Sol 6

  1. Praise belongs to God in secret and in public,

    a praise fulfilled by praise itself and by tongues,

  2. with tongues beyond all count or number,

    from every limb contained in the body's formation.

  3. By this I mean the body of all the worlds together,

    such as the Throne, the sphere, and the Chair, endowed with gifts.

  4. For it is the Law, and peoples uphold it

    through the rulings and practices it contains.

  5. God's words were divided and set apart;

    their distinct beings, each beautiful one from another.

  6. None understands the wisdom of what we have said

    except one with insight and discernment.

  7. His path follows the exemplary practice;

    its very essence is what we have spoken of in the practices.

  8. It is the clear road—I do not speak in riddles—and its travelers

    are those who know, from the people of Syria and Yemen.

  9. Body and spirit: nothing else is in the cosmos

    except imagination, which brings you trials.

  10. You see it blessed in a year of livestock;

    yes, and afflicted in a year of drought.

  11. In sleep or drowsiness, nothing else is perceived,

    if you have understanding and are present at the moment.

  12. This is its reality, so hold to its path,

    and do not oppose it in secret or in public.

  13. Even if you oppose it, you oppose it through itself;

    without it, the Merciful would not have been worshipped in an idol.

  14. Through reason you establish it as a being, and you establish it

    through the Law as a ruling; thus the matter encompasses all, O my repose.

  15. It has command over every intellect

    through forms, and for it this is among the greatest acts of cowardice.

  16. Through it the mighty is humbled; through it the lowly is exalted.

    The judgment belongs to God: had He wished, it would not have been.

  17. One of the strangest things is that the matter rules the one who commands it,

    and judgment through it lies in joy and in sorrow.

  18. Were it not for its rule over us and its power,

    it would bring you neither joys nor sorrow.

  19. The matter may rule the one who commands it and undo him

    through illusion; thus it is joined to intellects.

  20. Without the Law, we would have been exposed to it,

    and it would rule young men through trials.

  21. The Law proceeds through it as a means of drawing near to our Creator,

    so that the discerning, faithful servant among us may find happiness.

  22. So worship your God, Lord of the Throne, in a direction,

    as the prophets did through Him, within His fair Law.

  23. Between the Messenger and the spirit there appeared

    these matters, to teach us well.

  24. Were it not for its rule, you would not have mastered it

    among us; and because of this we are at a loss.

  25. We know indeed that the Real said to us:

    The right belongs to the striver, a man, not to the tether.

  26. Were it not for derangement and faith, I would have cast away

    reason, for the weakness and the gifts within it.

Sol 6