passing of each nineteen years; thus hath it been ordained by One Who is
Omniscient and All-Perceiving. He, verily, is desirous of refinement, both
for you yourselves and for all that ye possess; lay not aside the fear of
God and be not of the negligent. Whoso findeth that his means are
insufficient to this purpose hath been excused by God, the Ever-Forgiving,
the Most Bounteous.

152 Wash your feet once every day in summer, and once every three days
during winter.

153 Should anyone wax angry with you, respond to him with gentleness; and
should anyone upbraid you, forbear to upbraid him in return, but leave him
to himself and put your trust in God, the omnipotent Avenger, the Lord of
might and justice.

154 Ye have been prohibited from making use of pulpits. Whoso wisheth to
recite unto you the verses of his Lord, let him sit on a chair placed upon
a dais, that he may make mention of God, his Lord, and the Lord of all
mankind. It is pleasing to God that ye should seat yourselves on chairs
and benches as a mark of honour for the love ye bear for Him and for the
Manifestation of His glorious and resplendent Cause.

155 Gambling and the use of opium have been forbidden unto you. Eschew
them both, O people, and be not of those who transgress. Beware of using
any substance that induceth sluggishness and torpor in the human temple
and inflicteth harm upon the body. We, verily, desire for you naught save
what shall profit you, and to this bear witness all created things, had ye
but ears to hear.

156 Whensoever ye be invited to a banquet or festive occasion, respond
with joy and gladness, and whoever fulfilleth his promise will be safe
from reproof. This is a Day on which each of God's wise decrees hath been
expounded.

157 Behold, the "mystery of the Great Reversal in the Sign of the
Sovereign" hath now been made manifest. Well is it with him whom God hath
aided to recognize the "Six" raised up by virtue of this "Upright Alif";
he, verily, is of those whose faith is true. How many the outwardly pious
who have turned away, and how many the wayward who have drawn nigh,
exclaiming: "All praise be to Thee, O Thou the Desire of the worlds!" In
truth, it is in the hand of God to give what He willeth to whomsoever He
willeth, and to withhold what He pleaseth from whomsoever He may wish. He
knoweth the inner secrets of the hearts and the meaning hidden in a
mocker's wink. How many an embodiment of heedlessness who came unto Us