On the Flood

On the Flood A Memrā: Yaw. On the Flood. His own, when it is his own, the Memrā of the sixteenth on the Flood. And it is recited in the fast. The cry. Blessed is He who changed the dwelling of the earth. He gave us through his goodness the dwelling of heaven. Amen. Wise and glorious is the Creator who from nothing established everything. And he shows his power in his works, for he spoke and they came into being. His wealth was hidden in his essence before the establishment of his creatures. And his love revealed his will and he poured out all his gifts upon everything. In order he established everything, and he made nothing deficient. For in his perfect essence he is perfect in himself and complete. A fixed time was determined by his knowledge of when he created the creatures. And the protomē was hidden with the concealment of his essence. He revealed his concealment through his works and showed his power in his establishment. And the heights of the firmament cried out to him, glorious Creator in every way. Through the establishment of his works he taught and instructed the rational ones. That one power establishes everything, and nothing exists apart from him. One body he made and composed, the rational and the silent. And he bound all his establishment in the composition of the image of Adam. He made the image a showing in which to see his establishments. For in the revealed image they see the concealment of the intangible. Through his image he taught the rational ones how much he loves his establishments. And through the decree of the foolishness he shows that he loves humility.

He showed Adam his command, which he transgressed, and he forgot the sign concerning the slaying. And he showed his sin and his wrath, that it rages and cries out and does not destroy. He showed the sign, the sign of his wrath, that it restrains iniquity and sin. And he showed the sign of his goodness, that he loves the world like children at the hand of a sign. By the rod that passed over the command, Enoch declared to the simple. And the pain of the new thoughts, Enoch taught the lesson. Enoch sought the sinner through spiritual revelations, when their prey was hidden in likenesses and forms. Through one whose works were pleasing, Enoch turned aside the hunt for his sin. And through the hope of his story, he laughed at the trembling of the wrathful. In your showing, which was pleasing and was established, he showed his sin against them, that it was not to be a support for the just, but for iniquity and sin. In life he cut off the seed that would proclaim in it the destruction of death. And in his story he spoke of the life that has no end for them. He showed them his sin in your showing, that his error was to the hope of the multitudes. And in the iniquity of their deeds, from mercy to wrath he declared him. In your showing his wrath was stilled, and he changed his wrath to mercy. And in the wickedness of the rebellions, he hid his sword from the pursuit. The iniquity of men in the earth increased like the waters of the abyss, and all was submerged in sin before the flood of wrath. The lust of the body was corrupted, and they confused the order of the just.

And like wild beasts they were to one another, they attacked and overcame one another. In the manner of wild asses of the desert, they neighed over the women of one another. And the woman did not come to her partner, nor the man to his spouse. Apart from the path of righteousness they were walking, in the trembling of the steps of excesses. And adulterers, in the manner of dogs, were evil their thoughts. He made a mother of sin and erected wickedness like a mountain. And the sea of iniquity, like a sea that rages against the shore of destruction, spread a cloud of error and covered the face of the inhabited world. And they extinguished and darkened the rays of the light of the eyes of reason. In the garment of iniquity they were immersed, and they did not perceive that while they were sinners, and while their mind did not sleep, the members trembled with the limbs. One only was not immersed in the garments of iniquity with the evil one. His own limbs were awake, pursuing the error of sin. Woe, only he who purified himself and did not defile his body with iniquity. For his limbs were like reeds to him, and he was not immersed in sin. He did not defile the purity of his own self, preserving it from the iniquity of adulterers. And he did not become turbid while walking in the midst of the evil ones. His limbs were the wings of his mind, bearing the weight of his members. And his understanding was separation, above the waves of sin.

and he preserved the purity of his mind, and he cleansed himself from iniquity. He was equal to the spiritual revelations that examine the wickedness of the evil ones. In revelations he spoke with him and testified to the purity of his soul. And he examined that by the flood it was not mixed, the earth was not cleansed from iniquity. The evil of man covered the beautiful face of creation. Behold, the flood has come and cleansed its thirst. You alone are pure, your thoughts from the sects. And your mind was not defiled by the filth of the earth's iniquity. So that your love did not mingle with the evil ones in the business of the earth-dwellers. You alone are separated from the troubles of sorrow. He revealed and examined the perfect one concerning the wickedness of the sons of his people. For behold, sorrow denies the remedy of your deeds. He revealed the iniquity of the sons of Seth, who mingled in the daughters of Cain. So that one is separated from his companion by the decree of the Creator. The seed of righteous Seth mingled with the race of Cain the murderer. And the high ones descended to lowliness, where fire and the wicked ones were kindled. The sight of the eyes led you astray to the talkative ones, and they adorned you. And the beauty of the fair faces destroyed the beauty of your mind. See, O sons of God, the daughters of man who are beautiful. And they desired them and took them and bore mighty men of iniquity. Not the greatness of the measures did the Creator desire to examine.

The multitude of iniquity wrote down that they were exalted over the heads. He opened the beauty of the gates of the abyss, a filthy pit of sin. And he submerged the pure hearts in the turbulence of the passions of the body. They filled the cup with deadly poisons and drenched the simple ones in his poison. And they led astray the wise ones by the beauty of their faces. And the wicked abandoned their dwellings and descended to the land of the depths. The iniquity of their deeds ascended and brought down all integrity to the earth. They did not remain in the vicinity of the fair dwelling of Paradise. The torrent of the flood of iniquity swept away, and the multitude of evil increased upon the earth. And the door of the work of man was opened, which they corrupted and overturned its order. There was no cessation to his pursuit of the one who holds the measure of all knowledge. To their dwellings he made heard a voice that proclaims peace from iniquity. Voices full of threats were speaking from their side. That if one could awaken those who slept in sin, like a trumpet he would cry out the voice of the Creator in their ears: "Behold, I am departing from the earth, the men who have confused my order. The end has come upon the earth, and the fire of wrath has gone forth." And he made heard a voice: "Henceforth my spirit will not dwell in man forever." He spoke again a voice that came to the spirit of the righteous Noah and said to him: "Make an ark of wood, that you may be hidden in it from the flood." He made for himself an ark of gopher wood and coated it with pitch so that it would not sink.

The multitude of iniquity wrote down that they were exalted over the heads. He opened the beauty of the gates of the abyss, a filthy pit of sin. And he submerged the pure hearts in the turbulence of the passions of the body. When the waters mingle with the waters, he showed its length and breadth, how much he gave its measurements. And he taught the division of the storeys that are suitable for him and for the animals. He made its length three hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, and the additions within its storeys. Three storeys there shall be, that all species may dwell in her. She showed the beast and the cattle and the bird of wing and the men. O Lord of the erring ones, who teaches the just the ways of the righteous. For when it was possible for him to save him, he made wise the course of his life. He was able to preserve the perfect one with the remainder of all that he saved. And it was easy for him to hide, without a tomb for anything. For the repentance of the wanton ones, it was the return of the tomb. For by a manifest sign they would be convicted and their deeds would be known. By the silent work of the carpenter, he wished to make the talkative ones wise. That the living might ask the dead, why they are troubled. The deaf were hearing with a voice the talkative ones, that they might return from iniquity. For behold, by the blows of the hammer, repentance is proclaimed, if they wish to come. Like a herald, the voice of the work of the tomb was crying out. Arise, flee from the weight of your sins, the waves that have drowned in sin. The voices of the blows of the tomb were more abundant before you, that they might block the weight of the evils from the hearing that enters the covenant.

He alone heard and was awaiting the end. While he was perplexed by the courses of the unsearchable abyss. He sought the perfect house as a sign of the wise one's self. And he spoke openly with him who prepared the order for him. Enter and carry the burden for him and for his species of everything. And when he signalled, he kept for him his ark of the need of the hour. There was no food of satiety for the righteous to gather and carry. For he knew that food was not sufficient without the sign. Few were able to be arranged for the sustenance of the life of their bodies. And the sign of the power of the Creator kept them in scarcity. Noah did as he was commanded. And the Creator spoke with him. Go to the ark, you and your sons, and the wives of your sons with yours. Enter with you the animals and the cattle with the fowl. To preserve the seed on the earth, for the deluge would destroy the species. Enter males and females: two by two from the unclean species. And from the clean, seven by seven, take males and females. The perfect one did not know how to distinguish the unclean from the clean. Until the command showed him by the number of all species. He added and brought in the clean ones that would be suitable for him when he went out. He permitted that they eat flesh and go up from them to the altar. Or a sign that subdued the species, the wild and the domestic. And he made them dwell together, and before Noah he yoked them.

That sign which Noah passed on before Adam, while they were silent. He was busy and knew Noah, the word of the perfect one. The species were being arranged, species that were to go in to him at the command. And the males and females came, clean and unclean and wild. The orders of the animals were cast into the mouth of the beasts and the silent ones. The lion and the ox were bound in the enclosure of the sign of the Creator. The wings of the birds were folded, and they descended from the height to the depth. And the days and the nights were running to the time of the opening of the ark. The great Noah was deliberating at the door of the house of the righteous one. The species that devour each other entered into love and kissed one another. In the spirit, the authority of the image of Adam was united. The species that rebelled against Adam fell and submitted, and they made peace by the hands of Noah. A sign went forth like a herald, and Noah called out from every place. And when Noah called out, in unity the divided species submitted. He set a limit of seven days until the beasts were gathered. In that order everything was established, and he rested from his labor on the seventh. There he ceased the wonder of his establishment for the teaching of the gatherers of the height. And behold, the herald of the announcement that he had no hope of destruction. In the hundred years, the good news was crying out like a herald. The sinners turned from iniquity until the sorrow went out. After the warning of the repentant, he set a limit of forty days. In the hundred years and in the forty, he was waiting for repentance.

From the seventh day the command was completed in deed. And the ark bore the grace within, from the beginning of the ark. From the seventh day it held the door of the beloved. And the sea of the grave opened above the girdle of the firmament. At the five hundredth year it broke open the revelation to Noah upon the flood. And at the six hundredth year of his life it was completed. The paradise that had been cut off. At the hour of the six hundredth year of Noah’s life the sword of the ark was hidden. And with the roar of the waters it covered the whole force of the inhabited world. At the hour of the six hundredth year of Noah’s life the sea passed its boundary. And the grave above changed the order of its descent for the son. At the hour of the six hundredth year of Noah’s life the flood was upon the earth. And upon Noah and his sons and his daughters and all the species of animals. The sound of the waters terrified the inhabited world and its inhabitants. And the cloud of waters above covered its face in darkness. Noah and his household were awaiting the sign that would show the ark. That it might hold the door of the grave with the key of the sign of its power. A wonder was that entrance that was hidden from the word. The articulate ones were silent at the sounds and they performed the work of the grave. And the doors that entered could not overcome the word. They were all equal when they entered like males and females.

And upon the perfect one, the one who is not lacking for the command, they were seeing, for the limbs of the bodies that were knocking at the door of Noah. They did not understand that upon the water they left the dry land and loved the flood. In all of them the Creator proclaimed repentance through the fingers of the wicked. Through the opening of the sides of the ark and through the shutting in of the wild beasts, with clear voices like trumpets they were crying out. And in the form of the staff of the Lord of the ark, the sound of the bell was crying out. And until the seventh day he determined the end of their lives. He said to the seven days, and there was no heart to change the natures. Upon Noah he brought in the animals, as the revelation commanded him. And the ark took the sign and the power of the Creator stamped it. The sorcerers and the interpreters who were sorcerers by will went up, and the lamentation covered the ark with the silent ones who were silent of the corpse. And after the seven days, at the hour of the evening of the life of Noah, in the month of the second he cried out in it the voice of lamentation in the dwelling. And on the seventeenth of the month he marked the groan that would cut off his hand. And upon all the orders of the departure, also the passion of the nature came forth. And the gates of the abyss were opened, and the locks of the height were unfastened. And at the edge of the waters, the sign destroyed the whole earth. The waters of the deep rose to the height and descended to the high land. And through the hunting net of the waters, lamentation turned against the evil of the wicked.

The abyss was striking against its fellow, and waves against waves were raging, and the waters were calling out to the waters to strike the head of the rebels. The abyss was roaring fiercely like a disputant when he ascends, and with the sound of its billows it was covering the words of those who had transgressed the command. The madness of the upper [waters] was with the evil ones in the sound of its descent, that iniquity might descend from the height to the earth and disturb its tranquility. Iniquity descended from the height. The waters were raging against the waters when they ascended to the face of the height, and the upper [waters] were mingling with the lower, like the thread of a garment of sorrow. The voice of the command was giving a sign to the upper [waters] to descend to the earth, and a signal of power was urging the lower [waters] to the face of the height. The descent and ascent of the silent ones was confounding the words of the talkers, for when they raged, they heeded the command and ascended and descended at its behest. The air was full, full, and the mountains were sounds of groans. Height and depth were groaning, the boundary of all measures. The years were being shattered when they completed their lives, and fathers were being crushed, and there was none to help the distressed. They ascended to the face of the height, and it cast down to them a wave, and they descended to the face of the depth, and the abyss struck against them. Here and there it gathered them, the battle of the waters against the powers. And no true survivor remained in all the force of humanity.

For forty days the rain was descending to the earth, and the abyss was ascending upward, while the waters were pressing against the waters. In forty days it harvested the produce of the earth, the waters to the summit of the mountains. And with a harsh sword it cut down the stiff neck of iniquity. In forty days it plucked the wrath of the barren vine. And the waters, like executioners, trampled men and beasts. The abyss in its ascent was proclaiming the great power of the Creator, that by his sign he had stirred it up and set it to destroy the rebellious. The waters rose above the earth, and the high mountains were covered. And the living being and the cattle, and the fowl of wing and the birds, the waters destroyed all the forms of youth and old age. Those whose deeds were equal, the waters made their deaths equal. In one grave it buried and interred the whole of the races. And by the burial of the waters, men and serpents were covered. Noah and his family were saved from all that was submerged in his presence. A sign preserved their lives, and there were no silent trees. The abyss carried the ark to the heights and raised it to the summit by its waves. And it was borne upon the waters, and the rudder held it. It passed over the heights, above the summit of the cliffs, and the waves were beating against it, yet its structure was not shaken. The waves were crushed beneath it, and it passed over them peacefully.

It was shaking her here and there, the strong blast of the wind. Beyond measure the waters were raging, and air and water were mingled together. And in their disturbance, the ark was resting in peace and quiet. The abyss was submerged and rose up, and bore her upon its shoulder. And the waves were prostrating before her, and giving place to her guidance. O ship that had no need of oars to cross sea and dry land! And no pilot steered her in the confusion of the waves. O vessel that was lost from the whole world because of its measure! And her guidance did not cease, her sailors steering her. The pilot gave her a sign, and the command of the ark. And in the place of a guiding star, the Spirit was guiding the ship by the command of the days. Bound was the command, and loosed was [...] grace instead of the wind of the sails. For forty days in darkness she was sailing like [...]. The pilot was standing in her, he did not ascend to the lookout. At the end of forty [...]. The violence of the storm ceased. And at one hundred and fifty, the sign of mercy appeared on the tops of the mountains. After one hundred and fifty days, a sign went forth like a messenger. And the ark of peace was submerged, in which mercy was inscribed against wrath. The waters receded one hundred and fifty, and the tops of the mountains appeared. And this sign was in the silent ones.

And it drove the ark to the abyss. For one hundred and fifty days the ark’s crossing of the sea continued, and the course was a journey to the measure and the center of the earth. From the place that is near the mountain it began at the start of its journey, and it ended the running of its path upon the summit of the mountains of Qardu. At the end of the journey, it would see also the command of its pilot: that the generation of the house of Adam should cross and inhabit the center of the earth. Beyond the sea, he was dwelling, that generation which destroyed the earth. And still it did not see the center of the earth, for the waters. The sea was confined in its face until the flood came. And its door signaled to its boundary, and the ark passed to the center. In the vicinity of Paradise the multitude of spirits were complete, and the whole earth was empty of humanity and animals, and as if it were a desert it was, from sea to sea, and no voice of a man spoke in it, and no foot of an animal trod it. In this desolation, its course was fixed, also the goodness for the ark, that it might be a bridge for the house of Adam and the ark might cross to the expanse. Because of the flood of its head, to a path that no man had traversed in it, when it was placed by the hand of its maker, the doer of this work. Not from anger did the ark drive from the place where it had settled. Not from hope did the ark cast to the place of the center of the inhabited world.

This wealth was before the creatures through his hand. And he brought forth the revelation with causes to the threshold of death. Also in this, which was destroyed, he placed a sign in the waters for his progeny. Not wrath made him cease, while he did not entrust to the hand of the restrainer. He knew before the flood these things that were and those that were to come. And he entrusted in his progeny that death would enter and settle for him. Iniquity destroyed his progeny while it did not err from the hand of his sign. For the just one knew before the sinners that the sinner would sin. He entrusted that the remnants of humanity and of every species would remain. And upon this he arranged and brought into the ark pairs of species. He knew that a thought was needed from the merciful ones. That upon which he had set his progeny, he destroyed and made an end. In the contemplation of the seeds of grief, he looked before they were corrupted. And he anticipated the quenching of the burning of the sparks of their thoughts. From the first progeny he left remnants of everything. That he might show that the progeny made by his hands was not evil. In all that were, he looked until they came into being. And not by signs did he destroy everything, but because of his mercy he spared and left. And he showed his compassion, for he was compassionate [...] he was good in his actions. And he showed that he was compassionate when he guided, so that the lover of iniquity would not be destroyed. And he mingled mercy with his compassion, so that the curse would not approach them.

In his two he showed his power, in that which descended and in that which he left. And he proclaimed the authority of his lordship, that his will governs his own. In the release of the gentle waters he set a limit to the world of the wicked. And with the rod of the evil waves he preserved a rule for life within it. The waters submerged the remainder, so that mercy might come forth from wrath. And he placed his sign in the midst, that his seed might spread to all regions. In the seventh month the ark came to existence and entered the flood. And on the seventeenth of the month it descended upon the mountains of Qardu. In the month of the second, strength was on the seventeenth from its place. And in the month of the seventh the ark entered the flood on the seventeenth. The months were three in the flood, bound and confined. And the treasury of its wealth was not opened until the second month. In the second month the Lord of the ark sent a messenger, that he might go out and see if the wrath of the waters had descended from the earth. A raven, a devourer, was sent, knowing and loving food. And it turned back, its desire for flesh, and did not heed the word sent. He sent a second messenger, from the race that loves peace. And a dove went out and returned, to the encampment and turned to his side. And it remained again seven days, and then he sent a messenger. And a dove came, weary, a message of peace in its mouth. Its olive leaf showed him that it had sent a sign in its hands. Like the assurance of the shepherd, that the wrath of the judge had descended.

The righteous one rejoiced and became glad at the letter of the dove that came. And he sent his messenger to see that his promise was fulfilled. Three times the dove went out and confirmed it with its threefold. And he opened the door of the ark and saw the earth, the earth, and became glad. He saw light and heard a voice through spiritual revelations. "Behold, mercy is in the middle and has calmed the wrath of the judge. Behold, grace has appeased, so that he opened the door before you. Go out, prisoners, and become glad at the beautiful sight of the earth. After one hundred and fifty days of life, at the end of the year that followed them." He gave a sign to the righteous one to go out to the earth with his own. "Go out, you and your sons, with your people, and your wife with the wives of your sons. And bring out with you the fowl, and the domestic animals, and the beasts of the field." The just man received the command and went out and brought out all the species. And none of those who were shut in remained who did not go out to the place of life. As the number that had entered it, they went out from there, being complete. For the sign had preserved them all and kept them alive. The prisoners went out rejoicing because of the preservation of their lives. In the month of Iyyar he shut in the ark, the command in the house of the prisoners. And in the month of Iyyar he opened the door of mercy before them. On the seventeenth of the month the ark received the just one's righteousness. And on the twenty-seventh of Iyyar the ark saw grace.

He made the ark a sign of the flood. With the keys of dryness, lest the wandering ones of the season of rain should happen. He made the ark an exit in the month of fruits and produce, so that by the sight of seed and fruits he might gladden the heart of the afflicted. O the depth of the great wealth of the wisdom of God, all of it! For he prepared its season: a beautiful time for its inhabitants. By Jesus, he fixed the creatures and settled the earth on its foundations. And men and beasts found a haven of fruits and produce. In the month, he opened the grave in the month that took them in its face. And he set a beautiful table, a fair time before them. By Jesus, he brought it out from Egypt to the treasure-house of the house of Israel. And he fixed for it a haven in the wilderness and adorned it with a crown of flowers. By Jesus, again he renewed the sign for the creatures through the beginning, so that at the time of fixing the sign he renewed the destruction of its season. With a joyful time, also the hunt of Noah was completed and finished in its season, and he brought it out in the month of flowers, and he rejoiced with him over everything. All the families went out with Noah and dwelt with him on the earth. And the beginning offered from them to the sign that preserved their lives. Noah sought to offer a sacrifice and offered up offerings of intention. And the Creator accepted his sacrifice with the good pleasure of his will. He loosed the mill of the foundation, the being that does not pass over anything.

He withdrew from the heat of his wrath, a sign that he would never again be angry. He did not [...] complete his curse upon the earth because of humanity. For he knew the signs that his creation was set upon evil from his height. And from then on, all the days, seed, harvest, and seasons: summer and winter, as they run in the cycle of their changes. He blessed the earth with changes, as it gives fruits to men. And he blessed men to go forth with the womb and birth of offspring. He cast your confusion upon all, upon animals and cattle. And the cattle over which man had dominion, all the species, moreover, were gathered. And along with the blessings of birth and dominion over everything, he taught men, like grass, to eat the flesh of animals. He showed men the distinction of how to cover the animals. When they shed blood on the ground, then they would eat their bodies. That they should not eat alone, lest the blood and soul of the cattle be consumed. Do not eat flesh and soul, lest you be held liable in the pursuit. The ancients did not know to eat the flesh of animals, until the command was revealed to Noah, who ate and caused others to eat. It was a new law that he established for the covenant. And if it had been for the earlier ones, Noah would have kept more for himself. By this, he established the law, showing that it is a new law. And if it had been established for the ancients, he would not have renewed his covenant.

On account of the slaying of the beasts, Enoch refrained from killing. For the one who kills a human being, in place of the human being from him a curse was sent. He is the image of the human being of his Creator, and the Lord of all creatures. The great severity of his word: he established new laws for his perfect disciple, and Enoch inscribed upon his heart a clear sign of his will. Again, with his people in a covenant, he confirmed the oath with a rainbow: that he would no longer be angry with the earth, nor with human beings by the waters of the flood. This is the sign of the covenant that a human being establishes between himself and the earth. A visible sign of the bow seen in the midst of the clouds: this sign existed with the power of everything. And he did not wish to show it to the ancients until the days of Noah, when it was revealed. To Noah he gave a sign of the rainbow, that it would be until the end. So that when the waters see it, they would be terrified by the sign of the rainbow. Enoch instructed the simple with the new laws that he wrote. And Enoch established a command to cultivate the earth with a plow. Noah began the work, and planted a vineyard, and it gave fruit. And he drank from his wine and became drunk, and erred in the newness of his strength. He did not take heed of his secret, that his drunkenness would disturb his mind. And he did not know how his drinking companions would be equipped by it. Noah drank and lost himself, and the wine went to the honorable one.

And the curse of Ham's contemptible will brought forth drunkenness. The curse of the vine was for drunkenness upon the one who drank without measure. And his drunkenness in the service of servitude made him tremble before others. With the curses of the drunken, he placed an end among the multitudes. That they might not be like the accursed Ham, and that they might be accursed in his likeness. Not by the vine was his servitude bound, but by the word of the curse. There is no servitude in the vine, except by the evil will. Ham's will was revealed in it, by the heavy one who erred through his wine, and made it a sign for the drunken, that they might be troubled by the heavy ones. The Creator inscribed his history, of the heavy spirit that was dispersed. That he might make known to the knowers that they should not be overcome by wine. Along with the purity of his members, he inscribed the errors of the one who erred through wine. That the warning of the cup might increase, that his drinkers might be equipped by it. Show that it is equal to the revelation that preserves the purity of thought. That he might urge the pure to the word of life by it. He inscribed for you the victory of his violence, how he fought fiercely with the evil ones. That he might not strive for life in the petition of his people. He preserved it in the waters of baptism and made it a substitute for creation. And he watered the thirsty earth with the sprinklings of the flood of his kind. He brought him out from within the tomb and hid the tomb from him. That his children might not err in it, and that they might call it by the name of God. By this, its concealment was hidden, the curse from the seers.

that it might not be the cause of life, the cause of the error of the latter ones. In the earth he hid the grave, in the order which Moses enacted in it. For he knew that they would err in it, in his grave, the people of the Hebrews. To him are fitting all knowledges, to the one who holds the measure of all wisdom. That his knowledge might not err, these things which are and which are known. Before everything he examined it, and the Knower of All weighed it. And he extended it with knowledge, his ordinances until they became. Equal to all is that which is revealed, that Knower of All. When he knew the evil of their nature, he marveled at them through causes.