Nr. 87
Calcutta nr. 87 *
What shall be is written upon the Tablet
Unhaltingly the Pen writes & is heedless of good and bad.
In Destiny, He appointed everything that must be
Our grief and our efforts are in vain.
Ouseley MS 140 - 31
From the beginning was written what shall be;
unhaltingly the Pen writes, and is heedless of good and bad;
on the First Day He appointed everything that must be —
our grief and our efforts are vain.
Christensen 1927 - 91
From of old the scheme of all that must be has existed.
The pen of destiny has written good and evil without ceasing.
He has appointed in predestination all that must come.
We distress and bestir ourselves, but all to no avail.
Heron-Allen 1899 - 71
From the beginning was written what shall be;
Unhaltingly the Pen (writes) and is heedless of good and bad;
On the First Day He appointed everything that must be—
Our grief and our efforts are vain.
Nicolas 1867 - 39
Les choses existantes étaient déjà marquées sur la tablette de la création. Le pinceau (de l'univers) est sans cesse absent du bien et du mal. Dieu a imprimé au destin ce qui devait y être imprimé; les efforts que nous faisons s'en vont donc en pure perte.
Payne 1898 - 191
Whatever betides on the Tablet of Destiny writ is;
Of good and of evil thenceforward the Pen Divine quit is:
In Fate foreordained whatsoever behoveth It 'stablished:
Our stress and our strife and our thought-taking vain every whit is.
Thompson 1906 - 69
Fate's marks upon the tablet still remain
As first, the Pen unmoved by bliss or bane;
In fate whate'er must be it did ordain,
To grieve or to resist is all in vain.
Whinfield 1883 - 35
'Twas writ at first, whatever was to be,
By pen, unheeding bliss or misery.
Yea, writ upon the tablet once for all.
To murmur or resist is vanity.