| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| When the sea of union sinks away and the book of origin is achieved to the end (refers to the departure of the manifestation) turn unto Him whom God hath chosen, who is branched from an ancient root. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| When the Sea of Union (with Me) is dried up and the Book of Beginning is finished in the End, then turn to the one whom God desires, the one who is a Branch from the ancient Root. [note 2] | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Consider the pettiness of men's minds. They ask for that which injureth them, and cast away the thing that profiteth them. They are, indeed, of those that are far astray. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Consider the condition of the people and the littleness of their understanding. They hunt after that which will injure them, and reject that which will profit them. Are they not of those who are straying madly? | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| Look at the people and their little-mindedness. They ask for what injures them and forsake that which benefits them. Indeed, they are bewildered! | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| We find some men desiring liberty, and priding themselves therein. Such men are in the depths of ignorance. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| From amongst the people we find some who desire liberty, and glory in it; they are indeed in evident ignorance! | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| We see some people who desired freedom boasting of it. They are in manifest ignorance. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Liberty must, in the end, lead to sedition, whose flames none can quench. Thus warneth you He Who is the Reckoner, the All-Knowing. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Verily, liberty ends in sedition and disorder, the fire of which will never subside. Thus doth the All-knowing, the omniscient inform you. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| The consequences of freedom end in sedition, the fire of which is unquenchable. Thus informs you the Learned Reckoner. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Know ye that the embodiment of liberty and its symbol is the animal. That which beseemeth man is submission unto such restraints as will protect him from his own ignorance, and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| However, know, that the animal is the model of liberty and the manifestation thereof; hence it behooveth man to put himself under laws which would protect him against the ignorance of himself and the injury of the deceitful people. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| Know that the place where freedom arises and makes its appearance is life. But man must be under regulations which preserve him from ignorance of himself and the harm of the crafty ones. | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |
| Authorized translation (ca. 1953-1992) | Authorized Arabic text (1995) |
| Liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds of propriety, and to infringe on the dignity of his station. It debaseth him to the level of extreme depravity and wickedness. | |
| Haddad translation (1900-01) | Provisional Arabic transliteration (1998) |
| Liberty does assuredly put man beyond the limits of refined manners and esteem, and makes him of the vile. | |
| Provisional Literal translation (1998) | Earl E. Elder translation (1961) |
| Freedom leads a man away from things of good breeding and sobriety and makes him one of the basest (creatures). | |
| Notes to Translations (1998) | Correspondence on Literal trans. (1998) |