AN ACCOUNT OF THE PAGES OF HUMAN ACTIONS AND THEIR RECORDERS; AND OF THE DESCENT OF ANGELS AND DEMONS TO THE GOOD AND THE WICKED.

Know that, of every speech or action which is said or done, a mark is made by them; and when, in any one of them a repetition occurs, the mark becomes permanent, as it may be assimilated to what takes place in acquiring a knowledge or learning an art. As the marks of good and bad actions of man­kind are determined, so every body shares accord­ingly pleasure or pain. Words or deeds, one by one, being revealed and described, establish convic­tion; so that disavowal becomes impossible. This is the office of two recorders, the one of whom stands to the right and the other to the left; what­ever of one's speeches and actions is praise-worthy, this is called “angelic;” and whatever is blameable is named “satanic,” This is what the prophet of Arabia said: “From goodness arises an Angel, from badness a Satan.” The balance typifies the rule of justice in the retribution of conduct, so that there may not be any disparity; the basins of the balance contain the good and bad actions; if the basin of the first descends heavy, everlasting heaven is bestowed; if it ascend light, hell.

“He whose weight is heavy, shall be admitted to a delightful life; and he whose weight is light, shall fall into hell.”

Praiseworthy speeches and actions are the properties of dignity, steadfastness and peace of mind; blameable words and deeds belong to perturbation, doubt, and want of conviction; he who acquires composure and dignity of mind, obtains the grace of God; this grace is the treasurer of paradise, who is Razvan, “the porter of heaven;” but doubt and perturbation are the leaders to misfortune and to disdain; and disdain is the treasurer of hell, who is called Málik, “the keeper of hell.”