I just love this prayer and have had the first two lines set to music for weeks along with some of the chord progressions, but I was stuck on the length of the phrases. I decided to try leaving out some words and phrases so that it would make sense musically. The prayer is below, and below that, my excerpted version. I am really excited about this new piece--it will be one of the most complex pieces I have ever written, and very dramatic.
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I know not, O my God, what the Fire is which Thou didst kindle in Thy land. Earth can never cloud its splendor, nor water quench its flame. All the peoples of the world are powerless to resist its force. Great is the blessedness of him that hath drawn nigh unto it, and heard its roaring.
Some, O my God, Thou didst, through Thy strengthening grace, enable to approach it, while others Thou didst keep back by reason of what their hands have wrought in Thy days. Whoso hath hasted towards it and attained unto it hath, in his eagerness to gaze on Thy beauty, yielded his life in Thy path, and ascended unto Thee, wholly detached from aught else except Thyself.
I beseech Thee, O my God, by this Fire which blazeth and rageth in the world of creation, to rend asunder the veils that have hindered me from appearing before the throne of Thy majesty, and from standing at the door of Thy gate. Do Thou ordain for me, O my Lord, every good thing Thou didst send down in Thy Book, and suffer me not to be far removed from the shelter of Thy mercy.
Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, the Most Generous.
- Bahá'u'lláh
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which Thou didst kindle in Thy land.
Earth can never cloud its splendor,
nor water quench its flame.
All the peoples of the world are powerless
to resist its force.
Great is the blessedness of him
that hath drawn nigh unto it, and heard its roaring.
Some…Thou didst…enable to approach it,
while others Thou didst keep back…
Whoso hath hasted towards it
and attained unto it hath,
in his eagerness to gaze on Thy beauty,
yielded his life in Thy path,
and ascended unto Thee,
wholly detached…
I beseech Thee…by this Fire which blazeth
and rageth in the world of creation,
to rend asunder the veils that have hindered me
from appearing before the throne of Thy majesty ….
Do Thou ordain for me…every good thing
Thou didst send down in Thy Book,
and suffer me not to be far removed
from the shelter of Thy mercy.
Powerful art Thou
to do what pleaseth Thee.
Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful,
the Most Generous.
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