| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| We have decreed that a third part of all fines shall go to the Seat of Justice, and We admonish its men to observe pure justice, that they may expend what is thus accumulated for such purposes as have been enjoined upon them by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| One third of all fines for atonement should be confided to the house of justice, and we admonish its members to practice pure justice that they may expend the collected sum in their possession in such ways as are commanded them on the part of one omniscient and wise. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| We have returned a third of all the fines to the Resting-place of Justice. We admonish its men to do absolute justice, that they spend all that has been collected by them in the way commanded by a Wise Knower. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| O ye Men of Justice! Be ye, in the realm of God, shepherds unto His sheep and guard them from the ravening wolves that have appeared in disguise, even as ye would guard your own sons. Thus exhorteth you the Counsellor, the Faithful. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| O men of justice! Be shepherds of the sheep of God in His kingdom, and protect them against wolves who appear in (sheep's) garments the same way as ye protect your children. Thus admonisheth you the faithful admonisher. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| O men of (the House) of Justice, be shepherds of the sheep of God in His kingdom and keep them from the wolves who appear in garments (of sheep), just as you keep your sons. Thus does the faithful Adviser advise you. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Should differences arise amongst you over any matter, refer it to God while the Sun still shineth above the horizon of this Heaven and, when it hath set, refer ye to whatsoever hath been sent down by Him. This, verily, is sufficient unto the peoples of the world. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| If ye disagree upon any matter refer the same to God as long as the sun is shining from the horizon of this heaven, but if He sets, appeal to that which was caused to descend on His part; very it sufficeth the worlds! | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| If you differ on a matter, bring it back to God while the sun shines from the horizon of this heaven. Whenever it sets, go back to that which was sent down from Him. [note 1] It is sufficient for the worlds. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Say: Let not your hearts be perturbed, O people, when the glory of My Presence is withdrawn, and the ocean of My utterance is stilled. In My presence amongst you there is a wisdom, and in My absence there is yet another, inscrutable to all but God, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Say, O people, be not troubled if the kingdom of My appearance becomes concealed, and the waves of the sea of My utterance subside: for in My epiphany there is a wisdom and in My occultation there is another wisdom whereof none knoweth save God, the peerless, the All-knowing. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| Say: O People, be not troubled when the kingdom of My Manifestation has disappeared and the waves of the sea of My Explanation are calm. Indeed, in My Manifestation there is wisdom and in My Disappearance there is another wisdom. No one knows this except God, the Omniscient, the Solitary. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Verily, We behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| We shall see you from My horizon, El Abha, and shall assist them who arise to assist My cause, by the hosts of the supreme world and cohorts of proximate angels. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| We see you from the most splendid (abha) horizon and We assist him who rises up to aid My Cause with the hosts of My most exalted (heavenly) beings and a tribe of angels who are brought near (to God). | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| O peoples of the earth! God, the Eternal Truth, is My witness that streams of fresh and soft-flowing waters have gushed from the rocks through the sweetness of the words uttered by your Lord, the Unconstrained; and still ye slumber. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| O people of the earth! By God, the truth! The stones gave vent to the limpid and sweet rivers, being overtaken by the delight of the utterance of your Lord, the unconstrained, while ye yourselves are of the heedless. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| O multitudes of the earth, by God, the Truth, there have burst forth sweet palatable rivers from rocks which took of the sweetness of the explanation of your Lord, the Chooser, while you have been careless. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Cast away that which ye possess, and, on the wings of detachment, soar beyond all created things. Thus biddeth you the Lord of creation, the movement of Whose Pen hath revolutionized the soul of mankind. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Set aside that which ye have, then with the foremost wings of separation (from the world) fly away above all creation; Thus commandeth you the ruler of religions by the motion of His pen He hath overturned the worlds. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| Leave what you have! Then fly with the minions of Separation beyond Innovation. [note 2] Thus commands the Possessor of Invention, who by the moving of His Pen turns worlds upside down. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |