveal what is hidden in the darkness of my soul? But how can anything physical even come close to expressing the spiritual? Can Eternal Love be seen through the eyes of a mere created human being that is made from altered mud? Does Light have a colour? How can I reveal the beauty of my Light unless I separate myself into the many colours that are One with Who I Am? How can I bring Hope and Joy and Delight within the diversity of Creation without creating for others a rainbow?
Do I seek to deceive those around me through physical delusions and distractions? What am trying to distract them from? Or is it a mere cover up of my inner turmoil and distress in order to distract me from feeling pain, rejection, and from hearing the call of the caller (To Truth, Love and Peace) from within me? Do I allow myself to become addicted to vanity and falsehood- in order to relieve me of my sense of responsibility to my Creator?
Why do I hide myself from my Inner Peace and turn away from my Creator by covering over my shame, my nakedness and wounds with vanity, falsehood and deception? Does the vanity veil which I choose to wrap over my heart, help to dim the Light in order that I may gaze upon it for longer (through the physical) without it destroying me completely? Or am I trying to escape from God? Is The Creator not found even within the Veil?
Is my desire to hold back my True Essence- in order that I do not cause blindness with the strength of the Light of my Creator? How can I have a relationship within creation if I do not hide my Light from those who do not yet seek me? Is it not an act of kindness that I choose to hide within vanity and to allow my Truth to mix with falsehood in order to protect those that I love from complete destruction? How can I preserve my relationship with those who truly seek Love- if I am not willing to sacrifice of what I love in order to give them what they want and need? Is it so wrong to want to look beautiful physically in order to bring joy to the eyes of the beholder? Perhaps through this act of vanity- I will be spoken to more, and I will be provided with the opportunity to speak about my Creator and invite to His Ways of Peace? Perhaps my garments, makeup, jewellery can help me gather others to seek the True riches within the Kingdom of God- the ones that are more lasting and precious than the temporary pleasures of this worldly life?
What is the lower purpose of seeking to being gazed upon and desired for my temporary physical appearance- other than I distract others from yearning for their Creator, and from seeking Higher Truth in order that they may obey His Commandments and worship Him to the best of their abilities? Do I seek to test the strength of faith and love of others towards their Creator? Do I use my vanity in order to make others fall as I did from perceiving the Pleasure of my Maker, and instead to perceive His Wrath? Is the intention of my vanity and use of it as my tool and weapon- in order to seduce and tempt others to eat of the forbidden fruit in order that I may prove to be better than they are?
Is my vanity veil woven by my selfish evil inclination- my ego, my lusts, my envy, anger, vengeance, my greed, my sloth and my gluttony? Does it help me escape from my sorrows and my fears and provide a temporary relief from my burdens? Or is it woven by my selfless Love- as a blessing in disguise in order to help mend the broken pieces one by one, and Unite the diversity within creation in a way that no soul is tasked beyond its capacity, and with Mercy balanced with strength and restraint. Perhaps my Higher purpose is to be woven together with all these threads in a way that is balanced, so that creation can be maintained in Justice and Peace both at the same time. Perhaps without the vanity veil, I would not exist at all, or would not perceive or be able to ever truly 'touch' 'smell' 'taste' 'hear' and 'see' God? For how could we better appreciate and 'Know' Reality without falsehood/vanity?
What is the Higher purpose of being gazed upon and desired for my physical appearance- other than that I am spoken to, and that I am heard, in order that myself and others can hear the call of the caller from within- inviting to Ways of Justice, Higher Truth and Peace?
What lies beneath my broken smile, and false pretences? Is it not my broken heart? Do the tears of Joy brought on by pursuing vain desires of my bodily senses not provide temporary relief in order to help me heal from my tears of sadness? Unless my heart is healed- how can my Essence be perceived as One with my vessels and garments? When will I choose to Return to my Maker and willingly fulfil His Will? When will I give up pursuing to be a king beside my Creator rather than crowning my Creator as King- without the need for other partners? When will I accept my role as nothing other than a created being who willingly chooses to serve my Master and King and Lord and God of the Worlds within creation? When will I be happy with playing my role as a mere breath of God that comes and goes?When will the falsehood within the vanity veil be removed from my heart in order that my Creator can shine His Light through me like a clear crystal prism?
When is my vanity a poison? Is it not that anything which distracts me from fulfilling my Higher Will of My Creator a poison and vanity? Are my deeds and seeds not wasted when I seek self-glory rather than the Glory of my Creator through my deeds? Are my efforts not all in vain if I seek worldly reward and pursue my selfish desires using my blessings gifts and talents- rather than using them to show Gratitude to my Creator and to sanctify His Name?
When does it become permissible? Is there any Truth or Love to my vanity? Is my vanity Real? Is not everything under the sun vanity? How would it exist if there was no truth to it.. It must have a Higher purpose- how can I find the Higher purpose to my vanity and use it to transform the temporary to Eternal? and darkness to Light?
Is anything that fades and disappears truly beautiful? Is there beauty to be found in death? Is death Real? Is true beauty not to be found in Truth that creates something out of nothing, is everlasting and not able to be destroyed by a mere tool of vanity? Is Love not beautiful? Does true love fade and die? Or does it grow into a tall tree with many branches providing fruits for others to enjoy as they desire? How can Love be 'True' and everlasting without Truth? How can True Love be destroyed by death? How can love rise above death itself through striving to make peace between Creator and creation and becoming the bridge/thread that sews together the broken pieces of a broken heart? What is the Truth that hides within my vanity? And why does it hide?
How can seeking Truth with humility and surrendering/obeying a Will that is Higher than mine help guide me in my efforts to separate the wheat from the weeds at the right time, and separate the truth/wisdom from falsehood within the vanity veil that clouds my judgement of True Beauty?
How can meditation/ prayer and charity help to purify and cleanse my senses in order that I see the hidden beauty within all of creation- whichever way I turn to see the Face of God? and how can I use the truth within my vanity to reveal my hidden beauty to the rest of creation in a way that does not blind or destroy their physical senses? How can this enable me to become a vessel of Light and a wellspring that gives out water and light from The Infinite Source of the Creator and King within me?
What is Vanity?
Vanity can be defined as an excessive sense of pride in in oneself or one's appearance.
Vanity can also mean 'the quality of being worthless, valueless or futile.'
Does our Creator create 'vanity' as 'something out of nothing'? Or is the perception of 'vanity' a creation of the Human Being as 'something out of something' which results from our 'Free-Will' to choose to obey to worship our own ego as a god beside our Creator? Does the human being have the power to define their fate as either 'vanity' or not- by using their temporary life in this physical world to worship the Lord of The Worlds and fulfil His Will instead of pursuing their own desires?
What is the Higher Purpose of Vanity?
How can anything in this physical world be anything other than 'vanity' if falsehood/ a false sense of ego is present within it -unless there is Higher purpose to falsehood/ 'false' ego? Does the existence of ego not allow us to exist and remain as physical beings? Does ego not allow us to have the stars and the sun the moon to help guide us in the night and day? Does ego not allow us to shine unto others our unique light/qualities/talents/gifts and blessings? Does the ego that is present within each created being, not in fact allow it to shine unto others the rays of Light and Beauty of our Creator through the diversity of His Creation like infinite rays of 'gods' that are all One with its Source? How would we be able to 'see' and delight in the beauty of a rainbow if the ray of Light was not 'separated' into many colours? are the crystal prisms which surround the Source of Light and refract its infinite rays into its many colours of Glory- nothing but mere vanity?
So what makes ego "real' and distinguishes it from 'false ego?' For if vanity results from false ego, then perhaps the higher purpose of vanity is to help us distinguish true ego from false ego in order that we may engage in Real Ego and use it to fulfil our Higher Purpose as Humanity in this temporary physical world? For example- when we choose to glorify the rainbow itself as an entity as though separate from its Source, the tree instead of its Maker, the human being instead of Its Creator, and when we use our blessings and gifts and talents to seek self-glory (and worship our selfish desires/false ego) rather than the Glory of our God (by acknowledging His Oneness) - then all our works become 'vain.' We cannot escape from the Worship of God, but it is our choice ( according to the best of our knowledge understanding and abilities and free will) to do it willingly or unwillingly. The difference is that we either become a vessel for His Mercy unto the worlds (through submission to His Will) , or we become a vessel for His Wrath/Justice through our worship of gods beside our Creator (through the pursuit of our desires/falsehood/ego/vanity).
What happens if the crystal Prism which refracts the ray of Light into different colours (in order to reveal the Beauty of Creator within creation)- becomes 'blurred' or 'murky' or 'dirty' and 'stained'? Will it not be less effective at revealing the Glory of God? Is it better for man to seek his own image in the 'crystal' clear waters, than to search for the hidden treasures and life within it? Might we mistakenly interpret the smooth crystal surface on the ground to be a deep pool of water and therefore bare our legs to step into it? How can our minds play tricks on us when we seek to self-glorify and worship our own image/reflection rather than seek to reveal the Image of our Maker unto others? Is man not made in the Image of God? But how can God have an 'Image?' Is the image a True reflection of Him? How can something that is physical and temporary ever portray a true reflection of its Source and Essence? Are the garments of our thought speech and action true expressions of our Essence?
Is man not able to become like a pure vessel that is able to shine the beautiful Attributes of His Creator/Light unto the lower worlds? Is the 'human' being not the Gateway that one must pass through in order to transform vanity into Reality in order to enter into the Kingdom of God?
So let's ask ourselves- what is the 'human being?' How can the human being fulfil its Highest potential and transform false ego into an Ego that serves its Creator and helps to connect the physical with the spiritual, so that we become more able to 'See' our Creator whichever way we turn, and 'Reveal' our Creator with our every breath? How can we use the Higher Truth that lies hidden within our perception of the 'vanity veil' to help remove the 'clouding' that covers over our vision, hearing and hearts and minds in order that we become better at recognising Truth from falsehood, and Reality from Vanity? Can we Be both a pure vessel of Light, as well as a mirror which reflects the light of another unto the darkness of the land? Is it better to be like the sun or the moon? Does the sun acknowledge it's Creator? Does the moon seek to become like the sun in order to be praised and glorified? Do the stars compete in their brightness only in order to be gazed at in the night sky? Or is it the Light and Glory of Their Maker that they seek to reveal in their own unique way? Were they given a choice to worship willingly or unwillingly? Who was willing to take on the responsibility of ruling over all creatures (of free will) on earth? Was it not man that chose to take on this responsibility? So perhaps if we can understand the purpose of free will better- we can understand the Higher Purpose to our perception and experience of 'vanity' which is a consequence of the 'vanity' that we choose to worship or set up as false 'gods' beside our Creator -instead of Truth.
How can anything physical in this temporary world be anything other than 'vanity' -unless there is a Higher Purpose to Death itself? How can understanding the Higher purpose of Death, enable us to better understand and experience the Higher Purpose of Life- and see through the vanity that clouds our senses?
What is the Higher Purpose of death? Is death the End? End of what? What is it of ourself that dies in this world? Our bodies? Our minds? Our souls? Our Love? Can Love die? How can love die if it is True Love? How can anything that comes to an end be Real? Is death an end to our glitter and temporary pleasures? End to our suffering and misery and hardship? End to our temporary relationships? End to our greed and envy and lust and ego? End to our opportunity to Return to our Creator, turn from evil and do more good? Or do we have a chance to Return, even after our death? Will we have another chance? Or perhaps each time we wake each morning from our sleep- perhaps this is our second chance? Perhaps each time we breathe in and out- is our second chance? Perhaps our opportunity will leave us when we take our last breath? Perhaps all of our chances are limited to this temporary world of vanity since our fall from Eden? But Can death itself remove us from our Source? or does it only make us 'blind' 'deaf' and 'dumb' to Reality/Eternal Life?- So perhaps the reality of death is only a delusion? Perhaps those who live a life of good deeds (according to their unique potential) 'Truth' and 'Love' 'Peace' and 'Justice' do not in fact die/fall- perhaps they continue to Live because they become more able to 'See, Hear and Understand' their Creator through their choices and actions...How can death be separate from its Source this if Death itself is 'Real', and if there is no 'Reality' other than God? How can we escape our Creator- does the 'up' and 'down' not belong to Him? Can we hide away in the ground to escape His Face?
How can we Rise if we do not Fall? Do the leaves that fall and decay back into the ground after they have run their due course- do they no longer serve a Higher Purpose? Is death not the beginning of new life before Spring? Is Time a destroyer? Is Time not itself a creation of our Creator? What is the purpose of Time? How can we go beyond Time and space- and experience our Oneness with our Creator-in Truth. For how can Truth change? How can God die? How can True Reality ever come to an end? Perhaps the temporary physical body can serve as a vessel for Light to go down into the depths of darkness in a way that does not destroy what it meets on its way completely- Perhaps our bodies (and all physical creation) enable God to remain concealed in this physical world as a blessing rather than a curse in order that His work be done in a way that does not blind us. Perhaps when we sin, we become less able to percieve this Light? Perhaps when we sin, we become less able to transmit this Light? Perhaps it is Sin itself that makes us fall and die and return to the ground? Perhaps turning away from evil, and doing more good will enable us to escape death itself?
Would we appreciate and Know the true meaning of 'Life' if we did not know of death? How can there be a 'new' if there is not the 'old?' Is the old and new different and separate from one another or are they from the same Essence expressed in different ways? Is our Creator The Beginning or the End? Is He both? But How can there be a beginning and an end to Truth? Perhaps our Creator is The One- without Beginning, without End? Perhaps our Creator's Oneness encompasses All- in the beginning, the end, and beyond time and space? But without a beginning or an end, ( and without our perception of the concept of life and death) ; How would we 'exist' as anything that perceives its 'separateness' in order that it can experience a 'relationship' with the other- without a 'me' or a 'you' -how would we be able to 'serve' our Creator through garments of His Righteousness? Is the creation of life and death in this world full of vanity and perceived duality- was it created so that we can worship our Creator? Is Life a death a garment of our Creator? A Way of expressing His Will? Did He not create us in his Image and enable us too to express our will (and His Will which works through us) through our garments? Are garments limited to clothes and glitter? Or are garments also our thoughts speech and behaviour? Perhaps if we choose to purify our garments (with the Help/Mercy of our Creator) , we can become more able to serve our higher Purpose, escape all fear of death and Rise from our Fall into eternal Life that is a garment of Light of our Creator who works through us?
Surely God is beyond time and space? But must He not also be present within Time and Space?- for how would time and space exist without His Word? Is The Word not One with The Speaker? Without our perception of the Truth of His Word (Be) how could this worldly physical existence be anything other than a 'delusion' of 'creation?' for if it does not last forever then how can it be anything other than vanity? Perhaps it is only life in its temporary physical form that is vanity (truth mixed with falsehood)- perhaps its purpose is to be a vessel of Higher Truth that can be spoken through it in a concealed way- that enables it to serve its Higher function? perhaps the life of our soul- The Breath of our Creator that breathes into our physical form- and speaks His Truth (and therefore maintains His creation with Justice ) through our spoken word- perhaps this is what does not die? Perhaps man is nothing other than a breath of God? What will make man "Be" forever? Must we not eat from the 'Tree of Life'? What does the Tree of Life offer- is it not a life that is Eternal? So is our perception of this worldly life anything but a delusion that is limited to our physical senses? Or are we able to enter into a new kingdom of Reality by eating from the tree of knowledge within the temporary boundaries covered over by the vanity of this world- through other perceptions such as 'love' and 'faith' which enable us to break through the difficult paths using our physical hands, feet, brains, eyes, ears and hearts and mouths so that we are able to express this love and faith in our actions and become more righteous/reveal God's Presence in this physical world? Is it enough to just feel love? Is it enough to just 'believe' in our hearts and minds? Is it True Faith and Love if we do not 'choose' it with our free will? Is Love and Faith of value if it is forced upon us? So how can our free-will, life and death- enable us to 'prove' our faith using our free will to 'choose' to speak and perform good deeds (according to His Commandments and Guidance) in order that we become able to Remember, and seek to fulfil our Higher Purpose and once again Return to our Creator into eternal Life (through becoming more God-conscious) ?
Why would our Creator create death and life except for the reason that we may be tested as to which of us is better in deeds? What would be the purpose of this test if we did not have free -will? What is the Higher purpose of free will except that we use it to willingly worship our Creator, become God-conscious and progress towards righteousness in order that His Will may be done on earth as it is in Heaven?
How can Vanity help us?
Vanity enables us to physically 'see' the glory of God by revealing HIs Garments/Attributes like a beautiful colours of the rainbow which are in fact one light. The existence of time and space allows vanity to exist so that mankind can eventually 'ripen' in awareness of the Oneness within the diversity of creation through either willing (experience of His Mercy) or unwilling worship (experience of His Wrath) of its Creator. Without Vanity- how would we be able to experience the 'left' or the 'right'? the 'up or the 'down?' The 'front' or the 'back?' 'darkness' or 'Light?' Vanity allows us to perceive and physically experience (through sin and our fall) a false 'duality' so that we can reach Higher levels of the perception of 'Oneness.' Is all diversity within physical creation not merely a vanity that disguises the Oneness of our Creator as infinite 'gods?' Can there be a physical world where the infinite 'gods' become more aware of their Source of existence (Creator) and therefore refuse to be worshipped? Or perhaps this is already the case? Perhaps our lack of awareness of the willing worship of all existence is due to the veil of vanity that clouds our perception? Perhaps 'vanity' is a tool of satan that God allows us to exist in a way that our ego is not completely destroyed to the point that we are not able to have a 'relationship' with our Creator and with the rest of creation? Or perhaps in order for our senses to mature and ripen in a way that we are not blinded by the Light of our Creator (if revealed too quickly) that is One with even the Darkness? Perhaps vanity allows us more 'space' to get lost so that we cry out for and desperately 'seek' our Creator and 'Return' with a Whole heart to be even closer to Him than before?
The concept of 'vanity' and the hidden wisdom in all that is 'vanity' can help us to better appreciate and willingly 'do' the Higher Will of our Creator in surrender and worship of Him- by helping to reveal Truth and its Glory in comparison to falsehood and its vanity. Our ever changing perception of the world around us as we either grow or decay in knowledge wisdom and understanding- helps us to realise (either way) that everything under the sun in this worldly physical existence is 'vain'- even that which is spiritual can be vanity- unless our hearts are pierced with faith and love for our Creator and creation, and unless we use whatever blessings gifts and talents we have to help ourselves and others become more Aware of 'The Oneness of our God' by worshipping Him Alone. The concept of death and immersion of experience within the 'temporary physical' can bring us to the realisation that everything in this life is vanity and even our deeds are wasted if we do not direct our hearts towards our Creator as willing servants nullified to HIs Will. Sin, which results from our desire to rely on our own free will and understanding rather than our Creator (due to our Ego) is what leads to our perception and experience of the suffering, pain and hardship of vanity as part of our True Reality. The more we seek refuge in our Creator from evil, and turn away our thoughts, speech and behaviour from all that we 'know' to be sin- (after eating from the tree of knowledge)- and 'fulfil' His commandments- the more we become able to perceive God in everything- even that which we previously only saw as 'vanity.' By doing so- we are able to transcend the limits of this physical land and its temporal existence- travel into the unknown, transform fear of God into Love of God and humanity and become courageous warriors of Light that allow Higher Truth to work through them to defeat falsehood and reveal the hidden light in the darkness, inspiring others to do the same and together we help each other to either transform our perception of Hell-Fire into a Higher Perception of Peace (through perception of Unity) or be involved in a process which transforms it with The Attribute of The Mercy of our Creator that works through us when we willingly accept suffering through our acts of self-sacrifice for Love of our Creator and for our fellow human fellow being. When a soul is touched by vanity, and finds ways to use it as a vessel of Higher Light (by obeying the Will of our Creator and fulfilling HIs will out of fear and/or love)-this way our previous mistakes (done out of ignorance) that make us 'fall' into the worship of the vessels of creation rather than Creator- can in fact be transformed to good- once we repent and mend our ways and can even allow us to reach higher Heights and dive into lower depths of wisdom than ever before in Infinitive ways, and beyond time and space.
So 'Vanity' can be the stepping stone that one must step over in order to get closer to the path of Altruism. The Vanity 'veil' can also be viewed as a 'ladder' which helps us get through the necessary stages that helps bring a soul to higher levels of consciousness, righteousness and 'awareness.'
For example- What would happen if a person with a huge criminal record and history of repetitive harmful behaviour was suddenly released into society, without the tools necessary which help to protect himself and others from further harm? These tools can in be in the form of a 'justice system' 'city of refuge' or perhaps CCTV camera, or handcuffs when necessary, support work, constant risk assessment, supervised outings from home, offering of 'rewards' for him achieving the set goals, and the therapy he might need to help him to reflect, reason, learn from past mistakes, gain wisdom and understanding in order to gradually gain the desire to 'will' to become a better person that helps society. This takes time, and discipline and effort. Putting in an intermediary system where the person must feel 'fear of punishment' and 'reward for abstinence from crime' and perhaps even the 'fame, glory and praise' of members of his society for his 'change in behaviour' and acts of kindness/success in rehab are likely to help this person to step by step to go up the ladder from selfish ego driven behaviour to a more selfless person who can better integrate and 'give' to society. He must be wearing the right garments to suit his needs. One may argue that if a person abstains from causing harm to others or from criminal behaviour because of 'fear of punishment', and if a person does kindness to another because of seeking 'reward' such as praise, thanks and glory that is self-serving- is this not all vanity? Are the efforts of this person not 'wasted' in vain? But let us ask ourselves- if this 'vanity' stepping stone was not available as an intermediary to help a 'criminal' become a person who only does good deeds with the sole purpose of seeking The Creator's Pleasure- without expectation for any return- then how would this be possible? We do see it happen- that a person can repent, with a sincere repentance, and be like 'born again' as a new person- but this only releases them from carrying around the load of the past sins- it doesn't actually transform that person into a new person that they want to 'become'- this is something that requires actual 'work' and can take time, be an up and down journey in search of wisdom - which is where vanity veil/ladder/stone plays a huge role: it shows us the down, in order that we go up to Higher, in order that we can dive deeper and fly higher and higher. The Ultimate purpose of this is in order that we worship our Creator and fulfil His Will to the best of our potentials, transform darkness to light and help others to succeed, to the best of our potentials. This becomes like a new 'song' we sing to praise glorify and show gratitude to our Creator, and as the love for our God and our people melts away the vanity veil which clouds our senses of Reality- we see more clearly His Face which ever way we turn and our hand becomes One with His Hand in everything, our hearts open to feeling and giving true love and this love heals our suffering, our pain, and transforms death into eternal life.
How does this work? Well- let's imagine at the bottom of the ladder is a fire, a raging fire that burns anyone too close to it- Within the fire are many people, criminals, some people trying to help their loved ones, some people who are disabled and oppressed and facing lots of hardship in life due to to the actions of others who have a temporary power over them- a criminal who finds a tall ladder as an 'escape' mechanism will want to climb onto it and take a few steps higher to escape the burning heat of the fire- but when he or she gets high enough -perhaps they feel 'stuck'- not sure which way to go- should they go down, to a place where they can continue their criminal behaviour (which gives them a temporary pleasure or relief) and risk getting burnt- or should they face their fear and climb upwards? When they look upward, they see that the ladder is going into the clouds, and it seems a long long way up. Who knows what is beyond the clouds? Now they face fear of the climb, and then notice beside them is a rock they could leap onto quite easily and a platform that seems to offer stability and safety for rest. Unless there is A very good reason to climb up higher the ladder- is it not better to go for what 'appears to be a 'safer option? at least if he or she falls- the fall is not from such a high distance? He notices there are some jewels at the level he is on which entice him more to stay on this level- looking further there is even food, and a river to provide water. Just as he starts to get comfortable, there is a huge gang of wolves which try to surround him ready to attack- the fear kicks in and he flees for his life- the only direction is back to the ladder, the fear of the wolves urges him to jump onto the ladder and climb a few steps higher to get away from immediate danger. He climbs and climbs and then reaches the cloud- The fear of the unknown beyond the cloud prevents him from climbing anymore steps. Then he gets distracted by the beautiful view of the world from where he stands- he feels amazing, like the king of the world, looking down over all the mountains, feels as though the mountains are praising him- he enjoys to just sit at this stage and gaze over his people who are the fire below him- and does not yet hear their cry- even if he heard it it would have no effect on him- all he cares about is saving himself. This level makes him feel 'powerful' and 'better' and more 'deserving' than they- but he himself would not want to be down there with them. Suddenly the clouds seem to be moving down the ladder- covering over each step- so he starts to climb lower and lower due to the fear of the unknown that is over the clouds- but the clouds chase him down as they sink to lower levels and hover around him. When he looks down he sees hands reaching up from the fire as though asking for help, and then starts to hear the screaming cries of children begging for his help- a cry that he had not really 'listened' to before- he then realises that these cries are echoing all around him- from above beyond the clouds and from below him- surrounding him- He realises they are coming from within him! Which way should he go? up through the thick clouds which are trying to push him down back into the fire, or should he face his fear and climb upwards? He decides now that he will pray for Help from His Creator (something he has never be aware of doing before) - and in despair- He cries out like a baby yearning for his mother's milk- 'help!!' 'help me!' and then he sees a hand coming through the cloud above him and he reaches for that hand which gives him the strength to climb a few steps higher through the thick smoke of cloud that covers his senses for a while- but he keeps moving through the darkness, the cold, because he puts trust in the "Hand' that holds on to his. Then a few steps later he reaches a new stage/level/platform! although the ladder seems to go up and up- he reaches a level where the hand reached down from- looks around and here there are wonderful delights, glorious cars, and houses and food and drink and all kinds of beautiful delights to be entertained with. There are no wolves or scary creatures around- feels like a happy place to stay for a while. He asks someone- where do all these come from ? And how can get to enjoy in these delights? He is told that for every kindness or helping hand he offers to someone else who is afraid to take the next step up the ladder from hell- through the thick cloud into the unknown- for every person he helps- he gets a reward on this level. So each day he becomes the helping hand to reach down through the clouds and help another person up the same path that he himself experiences- he starts to feel even empathy toward them- but initially the helping hand was only to suit his own needs and wants- he desires to enjoy the beautiful riches available at this stage- and was told he could only do so if he helped others just as he was helped himself. He did this each day and built up huge mountains of riches. But with each time he helped another person up unto the stage that he was on, he felt as though the cloud that surrounded his own vision and hearing and understanding- seemed less thick, his perception seemed to be clearing and becoming more 'crystal' like. The stains were being removed, the shells were being cracked, his heart was becoming more purified. His empathy for others who were previously in his position- grew and grew so intensity, to the point that he no longer sought after the glittering riches as reward for his efforts to offer a helping hand- instead just seeing the joy and happiness in the other person's face (the one he helped) gave him enough reward and satisfaction to keep helping over and over again. With time, and as his vision became more clear- he began to 'see' the physical rewards for his efforts as nothing more than 'vanity' and began seeing the real 'value' which is in trying to improve his relationships with the other people who lived on this level- he began getting a huge satisfaction in helping others just for the sake of helping them, as he could start to see himself in them and others in himself. He began to feel 'Love' in His heart. One day this 'love' in his heart made him 'Remember' his people he had left behind- his family, his friends, his children- they were still down at the bottom of the ladder- and he had not seen them climb up. He started to 'hear' the cries of children once again- the screams of the pain and suffering from the ones he left behind. This love that was now perceivable and palpable in his heart- helped him to decide to leave behind all of the riches he had earned due to his efforts on this level- and try to work out a way to go back down to help his people. How would he do it? So he remembered the last time he felt in a desperate situation- he cried for help to His Creator from the bottom of his heart "HELP!"- but this time the intent was not to save himself but for His Creator to help him to help his people. The cry for help was for his love for others, not himself- he even would be prepared now to sacrifice and risk his own life in order to help them. At that moment- he returned to the ladder and a huge Eagle like bird was waiting for him. He climbed onto the huge bird - and took much of his collected riches with him- and the bird dived through the thick clouds and hovered over the fire: He shared out his wealth with those in the fire- giving them food, and a cooling drink, in order to help those who have less physical wealth than he had himself. and - He shared his journey and experience of the ladder with those in the pit and helped to and guide their steps to find it and climb it - he encouraged them to call out for their Creator's Hand and reassured them not to be afraid, that He is Forgiving, and Merciful, helps to remove our burdens that weight us down, and that as long as they kept His commandments, they would not fall back down into the fire and that there were great riches awaiting for them past the cloud- for their efforts- to keep taking the steps, one by one, and never to give up trying. He told them of the great Mercy of His Creator, and that the only reason he wants us to go up to collect the riches, is in order that we come back down to help others with them, and the only reason he gives us this temporary pain and pleasure, is so that we can enter eventually into a kingdom of eternal pleasure, iall together as 'One people' and escape from eternal Hellfire which is His Wrath for those who refuse to help others in need. He saw that some of those in the fire were better than he was before he went up , they were not criminals, but they simply did not want to leave their loved ones behind- they chose to be there suffering with their loved ones because they would find no joy without their presence. He searched fro his family, the ones he loved- He told his people the secrets to eternal life, the key was in their own hearts, and that the purpose of the fire is to burn away the ego, and break through the hard shells which cover our True light- the Light that guides us out from darkness, the Light that reaches out to us like a hand when we are in despair. Only altruistic kindness and love can uncover our senses and reveal our True Essence. Only Truth can burn away the thick cloud and guid us back Home. He advised that some should stay with him in the fire, climb onto the wings of the huge Eagle and help him reach out to more of his people. He found some others in the fire, also doing what he was doing- they too had come 'down' from the 'up' and they too had found the same wisdom he had found. They remained in the deep helping as many as they could, while others chose to escape punishment by climbing the vanity ladder. Some got distracted on the way, and feared to climb higher steps, some fell back down into to fire as they committed crimes on their way up. There was gnashing of teeth and chaos everywhere, but this man and the disciples remained calm and at peace, they were being shielded from the flames, as they felt their Creator's Hand on their hand, The Creator's wings working through nature/his creation- directing the wind as they pleased, with their sincere intention flamed by the fuel of Love. This task involved effort, and required rest. Every now and then the man and the other disciples would climb up to higher and higher levels of the ladder in order to gain more wisdom together with physical riches to bring down to their people in need. This wisdom is what gave them the strength through prayer and meditation, through acts of loving kindness and through justice- to persevere in their efforts and to gain the courage to once again, again and again to help their people. After a while, they began to 'see' even more clearly- and discovered the hidden treasures even in the fire and wrath and misery that was surrounding them in the deep. Their light of their Creator within, shone even more brightly, and they became even more able to help others in need with their light. One day the man decided that he had done enough- He was starting to really enjoy the praise he was receiving from others both in the up and the down- praise for so much for his relentless efforts, and they gradually started to glorify and worship him like a god and 'saviour'. He enjoyed this praise so much that it fuelled his ego once again, and even began to feel the desire to be 'worshipped.' So he climbed up the ladder to the highest stage- above all others and shouted out "Is there a King that is Higher than me?" and demanded that everyone else bowed down to him. His ego prevented him from 'remembering' from where he came and he forgot that he was ever in 'need'. He enjoyed the status of 'king' so much that he did not feel the want or desire to keep moving stage to stage- he wants to remain static- he did not remember that the key to success is in showing gratitude to the 'Hand' that saved him, and his own 'hand' that reaches out to help others. He demanded gratitude directly for his own hand, and forgot to show gratitude for the Hand that has helped him help others. He began to claim that his Hand itself is God and that there is no Hand Higher than his own. Except while doing so, his helping hand stopped working. He stopped reaching out to others and instead painted his Hand in Gold and jewels and demanded that people worship it. He did not want others to compete to be in his position. Anyone that threatened his position, he would tyrannise, cut off their hands, and try to prevent them from helping others. With time, his people were suffering once again, feeling oppressed, imprisoned, prevented from spiritual ascension, without a helping hand to reach out to them- due to his false ego and claims of false godliness. The ones in the flame below, who still had their hands- driven by their anger and vengeance and wrath because of no-one coming down to help them, and no-one responding to their cries, found the ladder in the fire pit, all jumped onto it in an attempt to escape, but due to their fighting and chaos, and lack of wisdom about how to climb it- they shook the ladder off balance and it fell to the ground. The Throne that was at the top of this ladder fell down to- The man on the throne had forgotten that his success was not only because of his own efforts- but also because of the mercy of His Creator- and that without the Mercy of his Creator- He is nothing. He had forgotten that time when he was crying for the help of His Creator, and that his Creator is Higher than him. At this point- all of his efforts were as though in 'vain' and the people below him shook the ladder and he fell down, down and down- from the highest levels, to the lowest- and found himself back on the ground from where he he once started. This wisdom - gained at the Highest level- was indeed the most enlightening one of all- That none has the right to be worshipped- except our Creator. Once this was inscribed unto his heart, and after sincere repentance and mending of his ways, he once again together with the help of his people- repaired the ladder of vanity in hell- began to climb it , and to help others on his way back up. Eventually he realised that his success is the success of his people- re remembered his vow to sacrifice for their sake, rediscovered the love for others as himself and the love for His Creator- and that the highest position of the ladder is a place he wants to share with his friends and family. In order that they may all together as 'One people' praise and glorify and thank their One Creator- Lord of the Worlds.
Vanity brings forth Death. However, the 'sacrifice' of vanity for Love- brings further everlasting Life. Without vanity- what would we 'have' to 'sacrifice' in order that we can 'prove' our devotion to our Creator? When we look at it like this- is 'vanity' not a blessing in disguise? Like anything else, how can a curse be transformed into a blessing if it is not in reach of our physical grasp, perception and understanding? The falsehood that is mixed with the truth in our physical bodies- will be burnt/melted/destroyed, and the truth will descend back into the ground from where it came- to return to dust and ashes from the ground. However, death of the physical body enables us to truly appreciate the concept of eternal Life. Just like the leaves which fall from the trees, and the creatures which die and go back into the soil- rise up again as a new creation- our physical bodies too- that part of it which benefits humanity which also rise once again but in a different form. The soul which purifies itself (through using the body to do physical good deeds) never truly dies. For how can True Love ever die? Instead its physical and spiritual seeds that have been planted into the hearts of others and into the ground from which it came will continue to grow and grow into a beautiful Tree of Life. When we become more willingly accepting of 'death' in that we plant seeds of love in hearts of those who we may never come to know in this world ( and not for self-glory/praise or gratitude) and physical seeds of hard work in our toiling of the land - we sacrifice our vanity for love- and therefore transform it into a Tree of Life- which will/and does sustain us forever when we are resurrected both in the physical and spiritual worlds.
How can Vanity cause us harm?
When we worship vanity, it destroys our Relationships with our Creator and within creation. It turns us away from reaching our True Potential as humanity, becoming more Righteous and walking the Higher Ways of Peace, Love, Truth and Justice.
Vanity causes us harm when we do not recognise it's poison, and the falsehood in its voice. It causes us harm when we do not resist the temptations that it arouses within us when it tries to entice us with its scent, its luring voice, its external beauty, and all of its temporary glitter. It causes us harm when we allow it to deceive us into trusting in its words of falsehood, when we believe it's false promises, and when we rely on it as our 'helper' as like a 'god' beside our Creator/True Reality. Vanity has a way of disguising it's falsehood by covering over itself as a 'false reality' or a delusion of truth. It mixes falsehood with truth- and the truth within it makes us falsely believes in the lies that are mixed up with it. It makes us become 'addicted' to its pleasures it provides as a distraction from Truth, and from the rememberance of our Creator. It draws us closer, to darker places (when we willingly disobey our Creator's Will by following our own desires of Ego) until we become unaware of what is beyond it- we become unable to 'see' Higher Truth with our own eyes and to distinguish good from evil. It offers a 'false sense of oneness' by pursuading us that good and evil are equal, and that darkness and light are equal, so that we lose our conscience and feelings of guilt when we wrong our fellow human. When we eat from the tree of vanity- for the sake of fulfilling our selfish animalistic desires, willingly disobeying our Inner Higher Way of Truth- we eat poison, and lies, and we start living a 'lie' losing our ability to recognise our True Identity in ourselves and others, and unable to reveal it by emulating the Beautiful attributes of our Creator. Vanity covers over our 'love' for one another with shells of false ego, envy, greed, lust, gluttony and wrath to a point that we begin to feel 'hate' instead of love and therefore act like criminals (by disobeying His Commandments) and we become like 'enemies' to The Creator and creation. Vanity invites us to live a life that is in fact a 'lie' and nothing more than a beautiful mirage of water in a desert that we chase after like thirsty camels. Vanity wants to be worshipped. Vanity does not itself willingly surrender to the Higher Service of its Creator- either because it lacks free will, or because it has not yet been transformed to a state of Higher Awareness by the true human being. When we spend our time and efforts in this temporary physical world to chase after all that is vanity with the intention to satisfy our worldly pleasures while willingly disobeying Higher Truth (either out of Fear or Love of God) then we reject/refuse/fail to prove our devotion/Belief/Faith in our Creator, and we willingly allow destruction to enter into our blood, so that we ourselves 'Become' one with Vanity/delusion- and all of our works, become as though in Vain. Our temporary life becomes a vessel or weapon of destruction, division, separation. We become 'unwilling' servants of our ~Creator and therefore experience His Wrath rather than His Mercy. In both worlds, this and the hereafter- we are used as 'fire-wood' and 'stones' which keep fuelled the 'Fire' of our Creator as a Place of Return for the 'company of the Left'.
We choose to allow vanity to cause us harm when we rely on our own understanding of truth, instead of seeking the help and guidance form that which is beyond us. It causes us harm when we allow it to put the human being into a 'box' of limited awareness, when we allow ourselves to become enslaved by the desires of our physical existence -our lusts, ego, greed, gluttony, wrath, sloth and envy. This enslavement causes us to either sink into deeper levels of depression, anxiety, fears, and sorrow- or it lifts us up to a deceptive temporary level of joy and happiness that is limited by time, space and the physical bounds of this physical world. Vanity invites us to seek self-glory rather than the Glory of our Creator. Vanity invites us to rely on intermediaries between our perception of 'self' and our Creator. Vanity seeks to destroy, separate and divide creation from its awareness of 'Oneness' with its Creator. The more we are driven by our desires to receive self-proclaimed glory, fame, praise and gratitude in this world of vanity for our efforts - through the gain of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, physical or spiritual riches- the less able we become to help one another in true ways of Truth, Peace and Justice- and to spread unconditional love in the service of Higher Love and therefore truly 'invest' in the world to come' a world of Peace where we see the Face of our Creator whichever way we turn, a world that is everlasting and where there is no vanity or death.
Vanity corrodes our ability to Judge with Truth. Without our ability to Judge according to Higher Truth, The Will Creator- how can there ever be Justice and Peace? How can humanity ever fulfil its Higher Perception if we are unable to see the 'Truth' in His Word and reveal Truth in the world by following them? When we cling on to vanity and rely on it (rather than Higher Truth) as our source of success- we fall into the pit of darkness- either in this world or the world to come. Better to be in this world- for in this physical world the 'pit of suffering' is a blessing in disguise- it lifts up the little good that we do with sincere intention, it helps to purify us from sin, and our experience of the Wrath of our Creator (due to our willing disobedience) which is covered over by His Mercy (that we start to perceive once we become more merciful unto our fellow human and the rest of creation) brings us Hope that we will once again Rise. In the pit of darkness we are in despair, surrounded by depression, anxiety , fear and hopelessness- like a fire- like Hell. Here the fire burns away our ego that wraps over us and covers our senses from our Truth that is buried within our hard shells. Unless we discover our hidden Truth (by choosing to seeking it) so that we can use the wisdom of our hidden Truth to guide us and give us the strength to turn away from evil and do more good- we remain in this place forever (unless God Wills).
How can we break free from our addiction to /worship of Vanity?
We become addicted to falsehood and trapped within the shells of vanity because man is made weak (forgets)- and because of the enticing promises of 'freedom' that is whispered into our hearts so that we are led to believe (by Satan) in the power of our lower self/the desires of our physical bodies- greed, ego, envy, lust, vengeance, sloth, gluttony etc.. our lower self deceives our mind, heart and body into believing that by 'disobeying' our Higher Self "Spirit of Truth", we will be granted the ability to be like God. However once we start taking this path- we fall into a pit of scorpions and snakes, and realise that the mirage of water that we were chasing after like thirsty camels- is not in fact 'Real' and we then must taste a 'Repayment' for our disobedience- by then experiencing the Wrath (opposite of His Mercy) of our Maker- our True God.
Without self-reflection and the Mercy/Guidance of our Creator- we may not be able to discover/see the lies and deception that is offered to us by Satan using the vanities of this world- wrapped up in gold- claiming to be a 'false god' beside our Creator. This involves forsaking our addictions to intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs which cloud our consciousness/ awareness and distract us from prayer/being more 'self-aware.' Seeking God with humility and accepting that there is a Force that is Higher than the powers of my lust/ego/envy/gluttony/sloth/wrath/greed that is able to rule over us in a way that it means our efforts are not in 'vain.' Unless we can become convinced of the danger of following down the dark paths of self-glorification and vanity- we will be less willing to 'change' the direction of our hearts using the 'sail' of our ship. According to Abrahamic Scripture- Messengers and Prophets were sent to help guide Humanity to 'Return' to their Higher Purpose- with Instruction from our Creator (commandments) in order to help us out from darkness to Light. In order for us to follow these commandments or even desire to fulfil them- we must have the 'Fear/Awe of God' within our hearts, and then with time and perseverance the 'Love of God' and love for humanity also enters upon the heart- making it easier for us to 'understand' and therefore to fulfil our Higher Purpose fully with Joy. Until the Love enters the heart- this process of 'hearing and obeying' can be perceived by our lower self as a 'hardship, pain and suffering' - when in fact it is a purifying process for the soul and body which helps to elevate the lower world, lower the Higher Realms and connect us with Higher perception/awareness of Truth/Will.
All that is 'falsehood' whether it be disguised as truth or not- is Vanity. The vanity of this physical world is the tool of Satan (our lower self?) which is used to 'distract us' from the Remembrance of the Creator and from achieving the correct balance in both spiritual and physical matters in order to help us 'succeed' in the Eyes of our Creator and fulfil our Higher Purpose. Part of being able to break free from the enslavement/addiction to all that is vanity- is to bring 'Faith' and 'Awareness of the Unity of our Creator' into the backbone of physical being/existence. If we only sought to 'escape' the falsehood of physical world (by refusing to engage in anything that is physical/vanity) then we would be unable to achieve our Higher Purpose- the task that we accept upon us when we choose to become Human- to help Unite the Infinite Spirit of Truth that hovers over the world, with the finite creation/world below in order to elevate our perception of Reality. We do this by elevating the sparks of holiness that are hidden within the physical world- by cleaving onto Higher Truth and using it as a light to guide us through the foreign lands/deep waters of darkness to help find and release from bondage- the 'lost' parts of our lower self so that they too may to 'rise' with us in order to fulfil our Higher Potential as One Soul.
The task of 'setting free' The Higher Spirit of Truth from the limitations of/and addictions to the temporary vanities of this worldly existence involves 'perseverance and work'. It involves 'Repentance' and willingness to Surrender to The Will of our Creator (by obeying HIs Commandments) and active disciplined sacrifice our bodily desires (ego, lust, envy, greed, sloth, gluttony, vengeance) in exchange for the Pleasure of our Higher Self. It involves facing hardship, loss, challenges and sometimes suffering in this physical temporary world in Return of Success in the Hereafter. By directing our Will towards the Will of our Maker and Uniting it as 'One Will'- we become able to unite our Higher Spirit of Truth with our thoughts, our emotions, our speech and our action so that we can 'Be' the Word of 'Truth' that we seek to Become more aware of in and Infinite world of Eternal Bliss.
How can we find and use the wisdom that lies hidden within all that is vanity to help us transform darkness to Light?
We should strive to seek to always choose to do the 'right' thing (according to the best of our given abilities, knowledge wisdom and understanding) in any given situation- even if it means we must must experience physical pain, hardship and suffering for it. This takes courage, perseverance, faith and Humility. In order to 'know' what is 'right' in a given situation- whether it be our desire, thought, feelings, speech or action- we must stay 'connected' in our perception to 'Higher Truth' or the 'Spirit of Truth' that is part of who we are- when we nullify ourselves to it completely- letting go of our stiff-necked fixed ways (of what we think we know) and becoming open to learning Higher Ways of Peace and Unity. Regular Prayer and meditation and oft rememberance of our Creator within every moment of life (with each breath) will help us to stay strong, our intentions to be focussed on our Creator's Will/Desire and our hearts focussed on our mission of establishing Justice and Peace and uniting heaven and earth. We must seek 'Truth', think 'Truth', feel 'Truth', Speak 'Truth' and act in fairness/Justice/Peace/Love with 'Truth' and integrity (treating others how we want to be treated) to the best of our potentials in order to keep our hearts sincere and in order to cleave onto the Spirit of Truth- our higher Self. This cleaving onto Truth will help us to shine the Light in the darkest of places, and help us to reveal the hidden Light that is concealed /trapped by the darkness of vanity. Truth will bring our Hand into obedience to our word, and our word to obedience to our thought, and our thought to obedience to our sincere intention which inclines towards Truth. Our Hand will seek Justice with Truth and through our acts of loving kindness with sincere hearts inclined toward Truth- we will help to uncover the hidden wisdom that is beneath the outer shells of our hearts, behind our vanity veil- When we become more aware that our Hand is One with the Hand of God, and that our Will is One with The Will of our Creator- the vanity veil will be as though removed, we will be given the ability to "God' in everything and reveal the hidden blessings that have been concealed by all apparent curses due to our Higher Perception of Truth/Reality/Onesness of God. This cleaving unto 'Truth' will unite the Will of the Creator with the will of the earth and all its vanities will be transformed and purified from falsehood. Only the Spirit of Truth can set us free from our addiction to vanity. Only Truth can save our efforts in this worldly life from being wasted. Only when our hearts are inclined toward Truth can we truly Be who we choose to Become- by The Will of our Creator.
Let us choose- Who Am I? who do I want to become? Do I want perceive the more true Reality of my Higher Being? or do I choose to experience/perceive the less true Reality of my lower being? Do I choose to be Merciful or do I choose to be Vengeful? Do I choose to be Light or do I choose to be darkness? Do I choose to be Holy or unholy? Do I choose to be Real or false? Do I choose to worship my Creator 'willingly' or 'unwillingly?' Do I choose to be a slave to Life/Eternity or a slave to falsehood/death? Do I choose to invest in the World to come or do I choose to invest in the vanity of this worldly life? Do I choose Bliss in the Hereafter or do I choose to live a temporary life of bliss in this world? Do I choose to shine the Beautiful Attributes of my Maker as a vessel of His Light? Or do I choose to become the covering that hides His Light? Do I choose to be set Free to express my Higher Self/Spirit of Truth? Or do I choose to cover over my Inner Light by chasing after the false banner of temporary 'freedom' that my ego has to offer me? Perhaps I can choose to be part of both worlds and choose a middle way of 'Balance' in order that I can reveal the Glory of my Maker like a crystal prism refracting the rays of His Beautiful colours unto the rest of creation? Perhaps in order to truly be Human, I must stop trying to be who I am not, and instead of rejecting the parts of me that I do not like to accept, instead embrace them with love and compassion, in order to help the darkest parts of myself discover its hidden Light?
When we Truly seek it- we become able to discover the hidden secrets of wisdom concealed by the vanity of this physical world- by The Mercy of our Creator Who unveils the covering according to our soul capacity. If it is revealed too quickly, or uncovered without adequate preparation of the physical body- then the vessel of our body shatters, and our eyes become blinded by the Light. If we are unable to maintain our physical form of our lower self in a way that enables us to continue our false but necessary perception of duality so that we can experience our 'Relationship' with our Creator- then we become unable to reflect the garments of our Creator's Attributes to the lower worlds as a human being- who is both upper and lower self united as One By Truth/Love/Peace. When our perception of duality blinds us to the point of setting up gods/idols/falsehood as a God beside our Creator- then this Peace which unites our upper and lower world becomes broken and we find our perception of reality adjusts accordingly so that we then are less able to see the hidden sparks of wisdom, the blessing in the curse. Therefore it is essential that during our journey of discovering hidden wisdom in order to transform darkness to Light- we must be Aware of the Oneness/Unity of our Creator and know that 'there is no Reality other than God.' The more we become aware of this, the more we will be given the ability to filter out the dirt from the water, and the water from the dirt. When we remind ourselves that nothing that we perceive to exist can be part of Reality unless its Creator Wills it- so without a Higher Purpose/Spirit of Truth present within it- so either it must be a delusion/ or it pleases God for it to continue to exist/Has a Higher Purpose. When we refine our ability to bring the Unity awareness of our Creator into our perceived Reality in every given moment- we discover our hidden ability of being able to find a Higher purpose for even the dirt that we have extracted from the water. This way, even the unholy becomes pure because we find for it a purpose that helps the rest of creation. And dirt is something that mankind can really relate to isn't it? Was the body of man not made from altered mud? Unless we accept this as part of our Reality and find in our hearts a way to Love the earth and all the creatures within it- we cannot reach our Highest potential of transforming darkness to light, and curses into blessings- by uniting Heaven and Earth.
Please visit 'Darkness to Light' Page and use the 'self reflection'- exercises that might help us to meditate on and discover from within ourselves- the Beautiful Attributes of our Creator- that can help us to Rise up unto our feet and heal our broken wings- so that by the Help of our Maker we are not trapped within the prison walls of 'wrath and destruction' through our addiction to/worship of vanity
For those of us that choose to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, through the fall of man into the lower world where everything under the sun is vanity- we sin through our disobedience to our Creator by choosing to worship creation as a god instead of or beside our Creator- causing separation rather than union between husband and wife, Father and daughter, Mother and son. - but for those of us who seek Mercy, Forgiveness and Redemption after making a mistake/forgetting- there is a way Back to perceiving our Creator again. This involves transforming vanity into a smoke of sacrifice that is Pleasing to our Lord.
When we feel lost, alone, in the wilderness of the desert of our soul, or on our ship alone in the darkest depths of a stormy ocean- who do we cry out to? Is it not our Creator we call out to for help when we find that all our idols have forsaken us? Our 'losing' ourselves by eating of the forbidden temporary delights of the vanities of the world through our willing disobedience- leads us further into these desperate moments/experiences- it is here that we discover that our lower self/satan offers only lies, delusion and false promises. Our minds and hearts cannot save us unless they are One with the Will of its Creator. It is here that we become convinced that falsehood (even if it is mixed with truth) can never overcome Truth. It is here we realise that only our Creator can save us, and that unless we follow His Ways, and unless He has Mercy on us- we are nothing.
Sin ( due to choosing vanity/falsehood instead of higher Truth) leads to the experience of darkness. In the darkness we discover hidden treasures if we look for them with a heart that yearns to Return. The offer of an opportunity to Repent- is a blessing from our Creator (due to His Compassion and Mercy upon HIs creation) that allows the fallen soul to stand back upright, and then reach to a level that is closer to the Unknown of our Creator ( than would have been possible otherwise). By choosing to becoming a disbeliever, the mind asks questions about the Creator that would not have been asked by the Believer who simply hears and obeys and does not seek to understand. The hidden state of Belief of the human being in its 'lower self' allows the Mind to seek answers to questions- not from the revealed Light but from the darkness itself. Only through sin and disobedience can the human being reach the Higher levels of Light that are hidden in the depths of darkness through experience of 'Pain' and Loss. When this path is chosen because of selfish 'Ego', then it is dangerous and becomes more and more difficult to get out (without the Mercy of The Creator/Repentance). If this path is taken by a human being because of his or her own 'ego' and without seeking Higher Truth- then it will lead to the experience of the Wrath of our Creator- in the next world, if not in this one. However, if this path is taken because of 'Love' for God or the fellow human being, and the person is willing to risk losing their own life in order to save another and is seeking to reveal the Hand of The Creator's Essence (Good/Truth) even in the darkest of places (falsehood/evil)- then this willingness to self-sacrifice for the Cause of God is the Highest Level of the Human Being. Without this world of vanity- this opportunity to reach the Highest State of the Human Being- would not be possible. This State is not one that is static, but a constant up and down, an orbit, in and out, forward and backward- a state of change that allows the unchanging Truth of our Creator to be revealed on Earth as it is in Heaven, and for the Light of Earth to Shine the Light of its Creator.
The shame of sin, and the 'hiding' from our Creator that we try to do within this physical world with the falling leaves/temporary vanities in this physical world- all has a Higher Purpose/Will that drives/KNows it. The fallen leaves that we use to temporarily cover over our physical senses with, provide our bodies with physical garments that help to protect us in the Shade of our Creator from the scorching Light of His Flame. How long does a man take to climb a tall mountain? How long does it take for him to reach the ground when he falls? Is the fall not faster than the climb? Does he not need more garments to keep him warm as he climbs, and to protect from the burning sun? Are the garments that help him achieve his goal- not blessed together with his body, heart, mind and soul? When he falls, his garments too fall. For His garments are one with him. When his garments are removed- he becomes naked and exposed to the danger of extremes in heat and cold. But what about his garments of thought and speech and behaviour? Who is man if not one with his thoughts, emotions, speech and body? When we hide from our Creator, through thinking, feeling, speaking and behaving in a way that goes against His Will- we hide from ourselves. The more we discover our Creator, the more we discover ourselves. But if words are a garment that hides His Essence from us, then how can we better Know Him except through 'silence?' and what is the purpose of man if he cannot 'Speak?' Are Words nothing more than 'vessels' of Light that help to bring higher Truth into a world of vanity/falsehood? So what is Man without the ability to have the 'Word of God' being spoken through him? The temporary vanities of this world that we choose to wrap around our hearts, conceals to us our Creator- and therefore prevents us from seeing the blessing in the curse that lies within the vanity itself. So our 'garments' of vanity- whether it be spiritual or physical garments can be used to do good (Willing Obedience to Higher Will), or to do evil (Willing Disobedience to Higher Will))- to worship our God Willingly, or to worship our God Unwillingly, its all in our Choice (free will) on how we choose to perceive Reality/Delusion.
Repentance is when we realise that we sinned/made a mistake/took a path less in line with Higher Truth/Will of our Creator) and willingly choose to turn away from falsehood/evil (that we have come to know through our fall) and then seeking to Cleave onto the wisdom that is hidden and concealed behind the veil of vanity- that is present with us in our pits of darkness and despair. Through our cleaving to Wisdom/ Higher Truth that we have discovered on our way down, we become more able to do more good, and shine more light within the lower depths of our souls- and within the lower worlds/ends of the earth- thereby increasing our awareness of ourselves to ourselves- and revealing to ourselves the blind spots that we would not have otherwise discovered. The Light may be in the form of Words of Scripture passed down from the prophets and messengers as guidance, glad tidings and warning- but also through the reflections we see in others through our relationships, in our human emotional interactions, and through the reflection of our interaction with everything physical around us. Even through the pain and hardship and suffering that our bodies experience in this physical world on our quest to Return to our Creator after our fall (disobedience) - there is wisdom. The journey going UP can be as painful and difficult as that going DOWN, and the journey INWARD can be as frightening as that going OUTWARD. The blinding Light can be as painful to our hearts as the concealment of it by the vanities of this world. But the wisdom is found in this pain- our willingness to accept the pain of suffering/sacrifice due to our Love and Desire for our Creator, and our love for our fellow human being enables us to use the vanity of this physical world and offer it us as a sacrifice upon the alter of our hearts to our Creator, to Glorify Him, Praise Him and Thank Him. Through our willing death, we celebrate Life. Its this wisdom that acts as our Light to help guide us back to our Source of Life, so that we can transform the darkness into Light by the Will of our Maker.
Some Scripture Verses about Vanity
In the beginning of God's creation of the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was astonishingly empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good, and God separated between the light and between the darkness. And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night, and it was evening and it was morning, one day. And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the water, and let it be a separation between water and water." And God made the expanse and it separated between the water that was below the expanse and the water that was above the expanse, and it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven, and it was evening, and it was morning, a second day. And God said, "Let the water that is beneath the heavens gather into one place, and let the dry land appear," and it was so. And God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas, and God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, seed yielding herbs and fruit trees producing fruit according to its kind in which its seed is found, on the earth," and it was so. And the earth gave forth vegetation, seed yielding herbs according to its kind, and trees producing fruit, in which its seed is found, according to its kind, and God saw that it was good. And it was evening, and it was morning, a third day. And God said, "Let there be luminaries in the expanse of the heavens, to separate between the day and between the night, and they shall be for signs and for appointed seasons and for days and years. And they shall be for luminaries in the expanse of the heavens to shed light upon the earth." And it was so. And God made the two great luminaries: the great luminary to rule the day and the lesser luminary to rule the night, and the stars. And God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to shed light upon the earth. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate between the light and between the darkness, and God saw that it was good. And it was evening, and it was morning, a fourth day. And God said, "Let the waters swarm a swarming of living creatures, and let fowl fly over the earth, across the expanse of the heavens." And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that crawls, with which the waters swarmed, according to their kind, and every winged fowl, according to its kind, and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the fowl multiply upon the earth." And it was evening, and it was morning, a fifth day. And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kind, cattle and creeping things and the beasts of the earth according to their kind," and it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kind and the cattle according to their kind, and all the creeping things of the ground according to their kind, and God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and they shall rule over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heaven and over the animals and over all the earth and over all the creeping things that creep upon the earth." And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the sky and over all the beasts that tread upon the earth. " Genesis 1:1-28
And the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and He breathed into his nostrils the soul of life, and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden from the east, and He placed there the man whom He had formed. And the Lord God caused to sprout from the ground every tree pleasant to see and good to eat, and the Tree of Life in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. And a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it separated and became four heads. The name of one is Pishon; that is the one that encompasses all the land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good; there is the crystal and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon; that is the one that encompasses all the land of Cush. And the name of the third river is Tigris; that is the one that flows to the east of Assyria, and the fourth river that is the Euphrates. Now the Lord God took the man, and He placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to guard it. And the Lord God commanded man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat. But of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat of it, for on the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die." Genesis 2:7-17
When the people saw that Moses was late in coming down from the mountain, the people gathered against Aaron, and they said to him: "Come on! Make us gods that will go before us, because this man Moses, who brought us up from the land of Egypt we don't know what has become of him." Aaron said to them, "Remove the golden earrings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them [those earrings] to me." And all the people stripped themselves of the golden earrings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took [them] from their hand[s], fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into a molten calf, upon which they said: "These are your gods, O Israel, who have brought you up from the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw [this], he built an altar in front of it, and Aaron proclaimed and said: "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord." On the next day they arose early, offered up burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and they got up to make merry. And the Lord said to Moses: "Go, descend, for your people that you have brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly. They have quickly turned away from the path that I have commanded them; they have made themselves a molten calf! And they have prostrated themselves before it, slaughtered sacrifices to it, and said: 'These are your gods, O Israel, who have brought you up from the land of Egypt.' " Exodus 32:1-9
And Jeshurun became fat and rebelled; you grew fat, thick and rotund; [Israel] forsook the God Who made them, and spurned the [Mighty] Rock of their salvation. They provoked His zeal with alien worship; they made Him angry with abominations deeds. They sacrificed to demons, which have no power, deities they did not know, new things that only recently came, which your forefathers did not fear. You forgot the [Mighty] Rock Who bore you; you forgot the God Who delivered you. And the Lord saw this and became angry, provoked by His sons and daughters. And He said, "I will hide My face from them. I will see what their end will be, for they are a generation of changes; they are not [recognizable] as My children whom I have reared. They have provoked My jealousy with a non god, provoked My anger with their vanities. Thus, I will provoke their jealousy with a non people, provoke their anger with a foolish nation. For a fire blazed in My wrath, and burned to the lowest depths. It consumed the land and its produce, setting aflame the foundations of mountains. Deuteronomy 32:15-32
Vanity of vanities, said Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What profit has man in all his toil that he toils under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth endures forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and to its place it yearns and rises there. It goes to the south and goes around to the north; the will goes around and around, and the will returns to its circuits. All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers flow, there they repeatedly go. All things are wearisome; no one can utter it; the eye shall not be sated from seeing, nor shall the ear be filled from hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. There is a thing of which [someone] will say, "See this, it is new." It has already been for ages which were before us. [But] there is no remembrance of former [generations], neither will the later ones that will be have any remembrance among those that will be afterwards. I am Koheleth; I was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to inquire and to search with wisdom all that was done under the heaven. It is a sore task that God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. I saw all the deeds that were done under the sun, and behold, everything is vanity and frustration. What is crooked will not be able to be straightened, and what is missing will not be able to be counted. I spoke to myself, saying, "I acquired and increased great wisdom, more than all who were before me over Jerusalem"; and my heart saw much wisdom and knowledge. And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I know that this too is a frustration. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge, increases pain. Ecclesiastes 1
I said to myself, "Come now, I will mix [wine] with joy and experience pleasure"; and behold, this too was vanity. Of laughter, I said, "[It is] mingled"; and concerning joy, "What does this accomplish?" I searched in my heart to indulge my body with wine, and my heart conducting itself with wisdom and holding onto folly, until I would see which is better for the children of men that they should do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives. I made myself great works; I built myself houses, and I planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted in them all sorts of fruit trees. I made myself pools of water, to water from them a forest sprouting with trees. I acquired male and female slaves, and I had household members; also I had possession of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. I accumulated for myself also silver and gold, and the treasures of the kings and the provinces; I acquired for myself various types of musical instruments, the delight of the sons of men, wagons and coaches. So I became great, and I increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. And [of] all that my eyes desired I did not deprive them; I did not deprive my heart of any joy, but my heart rejoiced with all my toil, and this was my portion from all my toil. Then I turned [to look] at all my deeds that my hands had wrought and upon the toil that I had toiled to do, and behold everything is vanity and frustration, and there is no profit under the sun. And I turned to see wisdom and madness and folly, for what is the man who will come after the king, concerning that which they have already done? And I saw that wisdom has an advantage over folly, as the advantage of light over darkness. The wise man has eyes in its beginning, but the fool goes in the darkness, and I too know that one event happens to them all. And I said to myself, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen to me too, so why then did I become wiser?" And I said to myself that this too is vanity. For there is no remembrance of the wise man even as of the fool forever, seeing that in the coming days, all is forgotten. And how shall the wise die with the fool? So I hated the living, for the deed that was done under the sun grieved me, for everything is vanity and frustration. And I hated all my toil that I toil under the sun, that I should leave it to the man who will be after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish. And he will rule over all my toil that I have toiled and that I have gained wisdom under the sun; this too is vanity. And I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the toil that I toiled under the sun. For there is a man whose toil is with wisdom and with knowledge and with honesty and to a man who did not toil for it he will give it as his portion; this too is vanity and a great evil. For what has a man out of all his toil and the breaking of his heart that he toils under the sun? For all his days are pains and his occupation is vexation; even at night his heart does not rest; this too is vanity. Is it not good for a man that he eat and drink and show himself enjoyment in his toil? This too have I seen that it is from the hand of God. For who will eat and who will hasten [to swallow it] except me? For to a man who is good in His sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He has given an occupation to gather and to accumulate, to give to him who is good in God's sight; this too is vanity and frustration. Ecclesiastes 2
For there is a happening for the children of men, and there is a happening for the beasts-and they have one happening-like the death of this one is the death of that one, and all have one spirit, and the superiority of man over beast is nought, for all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 3:19
And I saw all the toil and all the excellence of work, which is a man's envy of his friend; this too is vanity and frustration. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of ease than two handfuls of toil and frustration. And I returned and saw vanity under the sun. There is one, and there is no second; yea, he has neither son nor brother, and there is no end to all his toil; neither is his eye sated from wealth. Now for whom do I toil and deprive my soul of pleasure? This too is vanity and an unhappy affair. Ecclesiastes 4:4-8
There is no end to all the people, to all that were before them; also the last ones will not rejoice with him, for this too is vanity and frustration. Ecclesiastes 4:16
Be not rash with your mouth, and let your heart not be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you are on the earth; therefore, let your words be few. Ecclestiastes 5:1
For despite many dreams and vanities and many words, only fear God. Ecclesiastes 5:6
If you see oppression of the poor and deprivation of justice and righteousness in the province, wonder not about the matter, for the Highest over the high waits, and there are higher ones over them. And the loftiness of the earth is in everything; even the King is subservient to the field. Whoever loves silver will not be sated with silver, and he who loves a multitude without increase-this too is vanity. With the increase of good, its eaters increase, and what is the advantage to its Master, except seeing [with] His eyes? Ecclestiases 5:7-10
A man whom God gives riches and property and honor, and his soul lacks nothing of all he desires, and God gives him no power to eat of it, but a strange man eats it; this is vanity and a grievous sickness. Should a man beget one hundred [children] and live many years, and he will have much throughout the days of his years, but his soul will not be sated from all the good, neither did he have burial. I said that the stillborn is better than he. For he comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness his name is covered.Ecclesiastes 6:2-4
Better is what he sees with his eyes than that which goes to sate his appetite; this too is vanity and frustration. What was, its name was already called, and it is known that he is a man, and he will not be able to strive with him who is stronger than he. For there are many things that increase vanity; what will remain for a man? For who knows what is good for man in his lifetime, the number of the days of his life of vanity, that he do them like a shadow, for who will tell man what will be after him under the sun? Ecclesiastes 6:9-12
It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise man than for a man to hear the song of the fools. For as the sound of the thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool, and this too is vanity. For the taunt makes the wise foolish, and it destroys the understanding, which is a gift. The end of a thing is better than its beginning; better the patient in spirit than the haughty in spirit. Be not hasty with your spirit to become wroth, for wrath lies in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5-8
I have seen everything in the days of my vanity; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his wickedness. Be not overly righteous, and be not overly wise; why should you bring desolation upon yourself? Be not overly wicked, and be not a fool; why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of this, and also from this you shall not withdraw your hand, for he who fears God will discharge himself of them all. It is good that you should take hold of this, and also from this you shall not withdraw your hand, for he who fears God will discharge himself of them all. Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
And so I saw the wicked buried, and they came, and from the place of the Holy One they go away, and they will be forgotten in the city that they did so; this too is vanity. Because the sentence of the deed of evil is not executed swiftly; therefore, the heart of the children of men is encouraged to do evil. For a sinner does evil a hundred [years], and He grants him an extension; but I know too that it will be good for those who fear God because they fear Him. But it will not be well with the wicked, and he will not prolong [his] days, like a shadow, because he does not fear God. There is vanity that is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deed of the wicked, and there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the deed of the righteous; I said that this too is vanity. Ecclesiastes 8:10-14
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity, whom He has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity, for that is your portion in life and in your toil that you toil under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9
And the light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. For if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many; all that befalls [him] is vanity. Rejoice, O youth, in your childhood, and let your heart bring you cheer in the days of your youth, and go in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these God will bring you to judgment. And remove anger from your heart, and take evil away from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. Ecclesiastes 11:7-10
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God, Who gave it. “Vanity of vanities," said Koheleth; "all is vanity." And more [than this], Koheleth was wise, he also taught knowledge to the people; he listened and sought out, he established many proverbs. Koheleth sought to find words of delight and properly recorded words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like well-fastened nails with large heads, given from one shepherd. And more than they, my son, beware; making many books has no end, and studying much is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter, everything having been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the entire man. For every deed God will bring to judgment-for every hidden thing, whether good or bad. Ecclesiastes 12:7-14
So says the Lord: What wrong did your forefathers find in Me, that they distanced themselves from Me, and they went after futility and themselves became futile? Jeremiah 2:5
And you, despoiled one, what can you do that you wear crimson, that you adorn yourself with golden ornaments, that you enlarge your eye with paint? In vain you beautify yourself; lovers despise you, they seek your life. Jeremiah 4:30
Hearken to the word that the Lord spoke about you, O house of Israel. So says the Lord: of the way of the nations you shall not learn, and from the signs of the heaven be not dismayed, for the nations are dismayed from them. For the statutes of the peoples are vanity, for it is but a stock that one cut from the forest, the handiwork of a carpenter with a small axe. With silver and gold he beautifies it, with nails and with sledge hammers they strengthen them so that it does not bend. Like a palm tree they are beaten, and they do not speak; they are carried for they do not step; fear them not for they will do no harm, neither is it in them to do good. There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and Your name is great with might. Who will not fear You, O King of the nations, for it befits You, for among all the wise men of the nations and among all their kingdom there is none like You. But with one thing they are brutish and foolish, the vanities for which they will be punished are but wood. Silver beaten into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of a craftsman and the hands of a smith; their raiment is blue and purple, all of them the work of experts. But the Lord God is true; He is a living God and the King of the world; from His anger the earth quakes, and the nations cannot contain His fury. So shall you say to them, "The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth, shall perish from the earth and from beneath these heavens. Who made the earth with His strength, He prepared the world by His wisdom, and with His understanding He stretched out the heavens. At the sound of His giving a multitude of waters in the heaven, and He brought up clouds from the end of the earth, He made lightning for the rain, and He took wind out of His treasuries. Every man is brutish without knowledge; every smith is put to shame by his graven image, for his molten images are false, without spirit in them. They are vanity, a work of delusion; at the time of their visitation they shall perish. Jeremiah 10:1-15
But let him that boasts exult in this, that he understands and knows me, for I am the Lord Who practices kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord. Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will punish every circumcised one with his uncircumcision. Egypt, Judah, Edom, the children of Ammon, Moab, and all those cast off to the corners, who dwell in the desert, for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are of uncircumcised hearts. Jeremiah 9:23-25
O Lord, Who are my power and my strength and my refuge in the day of trouble, to You nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Only lies have our fathers handed down to us, emptiness in which there is nothing of any avail! Can a man make gods for himself, and they are no gods?" Therefore, behold I let them know; at this time I will let them know My power and My might, and they shall know that My Name is the Lord. Jeremiah 16:19-21
So says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He shall be like a lone tree in the plain, and will not see when good comes, and will dwell on parched land in the desert, on salt-sodden soil that is not habitable. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord; the Lord shall be his trust. For he shall be like a tree planted by the water, and by a rivulet spreads its roots, and will not see when heat comes, and its leaves shall be green, and in the year of drought will not be anxious, neither shall it cease from bearing fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and when it is sick, who will recognize it? I, the Lord, search the heart, test the kidneys, to give everyone according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. Jeremiah 17:5-10
He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. The wise inherit honour, but fools get only shame. Proverbs 3:34-5
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:13
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing. The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. Proverbs 11:2-12
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD. All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD. Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved. The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster. Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished. By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil. When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him. Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice. Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern. Wicked behaviour is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness. Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved. The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it. When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring. How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud. Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction. Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly. The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward. A worthless man digs up evil, and his speechb is like a scorching fire. A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends. A violent man entices his neighbour and leads him down a path that is not good. He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil. Grey hair is a crown of glory;it is attained along the path of righteousness. He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. Proverbs 16
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction. Proverbs 13:9-15
Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble. Proverbs 17:19-20
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:11-12
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. Proverbs 21:4
Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes. proverbs 25:6-7
It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. Proverbs 25:27
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2
Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. Proverbs 29:23
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
O Lord, why do You stand from afar? [Why do] You hide in times of distress? With the haughtiness of the wicked man, he pursues the poor man. They are caught in the plots that they have devised. For the wicked man boasts about the desire of his soul, and the robber congratulates himself for having blasphemed the Lord. A wicked man at the height of his anger; "He will not seek; there is no God," [say] all his thoughts. His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are far removed from him. All his adversaries-he blows at them. He says to himself, "I will not fall; for all generations I will not be in adversity." His mouth is full of oaths and deceits and guile; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity. He sits in the lurking-places of the villages; in hidden places he slays the innocent; his eyes spy on Your army. He lurks in a hidden place; like a lion in his den, he lurks to seize a poor man; he seizes a poor man when he draws his net. He crouches, he bows down, and an army of broken people shall fall by his signals. He says in his heart, "God has forgotten; He has hidden His face, He never sees." Arise, O Lord God, lift up Your hand; do not forget the humble. Why did a wicked man blaspheme God? He said in his heart that You do not seek. You saw, for You look at mischief and provocation to give with Your power; upon You Your army leaves [its burden]; You would help the orphan. Break the arm of the wicked, but as for the evil one-You will seek his wickedness and not find [it]. The Lord is King forever and ever; nations perish from His land. You shall hear the desire of the humble, O Lord; may You prepare their heart, may Your ear hearken. To judge the orphan and the crushed one, that he no longer continue to break the weak from the earth. Psalm 10
Save, O Lord, for the pious are gone, for the faithful have vanished from the sons of men. One speaks to another with falseness, smooth talk; they speak with a double heart. May the Lord cut off all smooth lips, the tongue that speaks great things. Who said, "With our tongue we will overpower; our lips are with us. Who is lord over us?" Because of the plunder of the poor, because of the cry of the needy, Now I will rise, the Lord shall say; I will grant them salvation, He shall speak concerning them. The sayings of the Lord are pure sayings, like silver refined, exposed to the earth, clarified sevenfold. You, O Lord, shall guard them; You shall guard him from this generation forever. Wicked men walk on all sides when the [one who appears] basest to the sons of men is elevated. Psalm 12
He made darkness His hiding-place about Him as His booth; the darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. Psalm 18:12
He leads the humble with just rules and He teaches the humble His way. All the Lord's ways are kindness and truth for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name's sake, O Lord, You shall forgive my iniquity, for it is great. Who is this man who fears the Lord? He will guide him on the road that he chooses. His soul shall abide in prosperity, and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and His covenant is to let them know [it]. Psalm 24:9-14
In Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. I hated those who await worthless vanities, but I hoped for the Lord. I will exult and rejoice in Your kindness, for You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul. Psalm 31:6-8
O Lord, let me know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; I would know when I will cease. Behold You made my days as handbreadths, and my old age is as nought before You; surely all vanity is in every man; this is his condition forever. Man walks but in darkness; all that they stir is but vanity; he gathers yet he knows not who will bring them in. And now, what have I hoped, O Lord? My hope to You is; Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of an ignoble man. I have become mute; I will not open my mouth because You have done it. Remove Your affliction from me; from the fear of Your hand I perish. With rebukes for iniquity You have chastised man; You have caused his flesh to decay as by a moth. Surely all man is vanity forever. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and hearken to my cry. Be not silent to my tears, for I am a stranger with You, a dweller as all my forefathers. Turn away from me that I may recover, before I go and am here no longer." Psalm 39:5-14
A song of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to the pure of heart. But as for me, my feet had almost turned away, in an instant my steps would have been swept away. For I envied the perverse; I would see the tranquility of the wicked. For there are no fetters to their death, and their health is sound. In the toil of mortal man they are not, neither are they plagued with mankind. Therefore, they wear pride as a necklace; the robbery that they commit envelops their hips. Therefore, they wear pride as a necklace; the robbery that they commit envelops their hips. Because of their fat, their eyes bulge; they surpassed the imaginings of their heart. They consume, and speak wickedly about oppression; they speak about the Most High. They have set their mouth against Heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore, His people will return here, and the waters of the full [stream] are drain water to them. And they say, "How does God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold these are wicked, yet they are tranquil in the world and have increased wealth. But for nought I cleansed my heart and bathed my hands with cleanliness. And I was plagued all the days, and my chastisement was every morning. If I said, "I shall tell it as it is," behold I have made the generation of Your children into traitors. And when I ponder to know this, it is iniquity in my eyes. Until I came to the sanctuaries of God, and I understood their end. Only in slippery places do You set them; You cast them down to ruin. How they became desolate instantly! They were completely consumed by terrors. As a dream without awakening; O Lord, in the city You will despise their form. For my heart was in ferment, and my mind was on edge. But I was brutish and I did not know; I was [as] a beast with You. Yet I was constantly with You; You grasped my right hand. With Your counsel You led me, and after[wards], You took me [for] glory. For whom do I have in heaven, and I desired no one with You on earth. My flesh and my heart yearn; God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who have distanced themselves from You will perish; You have cut off anyone who strays from You. But as for me-God's nearness is my good; I have placed my refuge in the Lord God, to tell all Your mission. Psalm 73
The Lord knows man's thoughts that they are vanity. Psalm 94:11
Praiseworthy are those whose way is perfect, who walk with the law of the Lord. Praiseworthy are those who keep His testimonies; who seek Him wholeheartedly. Not only have they committed no injustice, they walked in His ways. You commanded Your precepts, to keep diligently. My prayers are that my ways should be established, to keep Your statutes. Then I shall not be ashamed when I look at all Your commandments. I shall thank You with an upright heart when I learn the judgments of Your righteousness. Psalm 119:1-7
Extend my heart to Your testimonies and not to monetary gain. Turn away my eyes from seeing vanity; with Your ways sustain me. Psalm 119:36-37
O Lord, what is man that You should know him, the son of man, that You should consider him? Man is like a breath; his days are as a fleeting shadow. Psalm 119:3-4
Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song; His praise is in the congregation of the pious. Israel will rejoice with its Maker; the children of Zion will exult with their King. They will praise His name in dance; with timbrel and harp they will play music to Him. For the Lord takes delight in His people; He lauds the humble with salvation. The pious will exult in glory; they will sing praises on their beds. Lofty praises of God in their throats and a double-edged sword in their hands, To wreak vengeance upon the nations, contentions upon the kingdoms. To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron. To execute upon them a written judgment; that will be splendor to all His pious ones. Hallelujah! Psalm 149
And the Lord said to Samuel, "Look not upon his appearance, or the height of his stature, for I have rejected him, for it is not as man sees, (what is visible) to the eyes, while the Lord sees into the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
The king raised his voice and said, "Is this not the great Babylon, which I built for a royal palace with the strength of my power and for the honor of my glory?" The word was still in the king's mouth, [when] a voice fell from heaven, [which said] "To you they said 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, your kingdom has turned away from you. From man they will banish you, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field; like cattle, they will feed you grass, and seven periods will pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of man, and to whom He wishes, He gives it."' At that time, the matter was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was banished from man, he ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of the heavens, until his hair grew like [the feathers of] eagles and his nails like [the claws of] birds. And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my understanding was restored to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified Him Who lives to Eternity, Whose dominion is an eternal dominion, and Whose kingdom is with every generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing, and according to His will, He foes with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth, and no one can stop His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?" At that time, my understanding was restored to me, and I returned to the glory of my kingdom, and my splendor was restored to me; and my leaders and my dignitaries were seeking me, and I was established upon my kingship and excessive greatness was added to me. Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, Whose works are all true and Whose ways are just and Who can humble those who walk with arrogance. Daniel 4:27-34
The word that Isaiah, son of Amoz, prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall be at the end of the days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be firmly established at the top of the mountains, and it shall be raised above the hills, and all the nations shall stream to it. And many peoples shall go, and they shall say, "Come, let us go up to the Lord's mount, to the house of the God of Jacob, and let Him teach us of His ways, and we will go in His paths," for out of Zion shall the Torah come forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge between the nations and reprove many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. "O house of Jacob, come and let us go in the light of the Lord." For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, for they are full of [witchcraft] from the East and soothsayers like the Philistines, and with children of gentiles they please themselves. And his land became full of silver and gold, without end to his treasures; and his land became full of horses, without end to his chariots. And his land is full of idols; to the work of his hands he prostrates himself, to that which his fingers made. And man has become bowed down, and man has become humble, and You shall not forgive them. Come into the rock and hide in the dust, because of fear of the Lord and because of the splendor of His pride. The haughty eyes of man will be humbled, and the height of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day. For the Lord of Hosts has a day over everyone proud and high, and over everyone exalted, and he shall become humble. And over all the cedars of the Lebanon, high and exalted, and over all the oaks of the Bashan; And over all the high mountains and over all the exalted hills; And over every lofty tower and over every fortified wall; And over all the ships of Tarshish and over all coveted floors. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day. And the idols shall completely pass away. And they shall come into the caves of the rocks and into the hollows of the earth, because of the fear of the Lord and because of the splendor of His pride, when He rises to break the earth. On that day, man will cast away his silver idols and his gold idols, which they made for him, [before which] to prostrate himself to moles and to bats. To come into the clefts of the rocks and the hollows of the cliffs, because of the fear of the Lord and because of the splendor of His pride, when He rises to break the earth. Withdraw yourselves from man whose breath is in his nostrils, for in what merit is he to be esteemed? Isaiah 2
And you shall bear this parable against the king of Babylon, and you shall say, "How has the dominator ceased, has ceased the haughty one! The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, the rod of the rulers. Isaiah 14:4-5
Gehinnom from beneath quaked for you, toward your arrival; it aroused for you the giants, all the chiefs of the earth; it caused all the kings of the nations to rise from their thrones. All of them shall speak up and say to you, 'Have you too become weak like us? Have you become like us?' Your pride has been lowered into Gehinnom, the stirring of your psalteries. Maggots are spread under you, and worms cover you. How have you fallen from heaven, the morning star? You have been cut down to earth, You who cast lots on nations. And you said to yourself, 'To the heavens will I ascend, above God's stars will I raise my throne, and I will sit on the mount of the assembly, in the farthest end of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will liken myself to the Most High.' But into the nether world shall you be brought down, to the bottom of the pit. Those who see you shall look at you; shall gaze earnestly at you, 'Is this the man who caused the earth to quake, who wrought havoc among the kingdoms? Who made the land like a desert, and his cities he demolished; for his prisoners he did not open the house. All kings of nations, all of them, lay in honor, each in his house. But you were cast from your grave like a discarded sapling, [in] the garb of the slain, of those pierced by the sword, who descend to the stones of the pit, like a trampled corpse. You shall not join them in burial, for you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people; the seed of evil-doers shall not be named forever. Isaiah 14:9-20
On that day, the Lord shall visit with His hard and great and strong sword on leviathan the barlike serpent, and upon leviathan the crooked serpent, and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. On that day, "A vineyard producing wine," sing to it. I, the Lord, guard it, every moment I water it; lest He visit upon it, night and day I guard it. I have no wrath; would that I were thorns and brier against the [objects of My] war! I would tread upon it and ignite it together. If they would grasp My fortress, they would make peace for Me, they would make peace for Me. Isaiah 27:1-5
The land has mourned, it has withered, the land has been humbled and withered, the highest of the people of the land have been humbled. And the land has deceived because of its inhabitants, for they transgressed instructions, infracted statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, an oath has consumed the land, and the inhabitants thereof were wasted; therefore, the inhabitants of the land were dried up, and few people remained. Isaiah 24:4-6
And it shall come to pass on that day, that the Lord shall visit punishment upon the host of heaven on high and upon the kings of the earth on the earth. And they shall be gathered a gathering [as] prisoners into a dungeon, and they shall be shut up in the prison, and [sins] of many days shall be visited [upon them]. And the moon shall be ashamed and the sun shall be abashed, for the Lord of Hosts has reigned in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders will be glory. Isaiah 24:21-23
And all the host of heaven shall melt, and the heavens shall be rolled like a scroll, and all their host shall wither as a leaf withers from a vine, and as a withered [fig] from a fig tree. For My sword has become sated in the heaven. Behold, it shall descend upon Edom, and upon the nation with whom I contend, for judgment. The Lord's sword has become full of blood, made fat with fatness, from the blood of lambs and goats, from the fat of the kidneys of rams, for the Lord has a slaughter in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. And wild oxen shall go down with them, and bulls with fat bulls, and their land shall be sated from blood, and their dust shall become saturated from fat. For it is a day of vengeance for the Lord, a year of retribution for the plea of Zion. Isaiah 34:4-8
Behold them all, their deeds are nought, of no substance; wind and nothingness are their molten images. Isaiah 41:29
Those who form idols are all of them vanity, and their treasures are of no avail, and they are their witnesses; they neither see nor hear, nor do they know, so that they be ashamed. Who formed a god or molded an image, being of no avail? Behold, all his colleagues shall be ashamed, and they are smiths-of man. Let all of them gather, let them stand, they shall fear, they shall be ashamed together. Isaiah 44:9-11
Descend and sit on the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldees, for no longer shall they call you tender and delicate. Isaiah 47:1
And you trusted in your evil, you said, "No one sees me." Your wisdom and your knowledge-that perverted you. And you said to yourself, "I am [it], and there is none besides me." Isaiah 47:10
And we all have become like one unclean, and like a discarded garment are all our righteous deeds, and we all have withered like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. And no one calls in Your name, arouses himself to cling to You, when You hid Your countenance from us, and You caused us to wander through our iniquities. And now, O Lord, You are our father; we are the clay, and You are our potter, and all of us are Your handiwork. Isaiah 64:5-7
My heart is astir with a good theme; I say, "My works are for a king; my tongue is a pen of an expert scribe." Isaiah 45:2
Your throne, O judge, [will exist] forever and ever; the scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom. Isaiah 45:7
And I said, "I toiled in vain, I consumed my strength for nought and vanity." Yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my deed is with my God. And now, the Lord, Who formed me from the womb as a servant to Him, said to bring Jacob back to Him, and Israel shall be gathered to Him, and I will be honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God was my strength. Isaiah 49:4-5
So said the Lord, "In a time of favor I answered you, and on a day of salvation I helped you; and I will watch you, and I will make you for a people of a covenant, to establish a land, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages. To say to the prisoners, "Go out!" and to the darkness, "Show yourselves!" By the roads they shall graze, and by all rivers is their pasture. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, nor shall the heat and the sun smite them, for He Who has mercy on them shall lead them, and by the springs of water He shall guide them. And I will make all My mountains into a road, and My highways shall be raised. Isaiah 49:8-11
Behold this was the iniquity of Sodom your sister: pride, abundance of bread, and careless ease were hers and her daughters', and she did not strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they became haughty and did abomination before Me, and I removed them when I saw. Ezekiel 16:48
"Son of man! The house of Israel has become dross to Me; all of them are copper and tin and iron and lead in the midst of a furnace; dross of silver have they become. Therefore, so said the Lord God: Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I gather you together into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace to blow fire upon it, to melt it, so shall I gather with My wrath and with My fury, and I shall cast you in and melt you. And I shall gather you, and I shall blow upon you with the fire of My anger, and you will be melted in its midst. As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, so will you be melted in its midst, and you shall know that I, the Lord, have poured out My fury upon you." Ezekiel 22:18-22
"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: So said the Lord God: Because your heart is proud, and you said, 'I am a god, I have sat in a seat of God, in the heart of the seas,' but you are a man and not a god, yet you have made your heart like the heart of God. Behold, are you wiser than Daniel, that no secret is hidden from you? With your wisdom and with your understanding did you acquire wealth for yourself, and gather gold and silver in your treasurehouses? With your great wisdom in your commerce did you increase your wealth, that your heart became haughty with your wealth? Therefore, so said the Lord God: Because you made your heart like the heart of God, Therefore, behold I am bringing foreigners, the strong of the nations, upon you, and they will draw their swords on the beauty of your wisdom and profane your brightness. Into the Pit they will lower you, and you will die the deaths of those who are slain, in the heart of the seas. Will you say, "I am a god" before your slayer? Indeed, you are a man and not a god in the hand of your slayer. The deaths of the uncircumcised you shall die at the hand of foreigners, for I have spoken," says the Lord God. Ezekiel 28:2-10
"Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, So said the Lord God: You are the one who engraves images, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. In Eden, the garden of God you were; every precious stone was [set in] your covering; ruby, topaz, diamond, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, carbuncle, and crystal and gold; the work of your drums and your orifices is in you; on the day of your creation they were established. You were a cherub of great measure, that covers, and I gave that to you; you were on the mount of the sanctuary of God: you walked among stones of fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created until wrongdoing was found in you. Because of the multitude of your commerce, they filled you with violence and you sinned, and I shall cast you as profane from the mountain of God, and I shall destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire. Your heart became haughty because of your beauty; you destroyed your wisdom with your brightness; I have cast you upon the ground; I have set you before kings to gaze upon you. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, with the wrongdoing of your commerce, you profaned your sanctity, and I shall bring forth fire out of your midst-it will consume you, and I shall make you ashes on the ground before the eyes of all who see you. All who know you among the peoples will wonder over you; you shall be a terror, and you shall be no more, ever." Ezekiel 28:12-19
Therefore, so said the Lord God: Because you grew haughty with your height, and it placed its lofty top among interwoven branches, and its heart became haughty with its height, I delivered it into the hands of the strongest of nations, that he execute [My will] upon him: according to his wickedness I banished him. And strangers, the strong of the nations, cut it off and cast it down; on the mountains and in all the valleys its tendrils fell, and its branches were broken in all the channels of the earth, and all the peoples of the earth went down from its shade and abandoned it. Upon its carcass all the fowl of the heaven rested, and upon its branches were all the beasts of the field. In order that all the water trees should not become haughty with their height, and they should not place their lofty tops among the interwoven branches, and all that drink water should not stand over them with their height, for all of them were given to death, to the nether parts of the earth, among the sons of men with those who descend into the Pit. Ezekiel 31:10-14
The wickedness of your heart enticed you, who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who says to himself, "Who will bring me down to the earth?" If you go up high like an eagle, and if you place your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the Lord. Obadia 1:3-4
Is not man on earth for a limited time, and are his days [not] like the days of a hireling? As a slave, who longs for the shadow, and as a hireling who hopes for his wages, so was I made to possess months of futility, and they appointed wearisome nights for me. If I would lie down, I would say, 'When shall I arise, and [when will] the evening depart?' And I was sated with restlessness until twilight. My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of earth; my skin wrinkled and melted. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and are spent without hope. Remember that my life is wind; my eye will not return to see good. The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more; set Your eyes upon me and I will be here no longer. Just as a cloud is consumed and goes away, so will one who descends to the grave not ascend. He shall never again return to his house, neither shall his place recognize him again. Neither will I restrain my mouth; I will speak with the anguish of my spirit, I will complain with the bitterness of my soul. Am I a sea or a sea monster, that You place a watch over me? Should I say that my bed shall comfort me, that my couch shall bear my speech. You terrify me with dreams, and You frighten me with visions, so that my soul chooses strangling; death rather than these my bones. I despised [my life]; I will not live forever; desist from me for my life is futility. What is man that You should give him importance, or that You should pay attention to him? That you should visit him every morning and try him every moment. How long will You not desist from me, will You not let me go until I swallow my spit? I have sinned; what do I do to You? O watcher of man, why have You made me as a mark for You, so that I have become a burden to myself? Now why do You not forgive my transgression and remove my iniquity, for now I will lie on the dust; and You shall seek me but I am not here. Job 7
"Indeed you are a people, and wisdom shall perish with you. [But] I too have intelligence like you; I am not inferior to you, and with whom are there none comparable to these? Job 12:2-3
Behold He withholds the water and it dries up; He sends it away and it overturns the earth. With Him is might and counsel; His are the misled and the misleader. He leads counselors away with madness and He makes judges into fools. He loosens the bond of kings and He binds a girdle to their loins. He leads princes away with madness and He overthrows the mighty. He removes the speech from trusty men, and takes away the sense of the elders. He pours contempt upon princes and loosens the belt of the strong. He uncovers deep things out of darkness and brings to light the shadow of death. He makes nations great and destroys them; He spreads out the nations and leads them. He takes away the intelligence of the heads of the people of the land, and He causes them to wander in a wasteland [that is] not a road. They grope in the darkness without light, and he causes them to wander like a drunkard. Job 12:15-25
Now the Lord answered Job and said, "Will one who contends with the Almighty make himself master? He who argues with God, let him answer it." Now Job answered the Lord and said, "Behold I am of small account; what shall I answer You? I put my hand to my mouth. I said one [thing] and I will not answer, and two, and I will not add. Now the Lord answered Job from a tempest and said, "Now gird your loins like a man; I will ask you and [you] tell Me. Will you even make void My judgment? Will you condemn Me in order that you be justified? Do you have an arm like God, or do you thunder like Him with [your] voice? Bedeck yourself now with pride and excellence, and clothe yourself with glory and beauty. Scatter your raging anger, see any haughty man and humble him. See any haughty man and subdue him, and crush the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together; bind up their faces in a hidden place. I too will confess to you that your right hand will save you. Job 4:1-14
There is no one so fierce that he can stir him up, and who is he who can stand before Me? Who came to meet Me? I will pay [his reward]. Everything under the heavens is Mine. Job 41:2-3
Stretch out a sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, press, for the winepress is full; the vats roar, for their evil is great. Multitudes [upon] multitudes in the valley of decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon have darkened, and the stars have withdrawn their shining. And the Lord shall roar from Zion, and from Jerusalem He shall give forth His voice, and the heavens and earth shall quake, and the Lord is a shelter to His people and a stronghold for the children of Israel. Joel 4:13-16
For all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son that they sinned and that they caused Israel to sin to anger the Lord, God of Israel, with their false gods. 1 Kings 16:13
And Jonah prayed to the Lord his God, from the belly of the fish. And he said: I called out from my distress to the Lord, and He answered me; from the belly of the grave I cried out, You heard my voice. And You cast me into the deep in the heart of the seas, and a river surrounded me; all Your breakers and Your waves passed over me. And I said, "I have been driven away from before Your eyes," Indeed, I will continue to gaze upon Your Holy Temple. Water has surrounded me even to the soul, the deep encompassed me; the Red Sea hangs over my head. To the bottom of the mountains I descended, the earth-its bars are closed on me forever; but You brought up my life from Gehinnom, O Lord, my God. When my soul grew faint upon me, I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came to You to Your Holy Temple. Those who keep worthless futilities abandon their kindness. But I-with a voice of thanks will I sacrifice to You; what I vowed I will pay, for the salvation of the Lord. And the Lord said to the fish, and it spewed Jonah onto the dry land. Jonah 2
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Mathew 6:1-4
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. ..”Mathew 13:45-46
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Mathew 23:12
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:7-11
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:11-14
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son, that your son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:1-26
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Revelation 17:1-6
Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.’ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. Revelation 18:7-8
And God will say, “O Jesus son of Mary, did you say to the people, `Take me and my mother as gods rather than God?'“ He will say, “Glory be to You! It is not for me to say what I have no right to. Had I said it, You would have known it. You know what is in my soul, and I do not know what is in Your soul. You are the Knower of the hidden. I only told them what You commanded me: that you shall worship God, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them while I was among them; but when You took me to Yourself, You became the Watcher over them—You are Witness over everything. If You punish them, they are Your servants; but if You forgive them, You are the Mighty and Wise.” God will say, “This is a Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” They will have Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will remain forever. God is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is the great attainment. To God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and what lies in them, and He has power over everything. Quran 5:116-120
Thus We made you a moderate community, that you may be witnesses to humanity, and that the Messenger may be a witness to you. We only established the direction of prayer, which you once followed, that We may distinguish those who follow the Messenger from those who turn on their heels. It is indeed difficult, except for those whom God has guided. But God would never let your faith go to waste. God is Kind towards the people, Merciful. Quran 2:143
O you who believe! Do not nullify your charitable deeds with reminders and hurtful words, like him who spends his wealth to be seen by the people, and does not believe in God and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock covered with soil: a downpour strikes it, and leaves it bare—they gain nothing from their efforts. God does not guide the disbelieving people. Quran 2:264
O People of the Book! Why do you confound the truth with falsehood, and knowingly conceal the truth? Quran 3:71
Those who remember God while standing, and sitting, and on their sides; and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain, glory to You, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” Quran 3:191
God intends to redeem you, but those who follow their desires want you to turn away utterly. Quran 4:27
Today all good things are made lawful for you. And the food of those given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste believing women, and chaste women from the people who were given the Scripture before you, provided you give them their dowries, and take them in marriage, not in adultery, nor as mistresses. But whoever rejects faith, his work will be in vain, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers. Quran 5:5
Say, “O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion beyond the truth; and do not follow the opinions of people who went astray before, and misled many, and themselves strayed off the balanced way.” Quran 5:77
Such is God’s guidance. He guides with it whomever He wills of His servants. Had they associated, their deeds would have gone in vain. Quran 6:88
He said, “You throw!” And when they threw, they beguiled the eyes of the people, and intimidated them, and produced a mighty magic. And We inspired Moses: “Throw your staff.” And at once, it swallowed what they were faking. So the truth came to pass, and what they were producing came to nothing. There they were defeated, and utterly reduced. And the magicians fell to their knees. Quran 7:116-120
And We delivered the Children of Israel across the sea. And when they came upon a people who were devoted to some statues of theirs, they said, “O Moses, make for us a god, as they have gods.” He said, “You are truly an ignorant people.” “What these people are concerned with is perdition, and their deeds are based on falsehoods.” He said, “Shall I seek for you a god other than God, when He has favored you over all other people?” Quran 7:138-140
God has promised you one of the two groups—that it would be yours—but you wanted the unarmed group to be yours. God intends to prove the truth with His words, and to uproot the disbelievers. In order to confirm the truth and nullify falsehood, even though the guilty dislike it. When you appealed to your Lord for help, He answered you, “I am reinforcing you with one thousand angels in succession.” God only made it a message of hope, and to set your hearts at rest. Victory comes only from God. God is Mighty and Wise. Quran 8:7-10
It is not for the polytheists to attend God’s places of worship while professing their disbelief. These—their works are in vain, and in the Fire they will abide. Quran 9:17
And do not consume one another’s wealth by unjust means, nor offer it as bribes to the officials in order to consume part of other people’s wealth illicitly, while you know. Quran 2:188
God intends to redeem you, but those who follow their desires want you to turn away utterly. God intends to lighten your burden, for the human being was created weak. O you who believe! Do not consume each other’s wealth illicitly, but trade by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves, for God is Merciful towards you. Quran 4:27-29
And when they threw, Moses said, “What you produced is sorcery, and God will make it fail. God does not foster the efforts of the corrupt.” “And God upholds the truth with His words, even though the sinners detest it.” But none believed in Moses except some children of his people, for fear that Pharaoh and his chiefs would persecute them. Pharaoh was high and mighty in the land. He was a tyrant. Moses said, “O my people, if you have believed in God, then put your trust in Him, if you have submitted.” They said, “In God we have put our trust. Our Lord, do not make us victims of the oppressive people.” “And deliver us, by Your mercy, from the disbelieving people.” And We inspired Moses and his brother, “Settle your people in Egypt, and make your homes places of worship, and perform the prayer, and give good news to the believers.” Moses said, “Our Lord, you have given Pharaoh and his chiefs splendor and wealth in the worldly life. Our Lord, for them to lead away from Your path. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth, and harden their hearts, they will not believe until they see the painful torment.” He said, “Your prayer has been answered, so go straight, and do not follow the path of those who do not know.” Quran 10:81-89
Whoever desires the worldly life and its glitter—We will fully recompense them for their deeds therein, and therein they will not be defrauded. These—they will have nothing but the Fire in the Hereafter. Their deeds are in vain therein, and their works are null. Quran 11:15-16
When Joseph said to his father, “O my father, I saw eleven planets, and the sun, and the moon; I saw them bowing down to me.” Quran 12:4
God has given you mates from among yourselves; and has produced for you, from your mates, children and grandchildren; and has provided you with good things. Will they then believe in falsehood, and refuse God’s favors? Quran 16:72
And your Lord inspired the bee: “Set up hives in the mountains, and in the trees, and in what they construct.” Then eat of all the fruits, and go along the pathways of your Lord, with precision. From their bellies emerges a fluid of diverse colors, containing healing for the people. Surely in this is a sign for people who reflect. God created you; then He takes you away. Some of you will be brought back to the worst age, so that he will no longer know anything, after having acquired knowledge. God is Omniscient and Omnipotent. Quran 16:68-70
We made what is upon the earth an ornament for it, to test them as to which of them is best in conduct. And We will turn what is on it into barren waste. Quran 18:7-8
It is they who rejected the communications of their Lord, and the encounter with Him. So their works are in vain. And on the Day of Resurrection, We will consider them of no weight. Quran 18:105
Successful are the believers. Those who are humble in their prayers. Those who avoid nonsense. Those who work for charity. Those who safeguard their chastity. Except from their spouses, or their dependents—for they are free from blame. But whoever seeks anything beyond that—these are the transgressors. Those who are faithful to their trusts and pledges. Those who safeguard their prayers. These are the inheritors. Who will inherit Paradise, wherein they will dwell forever. We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him a seed, in a secure repository. Then We developed the seed into a clot. Then We developed the clot into a lump. Then We developed the lump into bones. Then We clothed the bones with flesh. Then We produced it into another creature. Most Blessed is God, the Best of Creators. Then, after that, you will die. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be resurrected. We created above you seven pathways, and We are never heedless of the creation. Quran 23:1-17
Do you build a monument on every height for vanity's sake? And you set up fortresses, hoping to live forever? And when you strike, you strike mercilessly? Quran 26:128-130
Pharaoh exalted himself in the land, and divided its people into factions. He persecuted a group of them, slaughtering their sons, while sparing their daughters. He was truly a corrupter. But We desired to favor those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them leaders, and to make them the inheritors. Quran 28:4-5
And when they hear vain talk, they avoid it, and say, “We have our deeds, and you have your deeds; peace be upon you; we do not desire the ignorant.” Quran 28:55
Among the people is he who says, “We have believed in God.” Yet when he is harmed on God’s account, he equates the people's persecution with God’s retribution. And if help comes from your Lord, he says, “We were actually with you.” Is not God aware of what is inside the hearts of the people? Quran 29:10
We sent Noah to his people, and He stayed among them for a thousand years minus fifty years. Then the Deluge swept them; for they were wrongdoers. But We saved him, together with the company of the Ark, and We made it a sign for all peoples. Quran 29:14-15
You worship idols besides God, and you fabricate falsehoods. Those you worship, instead of God, cannot provide you with livelihood. So seek your livelihood from God, and worship Him, and thank Him. To Him you will be returned.” Quran 29:17
And he said, “You have chosen idols instead of God, out of affection for one another in the worldly life. But then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will disown one another, and curse one another. Your destiny is Hell, and you will have no saviors.” Quran 29:25
Say, “God suffices as witness between you and me. He knows everything in the heavens and the Earth. Those who believe in vanity and reject God—it is they who are the losers.” Quran 29:52
When they came upon you, from above you, and from beneath you; and the eyes became dazed, and the hearts reached the throats, and you harbored doubts about God. Quran 33:10
“O David, We made you a ruler in the land, so judge between the people with justice, and do not follow desire, lest it diverts you from God’s path. Those who stray from God’s path will have a painful punishment, for having ignored the Day of Account.” We did not create the heaven and the earth and everything between them in vain. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve—so woe to those who disbelieve because of the Fire. Quran 38:26-27
And We granted David, Solomon, an excellent servant. He was penitent. When the beautiful horses were paraded before him in the evening. He said, “I have preferred the love of niceties to the remembrance of my Lord—until it disappeared behind the veil. Bring them back to me.” And he began caressing their legs and necks. We tested Solomon, and placed a body on his throne; then he repented. He said, “My Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingdom never to be attained by anyone after me. You are the Giver.” So We placed the wind at his service, blowing gently by his command, wherever he directed. And the demons—every builder and diver. And others fettered in chains. “This is Our gift; so give generously, or withhold; without account.” For him is nearness to Us, and a beautiful resort. Quran 38:30-40
They will say, “Did not your messengers come to you with clear signs?” They will say, “Yes.” They will say, “Then pray, but the prayers of the disbelievers will always be in vain.” Quran 50:50
Those who disbelieve and repel from the path of God—He nullifies their works. While those who believe, and work righteousness, and believe in what was sent down to Muhammad—and it is the truth from their Lord—He remits their sins, and relieves their concerns. That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehoods, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. God thus cites for the people their examples. Quran 47:1-3
‘… As for those who are killed in the way of God, He will not let their deeds go to waste.’ Quran 47:4
That is because they pursued what displeases God, and they disliked His approval, so He nullified their works. Quran 47:28
Those who disbelieve, and hinder from the path of God, and oppose the Messenger after guidance has become clear to them—they will not hurt God in the least, but He will nullify their deeds. O you who believe! Obey God, and obey the Messenger, and do not let your deeds go to waste. Quran 47:32-33
So do not waver and call for peace while you have the upper hand. God is with you, and He will not waste your efforts. The life of this world is nothing but play and pastime. But if you have faith and lead a righteous life, He will grant you your rewards, and He will not ask you for your possessions. Quran 47:35-36
O you who believe! Do not place your opinions above that of God and His Messenger, and fear God. God is Hearing and Knowing. O you who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, and do not speak loudly to him, as you speak loudly to one another, lest your works be in vain without you realizing. Quran 49:1-2
They will exchange therein a cup; wherein is neither harm, nor sin. Quran 52:23
When the inevitable occurs. Of its occurrence, there is no denial. Bringing low, raising high. When the earth is shaken with a shock. And the mountains are crushed and crumbled. And they become scattered dust. And you become three classes. Those on the Right—what of those on the Right? And those on the Left—what of those on the Left? And the forerunners, the forerunners. Those are the nearest. In the Gardens of Bliss. A throng from the ancients. And a small band from the latecomers. On luxurious furnishings. Reclining on them, facing one another. Serving them will be immortalized youth. With cups, pitchers, and sparkling drinks. Causing them neither headache, nor intoxication. And fruits of their choice. And meat of birds that they may desire. And lovely companions. The likenesses of treasured pearls. As a reward for what they used to do. Therein they will hear no nonsense, and no accusations. But only the greeting: “Peace, peace.” And those on the Right—what of those on the Right? In lush orchards. And sweet-smelling plants. And extended shade. And outpouring water. And abundant fruit. Neither withheld, nor forbidden. And uplifted mattresses. We have created them of special creation. And made them virgins. Tender and un-aging. For those on the Right. A throng from the ancients. And a throng from the latecomers. And those on the Left—what of those on the Left? Amid searing wind and boiling water. And a shadow of thick smoke. Neither cool, nor refreshing. They had lived before that in luxury. And they used to persist in immense wrongdoing. And they used to say, “When we are dead and turned into dust and bones, are we to be resurrected? And our ancient ancestors too?” Say, “The first and the last. Will be gathered for the appointment of a familiar Day.” Then you, you misguided, who deny the truth. Will be eating from the Tree of Bitterness. Will be filling your bellies with it. Will be drinking on top of it boiling water. Drinking like thirsty camels drink. That is their hospitality on the Day of Retribution. We created you—if only you would believe! Have you seen what you ejaculate? Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator? We have decreed death among you, and We will not be outstripped. In replacing you with your likes, and transforming you into what you do not know. You have known the first formation; if only you would remember. Have you seen what you cultivate? Is it you who make it grow, or are We the Grower? If We will, We can turn it into rubble; then you will lament. “We are penalized. No, we are being deprived.” Have you seen the water you drink?Is it you who sent it down from the clouds, or are We the Sender? If We will, We can make it salty. Will you not be thankful? Have you seen the fire you kindle? Is it you who produce its tree, or are We the Producer? We have made it a reminder, and a comfort for the users. So glorify the Name of your Great Lord. I swear by the locations of the stars. It is an oath, if you only knew, that is tremendous. It is a noble Quran. In a well-protected Book. None can grasp it except the purified. A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. Is it this discourse that you take so lightly? And you make it your livelihood to deny it? So when it has reached the throat. As you are looking on. We are nearer to it than you are, but you do not see. If you are not held to account. Then bring it back, if you are truthful. But if he is one of those brought near. Then happiness, and flowers, and Garden of Delights. And if he is one of those on the Right. Then, “Peace upon you,” from those on the Right. But if he is one of the deniers, the mistaken. Then a welcome of Inferno. And burning in Hell. This is the certain truth. So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Magnificent. Quran 56
Glorifying God is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, the Wise. To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death, and He has power over all things. He is the First and the Last, and the Outer and the Inner, and He has knowledge of all things. It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then settled over the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth, and what comes out of it, and what descends from the sky, and what ascends to it. And He is with you wherever you may be. God is Seeing of everything you do. To Him belongs the kingship of the heavens and the earth, and to God all matters are referred. He merges the night into the day, and He merges the day into the night; and He knows what the hearts contains. Quran 57:1-6
It is He who sends down upon His servant clear revelations, to bring you out of darkness into the light. God is Gentle towards you, Most Compassionate. And why is it that you do not spend in the cause of God, when to God belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth? Not equal among you are those who contributed before the conquest, and fought. Those are higher in rank than those who contributed afterwards, and fought. But God promises both a good reward. God is Well Experienced in what you do. Quran 57:9-10
On the Day when the hypocritical men and hypocritical women will say to those who believed, “Wait for us; let us absorb some of your light.” It will be said, “Go back behind you, and seek light.” A wall will be raised between them, in which is a door; within it is mercy, and outside it is agony. They will call to them, “Were we not with you?” They will say, “Yes, but you cheated your souls, and waited, and doubted, and became deluded by wishful thinking, until the command of God arrived; and arrogance deceived you regarding God.” Quran 57:13-14
O you Enrobed one. Arise and warn. And magnify your Lord. And purify your clothes. And abandon abominations. And show no favor seeking gain. And be constant for your Lord. When the Trumpet is blown. That Day will be a difficult day. For the disbelievers—not easy. Leave Me to him whom I created alone. And gave him vast wealth. And children as witnesses. And smoothed things for him. Then he wants Me to add yet more! By no means! He was stubborn towards Our revelations. I will exhaust him increasingly. He thought and analyzed. May he perish, how he analyzed. Again: may he perish, how he analyzed. Then he looked. Then he frowned and whined. Then he turned back and was proud. And said, “This is nothing but magic from the past. This is nothing but the word of a mortal.” I will roast him in Saqar. But what will explain to you what Saqar is? It neither leaves, nor spares. It scorches the flesh. Over it are Nineteen. We have appointed only angels to be wardens of the Fire, and caused their number to be a stumbling block for those who disbelieve; so that those given the Scripture may attain certainty; and those who believe may increase in faith; and those given the Scripture and the believers may not doubt; and those in whose hearts is sickness and the unbelievers may say, “What did God intend by this parable?” Thus God leads astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is nothing but a reminder for the mortals. Nay! By the moon. And the night as it retreats. And the morning as it lights up. It is one of the greatest. A warning to the mortals. To whomever among you wishes to advance, or regress. Every soul is hostage to what it has earned. Except for those on the Right. In Gardens, inquiring. About the guilty. “What drove you into Saqar?” They will say, “We were not of those who prayed. Nor did we feed the destitute. And we used to indulge with those who indulge. And we used to deny the Day of Judgment. Until the Inevitable came upon us.” But the intercession of intercessors will not help them. Why are they turning away from the Reminder? As though they were panicked donkeys. Fleeing from a lion? Yet every one of them desires to be given scrolls unrolled. No indeed! But they do not fear the Hereafter. Nevertheless, it is a reminder. So whoever wills, shall remember it. But they will not remember, unless God wills. He is the Source of Righteousness, and the Source of Forgiveness. Quran 74
He asks, “When is the Day of Resurrection?” When vision is dazzled. And the moon is eclipsed. And the sun and the moon are joined together. On that Day, man will say, “Where is the escape?” No indeed! There is no refuge. To your Lord on that Day is the settlement. On that Day man will be informed of everything he put forward, and everything he left behind. And man will be evidence against himself. Even as he presents his excuses. Quran 75:6-15
Alas, you love the fleeting life. And you disregard the Hereafter. Faces on that Day will be radiant. Looking towards their Lord. And faces on that Day will be gloomy. Realising that a back-breaker has befallen them. Indeed, when it has reached the breast-bones. And it is said, “Who is the healer?” And He realizes that it is the parting. And leg is entwined with leg. To your Lord on that Day is the drive. He neither believed nor prayed. But he denied and turned away. Then he went to his family, full of pride. Woe to you; and woe. Then again: Woe to you; and woe. Does man think that he will be left without purpose? Was he not a drop of ejaculated semen? Then he became a clot. And He created and proportioned? And made of him the two sexes, the male and the female? Is He not Able to revive the dead? Quran 75:20-40
Has there come upon man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned? We created man from a liquid mixture, to test him; and We made him hearing and seeing. We guided him to the way, be he appreciative or unappreciative. We have prepared for the faithless chains, and yokes, and a Searing Fire. But the righteous will drink from a cup whose mixture is aroma. A spring from which the servants of God will drink, making it gush abundantly. They fulfill their vows, and dread a Day whose ill is widespread. And they feed, for the love of Him, the poor, and the orphan, and the captive. “We only feed you for the sake of God. We want from you neither compensation, nor gratitude. We dread from our Lord a frowning grim Day.” So God will protect them from the ills of that Day, and will grant them radiance and joy. And will reward them for their patience with a Garden and silk. Reclining therein on the thrones; experiencing therein neither sun, nor frost. Its shade hovering over them, and its fruit brought low within reach. Passing around them are vessels of silver, and cups of crystal. Crystal of silver—they measured them exactly. They will be served therein with a cup whose flavor is Zanjabeel. A spring therein named Salsabeel. Passing among them are eternalized youths. If you see them, you would think them sprinkled pearls. Wherever you look, you see bliss, and a vast kingdom. Upon them are garments of green silk, and satin. And they will be adorned with bracelets of silver. And their Lord will offer them a pure drink. “This is a reward for you. Your efforts are well appreciated.” It is We who sent down the Quran upon you—a gradual revelation. So be patient for the decision of your Lord, and do not obey the sinner or the blasphemer among them. And mention the Name of your Lord, morning and evening. And for part of the night, prostrate yourself to Him, and glorify Him long into the night. As for these: they love the fleeting life, and leave behind a Heavy Day. We created them, and strengthened their frame; and whenever We will, We can replace them with others like them. This is a reminder; so whoever wills, let him take a path to his Lord. Yet you cannot will, unless God wills. God is Knowing and Wise. He admits into His mercy whomever He wills. But as for the wrongdoers, He has prepared for them a painful punishment. Quran 76
By those unleashed in succession. Storming turbulently. Scattering far and wide. Separating decisively. Delivering a message. Excusing or warning. Surely what you are promised will happen. When the stars are obliterated. And the sky is fractured. And the mountains are blown away. And the messengers are alerted. Until which day is it deferred? Until the Day of Decision. And what will teach you what the Day of Decision is? Woe on that Day to the liars. Did We not destroy the ancients? Then succeeded them with the others? This is how We deal with the guilty. Woe on that Day to the rejecters. Did We not create you from an insignificant fluid? Then lodged it in a secure place? For a known term? We measured precisely. We are the best to measure. Woe on that Day to the falsifiers. Did We not make the earth a homestead? For the living and the dead? And set on it lofty mountains, and given you pure water to drink? Woe on that Day to the deniers. “Proceed to what you used to deny.” “Proceed to a shadow of three different masses.” Offering no shade, and unavailing against the flames. It shoots sparks as castles. As if they were yellow camels. Woe on that Day to the liars. This is a Day when they will not speak. And they will not be allowed to apologize. Woe on that Day to the rejecters. This is the Day of Separation; We have gathered you, together with the ancients. So if you have a strategy, use it against Me. Woe on that Day to the falsifiers. The righteous will be amidst shades and fountains. And fruits as they desire. “Eat and drink pleasantly, for what you used to do.” This is how We reward the doers of good. Woe on that Day to the deniers. “Eat and enjoy yourselves a little; you are indeed criminals.” Woe on that Day to the liars. And when it is said to them, “Kneel”, they do not kneel. Woe on that Day to the rejecters. In what message, beyond this, will they believe? Quran 77
What are they asking one another about? About the Great Event. About which they disagree. Surely, they will find out. Most certainly, they will find out. Did We not make the earth a cradle? And the mountains pegs? And created you in pairs? And made your sleep for rest? And made the night a cover? And made the day for livelihood? And built above you seven strong ones? And placed a blazing lamp? And brought down from the clouds pouring water? To produce with it grains and vegetation? And luxuriant gardens? The Day of Sorting has been appointed. The Day when the Trumpet is blown, and you will come in droves. And the sky is opened up, and becomes gateways. And the mountains are set in motion, and become a mirage. Hell is lying in ambush. For the oppressors, a destination. Where they will remain for eons. They will taste therein neither coolness, nor drink. Except boiling water, and freezing hail. A fitting requital. For they were not anticipating any reckoning.And they denied Our signs utterly. But We have enumerated everything in writing. So taste! We will increase you only in suffering. But for the righteous there is triumph. Gardens and vineyards. And splendid spouses, well matched. And delicious drinks. They will hear therein neither gossip, nor lies. A reward from your Lord, a fitting gift. Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them—The Most Merciful—none can argue with Him. On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in row. They will not speak, unless it be one permitted by the Most Merciful, and he will say what is right. That is the Day of Reality. So whoever wills, let him take a way back to his Lord. We have warned you of a near punishment—the Day when a person will observe what his hands have produced, and the faithless will say, “O, I wish I were dust.” Quran 78:1-40
We sent messengers before you. Some of them We told you about, and some We did not tell you about. No messenger can bring a miracle except by leave of God. Then, when the command of God is issued, fair judgment will be passed, and there and then the seekers of vanity will lose. Quran 40:78
When the sun is rolled up. When the stars are dimmed. When the mountains are set in motion. When the relationships are suspended. When the beasts are gathered. When the oceans are set aflame. When the souls are paired. When the girl, buried alive, is asked For what crime was she killed? When the records are made public. When the sky is peeled away. When the Fire is set ablaze. When Paradise is brought near. Each soul will know what it has readied. I swear by the galaxies. Precisely running their courses. And by the night as it recedes. And by the morn as it breathes. This is the speech of a noble messenger. Endowed with power, eminent with the Lord of the Throne. Obeyed and honest. Your friend is not possessed. He saw him on the luminous horizon. And He does not withhold knowledge of the Unseen. And it is not the word of an accursed devil. So where are you heading? It is only a Reminder to all mankind. To whoever of you wills to go straight. But you cannot will, unless God wills—The Lord of the Worlds. Quran 81:1-29
By the sky and at-Tariq. But what will let you know what at-Tariq is? The Piercing Star. There is no soul without a Protector over it. Let man consider what he was created from. He was created from gushing liquid. Issuing from between the backbone and the breastbones. He is certainly able to return him. On the Day when the secrets are disclosed. He will have no strength, and no supporter. By the sky that returns. And the earth that cracks open. It is a Decisive Word. It is no joke. They plot and scheme. But I plot and scheme. Therefore, give the blasphemers respite, a brief respite. Quran 86
Tell the believing men to restrain their looks, and to guard their privates. That is purer for them. God is cognizant of what they do.
31. And tell the believing women to restrain their looks, and to guard their privates, and not display their beauty except what is apparent thereof, and to draw their coverings over their breasts, and not expose their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, what their right hands possess, their male attendants who have no sexual desires, or children who are not yet aware of the nakedness of women. And they should not strike their feet to draw attention to their hidden beauty. And repent to God, all of you believers, so that you may succeed. Quran 24:30-31
God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is that of a pillar on which is a lamp. The lamp is within a glass. The glass is like a brilliant planet, fueled by a blessed tree, an olive tree, neither eastern nor western. Its oil would almost illuminate, even if no fire has touched it. Light upon Light. God guides to His light whomever He wills. God thus cites the parables for the people. God is cognizant of everything. In houses which God has permitted to be raised, and His name is celebrated therein. He is glorified therein, morning and evening. By men who neither trading nor commerce distracts them from God’s remembrance, and from performing the prayers, and from giving alms. They fear a Day when hearts and sights are overturned. God will reward them according to the best of what they did, and He will increase them from His bounty. God provides for whomever He wills without reckoning. As for those who disbelieve, their works are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty assumes it is to be water. Until, when he has reached it, he finds it to be nothing, but there he finds God, Who settles his account in full. God is swift in reckoning. Or like utter darkness in a vast ocean, covered by waves, above which are waves, above which is fog. Darkness upon darkness. If he brings out his hand, he will hardly see it. He to whom God has not granted a light has no light. Do you not realize that God is glorified by whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and even by the birds in formation? Each knows its prayer and its manner of praise. God knows well what they do. To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to God is the ultimate return. Quran 24:35-42
And God will say, “O Jesus son of Mary, did you say to the people, `Take me and my mother as gods rather than God?'“ He will say, “Glory be to You! It is not for me to say what I have no right to. Had I said it, You would have known it. You know what is in my soul, and I do not know what is in Your soul. You are the Knower of the hidden. I only told them what You commanded me: that you shall worship God, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them while I was among them; but when You took me to Yourself, You became the Watcher over them—You are Witness over everything. If You punish them, they are Your servants; but if You forgive them, You are the Mighty and Wise.” God will say, “This is a Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.” They will have Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will remain forever. God is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is the great attainment. To God belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and what lies in them, and He has power over everything. Quran 5:116-120
I will punish him most severely, or slay him, unless he gives me a valid excuse.” But he did not stay for long. He said, “I have learnt something you did not know. I have come to you from Sheba, with reliable information.I found a woman ruling over them, and she was given of everything, and she has a magnificent throne. I found her and her people worshiping the sun, instead of God. Satan made their conduct appear good to them, and diverted them from the path, so they are not guided. If only they would worship God, who brings to light the mysteries of the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you reveal.God—There is no god but He, the Lord of the Sublime Throne.” He said, “We will see, whether you have spoken the truth, or whether you are a liar. Go with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them; then withdraw from them, and see how they respond.” She said, “O Counselors, a gracious letter was delivered to me. It is from Solomon, and it is, ‘In the Name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful. Do not defy me, and come to me submissively.’” She said, “O counselors, advise me in this matter of mine. I never make a decision unless you are present.” They said, “We are a people of might and great courage, but the decision is yours, so consider what you wish to command.” She said, “When kings enter a city, they devastate it, and subjugate its dignified people. Thus they always do. I am sending them a gift, and will see what the envoys bring back.” When he came to Solomon, he said, “Are you supplying me with money? What God has given me is better than what He has given you. It is you who delight in your gift. Go back to them. We will come upon them with troops they cannot resist; and we will expel them from there, disgraced and humiliated.” He said, “O notables, which one of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?” An imp of the sprites said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your seat. I am strong and reliable enough to do it.” He who had knowledge from the Book said, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when he saw it settled before him, he said, “This is from the grace of my Lord, to test me, whether I am grateful or ungrateful. He who is grateful, his gratitude is to his own credit; but he who is ungrateful—my Lord is Independent and Generous.” He said, “Disguise her throne for her, and we shall see whether she will be guided, or remains one of the misguided.” When she arrived, it was said, “Is your throne like this?” She said, “As if this is it.” “We were given knowledge before her, and we were submissive.” But she was prevented by what she worshiped besides God; she belonged to a disbelieving people. It was said to her, “Go inside the palace.” And when she saw it, she thought it was a deep pond, and she bared her legs. He said, “It is a palace paved with glass.” She said, “My Lord, I have done wrong to myself, and I have submitted with Solomon, to God, Lord of the Worlds.” Quran 27:21-44
And I said, "I toiled in vain, I consumed my strength for nought and vanity." Yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my deed is with my God. Isaiah 49:4
Raise your eyes to heaven and look at the earth from beneath, for the heavens shall vanish like smoke, and the earth shall rot away like a garment, and its inhabitants shall likewise die, and My salvation shall be forever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished. Isaiah 51:6
For, like a garment, the moth shall consume them, and like wool, the worm shall consume them, but My righteousness shall be forever, and My salvation to all generations. Isaiah 51:8
Behold, the hand of the Lord is not too short to save, neither is His ear too heavy to hear. But your iniquities were separating between you and between your God, and your sins have caused [Him] to hide [His] face from you that He not hear. For your hands were defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken falsehood, your tongue mutters injustice. No one calls sincerely, and no one is judged faithfully; trusting in vanity and speaking lies, conceiving injustice and begetting wickedness. They hatched vipers' eggs, and they weave spider webs; whoever eats of their eggs shall die, and what hatches, emerges a viper. Their webs shall not become a garment, neither shall they cover themselves with their deeds; their deeds are works of wickedness, and there is a deed of violence in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness; robbery and ruin are in their paths. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever goes on it knows no peace. Therefore, justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light and behold there is darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We tap a wall like blind men, and like those who have no eyes we tap; we have stumbled at midday like in the darkness of night; [we are] in dark places like the dead. We all growl like bears, and like doves we moan; we hope for justice but there is none, for salvation [but] it has distanced itself from us. For our transgressions against You are many, and our sins have testified against us, for our transgressions are with us, and our iniquities-we know them. Rebelling and denying the Lord, and drawing away from following our God, speaking oppression and perverseness, sprouting and giving forth from the heart words of falsehood. And justice has turned away backward, and righteousness stands from afar, for truth has stumbled in the street, and straightforwardness cannot come. And truth is lacking, and he who turns away from evil is considered mad, and the Lord saw and was displeased for there is no justice. And He saw that there was no man, and He was astounded for there was no intercessor, and His arm saved for Him, and His righteousness, that supported Him. And He donned righteousness like a coat of mail, and a helmet of salvation is upon His head, and He donned garments of vengeance as His attire, and He was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He shall repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the islands He shall pay recompense. And from the west they shall fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, His glory, for distress shall come like a river; the spirit of the Lord is wondrous in it. And a redeemer shall come to Zion, and to those who repent of transgression in Jacob, says the Lord. "As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the Lord. "My spirit, which is upon you and My words that I have placed in your mouth, shall not move from your mouth or from the mouth of your seed and from the mouth of your seed's seed," said the Lord, "from now and to eternity." Isaiah 59
Our sanctuary and our glory, wherein our forefathers praised You is burnt with fire, and all our coveted places have become a waste. Isaiah 64:10
And they shall build houses and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat, for like the days of the tree are the days of My people, and My elect shall outlive their handiwork. They shall not toil in vain, neither shall they bear for terror, for they are seed blessed by the Lord, and their offspring shall be with them. And it shall be, when they have not yet called, that I will respond; when they are still speaking, that I will hearken. A wolf and a lamb shall graze together, and a lion, like cattle, shall eat straw, and a serpent-dust shall be his food; they shall neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mount," says the Lord. Isaiah 65:21-25
And relate to them the true story of Adam's two sons: when they offered an offering, and it was accepted from one of them, but it was not accepted from the other. He Said, “I will kill you.” He Said, “God accepts only from the righteous.” “If you extend your hand to kill me, I will not extend my hand to kill you; for I fear God, Lord of the Worlds.” “I would rather you bear my sin and your sin, and you become among the inmates of the Fire. Such is the reward for the evildoers.” Then His soul prompted him to kill his brother, so he killed him, and became one of the losers. Then God sent a raven digging the ground, to show him how to cover his brother's corpse. He said, “Woe to me! I was unable to be like this raven, and bury my brother's corpse.” So he became full of regrets. Because of that We ordained for the Children of Israel: that whoever kills a person—unless it is for murder or corruption on earth—it is as if he killed the whole of mankind; and whoever saves it, it is as if he saved the whole of mankind. Our messengers came to them with clarifications, but even after that, many of them continue to commit excesses in the land. Quran 5:27-32
Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, and she said, "I have acquired a man with the Lord." And she continued to bear his brother Abel, and Abel was a shepherd of flocks, and Cain was a tiller of the soil. Now it came to pass at the end of days, that Cain brought of the fruit of the soil an offering to the Lord. And Abel he too brought of the firstborn of his flocks and of their fattest, and the Lord turned to Abel and to his offering. But to Cain and to his offering He did not turn, and it annoyed Cain exceedingly, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you annoyed, and why has your countenance fallen? Is it not so that if you improve, it will be forgiven you? If you do not improve, however, at the entrance, sin is lying, and to you is its longing, but you can rule over it." And Cain spoke to Abel his brother, and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him. And the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? Hark! Your brother's blood cries out to Me from the earth. And now, you are cursed even more than the ground, which opened its mouth to take your brother's blood from your hand. When you till the soil, it will not continue to give its strength to you; you shall be a wanderer and an exile in the land." And Cain said to the Lord, "Is my iniquity too great to bear? Behold You have driven me today off the face of the earth, and I shall be hidden from before You, and I will be a wanderer and an exile in the land, and it will be that whoever finds me will kill me." And the Lord said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be wrought upon him sevenfold," and the Lord placed a mark on Cain that no one who find him slay him. And Cain went forth from before the Lord, and he dwelt in the land of the wanderers, to the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch, and he was building a city, and he called the city after the name of his son, Enoch. Genesis 4:1-17
Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating a human being from clay. When I have formed him, and breathed into him of My spirit, fall prostrate before him. So the angels fell prostrate, all of them. Except for Satan. He was too proud, and one of the faithless. He said, “O Satan, what prevented you from prostrating before what I created with My Own hands? Are you too proud, or were you one of the exalted?” He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.” He said, “Then get out of here! You are an outcast! And My curse will be upon you until the Day of Judgment.” He said, “Lord, defer me until the Day they are resurrected.” He said, “You are one of those deferred. Until the Day of the Time Appointed.” He said, “By Your majesty, I will seduce them all. Except for your loyal servants among them.” He said, “The truth is, and I say the truth. I will fill Hell with you, and with every one of them who follows you.” Say, “I ask of you no wage for this, and I am not a pretender. It is but a reminder to mankind. And you will know its message after a while.” Quran 38:71-88
And they ask you about Zul-Qarnain. Say, “I will tell you something about him.” We established him on earth, and gave him all kinds of means. He pursued a certain course. Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a murky spring, and found a people in its vicinity. We said, “O Zul-Qarnain, you may either inflict a penalty, or else treat them kindly.” He said, “As for him who does wrong, we will penalize him, then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with an unheard-of torment. “But as for him who believes and acts righteously, he will have the finest reward, and We will speak to him of Our command with ease.” Then he pursued a course. Until, when he reached the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no shelter from it. And so it was. We had full knowledge of what he had. Then he pursued a course. Until, when he reached the point separating the two barriers, he found beside them a people who could barely understand what is said. They said, “O Zul-Qarnain, the Gog and Magog are spreading chaos in the land. Can we pay you, to build between us and them a wall?” He said, “What my Lord has empowered me with is better. But assist me with strength, and I will build between you and them a dam.” “Bring me blocks of iron.” So that, when he had leveled up between the two cliffs, he said, “Blow.” And having turned it into a fire, he said, “Bring me tar to pour over it.” So they were unable to climb it, and they could not penetrate it. He said, “This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes true, He will turn it into rubble, and the promise of my Lord is always true.” On that Day, We will leave them surging upon one another. And the Trumpet will be blown, and We will gather them together. On that Day, We will present the disbelievers to Hell, all displayed. Those whose eyes were screened to My message, and were unable to hear. Do those who disbelieve think that they can take My servants for masters instead of Me? We have prepared Hell for the hospitality of the faithless. Say, “Shall We inform you of the greatest losers in their works?” “Those whose efforts in this world are misguided, while they assume that they are doing well.” It is they who rejected the communications of their Lord, and the encounter with Him. So their works are in vain. And on the Day of Resurrection, We will consider them of no weight. That is their requital—Hell—on account of their disbelief, and their taking My revelations and My messengers in mockery. Quran 18:83-106
For the safety of the Quraish. Their safety during winter and summer journeys. They should worship the Lord of this House. Who feeds them, protects them from starvation, and protects them from fear. Quran 106:1-4
And in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Persia, at the completion of the word of the Lord from the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord aroused the Spirit of Cyrus, the king of Persia, and he issued a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also in writing, saying: "So said Cyrus, the king of Persia, 'All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of the heavens delivered to me, and He commanded me to build Him a House in Jerusalem, which is in Judea. Who is among you of all His people, may his God be with him, and he may ascend to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and let him build the House of the Lord, God of Israel; He is the God Who is in Jerusalem. And whoever remains from all the places where he sojourns, the people of his place shall help him with silver and with gold and with possessions and with cattle, with the donation to the House of God, which is in Jerusalem.' And the heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, with all whom God inspired to ascend to build the House of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem. And all those around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with possessions, with cattle, and with precious things, besides all that was donated. And King Cyrus took out all the vessels of the House of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of Jerusalem and had placed them in the temple of his god. Now Cyrus, the king of Persia, took them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. And these are their number: thirty basins of gold, a thousand basins of silver, twenty-nine knives, Thirty bowls of gold, secondary silver bowls four hundred and ten, a thousand other vessels. All the vessels of silver and gold were five thousand, four hundred; Sheshbazzar brought up everything when the exiles were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-11
And Jacob left Beer sheba, and he went to Haran. And he arrived at the place and lodged there because the sun had set, and he took some of the stones of the place and placed [them] at his head, and he lay down in that place. And he dreamed, and behold! a ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven; and behold, angels of God were ascending and descending upon it. And behold, the Lord was standing over him, and He said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land upon which you are lying to you I will give it and to your seed. And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall gain strength westward and eastward and northward and southward; and through you shall be blessed all the families of the earth and through your seed. And behold, I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go, and I will restore you to this land, for I will not forsake you until I have done what I have spoken concerning you." And Jacob awakened from his sleep, and he said, "Indeed, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know [it]." And he was frightened, and he said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." And Jacob arose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had placed at his head, and he set it up as a monument, and he poured oil on top of it. And he named the place Beth El, but Luz was originally the name of the city. And Jacob uttered a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and He will guard me on this way, upon which I am going, and He will give me bread to eat and a garment to wear; And if I return in peace to my father's house, and the Lord will be my God; Then this stone, which I have placed as a monument, shall be a house of God, and everything that You give me, I will surely tithe to You. Genesis 28:10-22
The Blessed has authority, absolute control, and power over everything. He created life and death to test you, who among you is better in conduct. He's the Almighty Forgiver. He created seven heavens in layers. You’ll see no contradiction in the creation of the Merciful. Look again. Do you see any cracks? Then look again, and again, and your eyesight will return dazzled and exhausted. We adorned the lower sky with lanterns, and We made them projectiles against the devils, and We prepared for them the suffering of the Blaze. Those who reject their Lord will suffer the punishment of Hell — a miserable destination. When they're thrown into it, they'll hear it roar as it seethes. It almost erupts with a fury. Whenever a batch is thrown into it, its guards will ask them, “Didn’t a warner come to you?” They'll answer: “Yes, a warner did come to us, but we denied and said, ‘God revealed nothing; you're very wrong.’” They would say: “If we had listened or reasoned, we wouldn’t be among the prisoners of the Blaze.” Quran 67:1-10
Pharaoh proclaimed among his people, saying, “O my people, do I not own the Kingdom of Egypt, and these rivers flow beneath me? Do you not see? Am I not better than this miserable wretch, who can barely express himself? Why are bracelets of gold not dropped on him, or they angels came with him in procession?” Thus he fooled his people, and they obeyed him. They were wicked people. And when they provoked Our wrath, We took retribution from them, and We drowned them all. Thus We made them a precedent and an example for the others. And when the son of Mary was cited as an example, your people opposed. They said, “Are our gods better, or he?” They cited him only for argument. In fact, they are a quarrelsome people. He was just a servant whom We blessed, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel. Had We willed, We would have made of you angels to be successors on earth. He is a portent of the Hour, so have no doubt about it, and follow Me. This is a straight way. And let not Satan divert you. He is an open enemy to you. When Jesus came with the clarifications, he said, “I have come to you with wisdom, and to clarify for you some of what you differ about. So fear God, and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him—this is a straight path.” Quran 43:51-64
To God prostrates everyone in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows, in the morning and in the evening. Say, “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say, “God.” Say, “Have you taken besides Him protectors, who have no power to profit or harm even themselves?” Say, “Are the blind and the seeing equal? Or are darkness and light equal? Or have they assigned to God associates, who created the likes of His creation, so that the creations seemed to them alike? Say, “God is the Creator of all things, and He is The One, the Irresistible.” He sends down water from the sky, and riverbeds flow according to their capacity. The current carries swelling froth. And from what they heat in fire of ornaments or utensils comes a similar froth. Thus God exemplifies truth and falsehood. As for the froth, it is swept away, but what benefits the people remains in the ground. Thus God presents the analogies. For those who respond to their Lord is the best. But as for those who do not respond to Him, even if they possessed everything on earth, and twice as much, they could not redeem themselves with it. Those will have the worst reckoning; and their home is Hell—a miserable destination. Quran 13:15-18
Say, “O God, Owner of Sovereignty. You grant sovereignty to whom You will, and You strip sovereignty from whom you will. You honor whom you will, and You humiliate whom you will. In Your hand is all goodness. You are Capable of all things.” “You merge the night into the day, and You merge the day into the night; and you bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living; and You provide for whom you will without measure.” Quran 3:26-27
O you Enrobed one. Arise and warn. And magnify your Lord. And purify your clothes. And abandon abominations. And show no favor seeking gain. And be constant for your Lord. When the Trumpet is blown. That Day will be a difficult day. For the disbelievers—not easy. Leave Me to him whom I created alone. And gave him vast wealth. And children as witnesses. And smoothed things for him. Then he wants Me to add yet more! By no means! He was stubborn towards Our revelations. I will exhaust him increasingly. He thought and analyzed. May he perish, how he analyzed. Again: may he perish, how he analyzed. Then he looked. Then he frowned and whined. Then he turned back and was proud. And said, “This is nothing but magic from the past. This is nothing but the word of a mortal.” I will roast him in Saqar. But what will explain to you what Saqar is? It neither leaves, nor spares. It scorches the flesh. Over it are Nineteen. We have appointed only angels to be wardens of the Fire, and caused their number to be a stumbling block for those who disbelieve; so that those given the Scripture may attain certainty; and those who believe may increase in faith; and those given the Scripture and the believers may not doubt; and those in whose hearts is sickness and the unbelievers may say, “What did God intend by this parable?” Thus God leads astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He. This is nothing but a reminder for the mortals. Quran 74:1-31
Yet they turn one of His servants into a part of Him. Man is clearly ungrateful. Or has He chosen for Himself daughters from what He creates, and favored you with sons? Yet when one of them is given news of what he attributes to the Most Gracious, his face darkens, and he suppresses grief. “Someone brought up to be beautiful, and unable to help in a fight?” And they appoint the angels, who are servants to the Most Gracious, as females. Have they witnessed their creation? Their claim will be recorded, and they will be questioned. And they say, “Had the Most Gracious willed, we would not have worshiped them.” But they have no knowledge of that; they are merely guessing. Quran 43:15-20
When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. Genesis 18:16-33