Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/377

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ⅩⅥ, 2-13.
the chapter of the bee.
251

He sends down the angels with the Spirit at His bidding upon whom He will of His servants (to say), ‘ Give warning that there is no god but Me ; Me therefore do ye fear.’ He created the heavens and the earth in truth ! Exalted be He above that which they join with Him !

He created man from a clot; and yet, behold, he is an open opponent!

5 The cattle too have we created for you; in them is warmth and profit, and from them do ye eat.

In them is there beauty for you when ye drive them home to rest, and when ye drive them forth to graze. And they bear your heavy burdens to towns which ye could not otherwise reach, except with great wretchedness of soul ; — verily, your Lord is kind and merciful.

And horses too, and mules, and asses, for you to ride upon and for an ornament. — He creates also what ye know not of. God's it is to show the path ; from it some turn aside : but had He pleased He would have guided you one and all.

10 He it is who sends down water from the sky, whence ye have drink, and whence the trees grow whereby ye feed your flocks.

He makes the corn to grow, and the olives, and the palms, and the grapes, and some of every fruit ; — verily, in that is a sign unto a people who reflect.

And He subjected to you the night and the day, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars are subjected to His bidding. Verily, in that are signs to a people who have sense.

And what He has produced for you in the earth varying in hue, verily, in that is a sign for a people who are mindful.