Gleanings — §482
Arabic source with Shoghi Effendi’s authorized English translation. Paragraph 482 of 729.
Source (Arabic)
ولا يليق لشأنك اسمع نصحي ثمّ اعدل بين الخلق ليرفع الله اسمك بالعدل بين العالمين، إيّاك أن لا تعمّر هؤلاء الوكلاء ولا تخرّب الرّعيّة اتّق من ضجيج الفقراء والأبرار في الأسحار وكن لهم كسلطان شفيق، لأنّهم كنزك في الأرض فينبغي لحضرتك بأن تحفظ كنزك من أيدي هؤلاء السّارقين، ثمّ تجسّس من أمورهم وأحوالهم في كلّ حول بل في كلّ شهر
Shoghi Effendi Translation
Let My counsel be acceptable to thee, and strive thou to rule with equity among men, that God may exalt thy name and spread abroad the fame of thy justice in all the world. Beware lest thou aggrandize thy ministers at the expense of thy subjects. Fear the sighs of the poor and of the upright in heart who, at every break of day, bewail their plight, and be unto them a benignant sovereign. They, verily, are thy treasures on earth. It behooveth thee, therefore, to safeguard thy treasures from the assaults of them who wish to rob thee. Inquire into their affairs, and ascertain, every year, nay every month, their condition, and be not of them that are careless of their duty.
Translation Notes
لشأنك
literal: affair; concern; matter; aspect; quality; state; affairs; matters; conditions; circumstances; affair, matter, station, rank, dignity; station; rank; importance; matter, affair, concern, dignity, rank
اسمع
literal: heard, hearkened to, acceptable, worthy of attention
الرّعيّة
literal: to guard, watch over, regard, heed, respect, maintain; care; protection; guardianship; watchfulness
