“Behold Thy Beauty” by Andreas & Amal

Baha’i Blog’s “Studio Sessions” is an initiative where we invite Baha’is and their friends from around the world to come into a studio and share the Baha’i Writings put to music.

In this Baha’i Blog Studio Session, we’re in Tilburg, in the Netherlands with Andreas Ising and Amal Sarehane who sing “Behold Thy Beauty” based on a prayer by Abdu’l-Baha.

This song was filmed and recorded in Tilburg, in the Netherlands, November 2017.

Quote

O holy Lord! O Lord of loving-kindness! We stray about Thy dwelling, longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways. We are hapless, lowly, and of small account. We are paupers: show us mercy, give us bounty; look not upon our failings, hide Thou our endless sins. Whatever we are, still are we Thine, and what we speak and hear is praise of Thee, and it is Thy face we seek, Thy path we follow. Thou art the Lord of loving-kindness, we are sinners and astray and far from home. Wherefore, O Cloud of Mercy, grant us some drops of rain. O Flowering Bed of grace, send forth a fragrant breeze. O Sea of all bestowals, roll towards us a great wave. O Sun of Bounty, send down a shaft of light. Grant us pity, grant us grace. By Thy beauty, we come with no provision but our sins, with no good deeds to tell of, only hopes. Unless Thy concealing veil doth cover us, and Thy protection shield and cradle us, what power have these helpless souls to rise and serve Thee, what substance have these wretched ones to make a brave display? Thou Who art the Mighty, the All-Powerful, help us, favor us; withered as we are, revive us with showers from Thy clouds of grace; lowly as we are, illumine us with bright rays from the Day-Star of Thy oneness. Cast Thou these thirsty fish into the ocean of Thy mercy, guide Thou this lost caravan to the shelter of Thy singleness; to the wellspring of guidance lead Thou the ones who have wandered far astray, and grant to those who have missed the path a haven within the precincts of Thy might. Lift Thou to these parched lips the bounteous and soft-flowing waters of heaven, raise up these dead to everlasting life. Grant Thou to the blind eyes that will see. Make Thou the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak. Set Thou the dispirited ablaze, make Thou the heedless mindful, warn Thou the proud, awaken those who sleep.

Thou art the Mighty, Thou art the Bestower, Thou art the Loving. Verily Thou art the Beneficent, the Most Exalted.

Abdu’l-Baha

Chords & Lyrics

Repeat: Am G Em Fmaj7

Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.
Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.

O Cloud of Mercy, grant us some drops of rain.
O Flowering Bed of grace, send forth a fragrant breeze.

O Sea of all bestowals, roll towards us a great wave.
O Sun of Bounty, send down a shaft of light.

Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.
Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.

What power have these helpless souls to rise and serve Thee and make a brave display.
Unless Thy concealing veil doth cover us, and Thy protection shield and cradle us.

Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.
Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.

Grant Thou to the blind eyes that will see. Make Thou the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak
Set Thou the dispirited ablaze, make Thou the heedless mindful, warn Thou the proud, awaken those who sleep.

Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.
Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.

Withered as we are, revive us with showers from Thy clouds of grace;
Illumine us with bright rays from the Day-Star of Thy oneness.

Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.
Longing to behold Thy beauty, and loving all Thy ways.

You can also listen to and download the audio version of this song from Baha’i Blog’s Soundcloud page here:

You can also watch the “Studio Sessions” video series on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLePDtgwcyKAScvchcLzY-XZTmP2tdN-EY

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Jordan Raj

Jordan Raj is a comedian, content producer and third culture kid. Born in Australia and raised in the Czech Republic by parents with ambiguous eastern origins, he is grateful for his unique perspective as his brain grapples to embrace the world. With brief journeys into the spheres of singing, public speaking, high school teaching and magic, he loves all types of performance and loves creating humorous video content to share online. Jordan is known for the “What’s That Word?” Series on Baha’i Blog and a number of explainer videos on Baha’i Holy days which he co-created with his cousin Raj. Currently, Jordan is living in Germany with his wife, where he spends his time doing stand up comedy and producing the Baha’i Blog Studio Sessions series.