Chapter 9
Remember your Creator and the magnitude of His creations. Before Him you are only an atom, and as only one small creature.
Nevertheless, a multitude of people make a nation, with cities and hamlets.
These are also graded by your God, according to the ascendancy or declension of the whole.
If a city, then the grades of all the people shall be summed together in a scale of one hundred.
And if a nation, then the grades of all the people of the cities and hamlets, along with the people of isolation, shall be summed together in a scale of a hundred.
And if half the people are above grade fifty, and half below fifty, the grade of that people shall be fifty.
If only one-quarter are above grade 50, then the grade of that people shall be twenty-five.
Thus the grades of a city and of a nation shall be on the basis of individual grades.
And the behavior of a city or a nation shall be graded in the same way, like an individual.
A certain nation built alms-houses and asylums sufficient for the needy, but by its tyranny, made an equal number of needy ones. That nation did not raise its grade for the good it had done.
Another nation built no alms-houses, but, by its wholesome laws, there were none needed. That nation raised its grade many-fold.
And yet another nation maintained a standing army, in order to maintain itself. That nation stood in grade one only.
The place of this last nation, in entrance into the es world, shall be grade one, which is the animal region, which is on the earth.
Whoever dwells in such a land, though he has a good individual grade, shall suffer deduction in the ratio of the grades of different nations of the earth.
But whoever dwells in a nation high in grade, shall be ascended in his own individual grade.
As these grades are on earth, so have I made them in its heavens. In all cases depending on what one does for the resurrection of others.
If a city, nation, or a kingdom in heaven, does to others in resurrection, then it shall be credited accordingly.
But if there is no gain in the good that any of these do, they shall receive no grade.
But if they increase in raising individual grades, then such cities and nations are rising in grade.
Consider your nation, O man, compare one generation with another; and as the relative proportion of individual grades rise or fall, so shall you determine whether your nation is ascending or falling in grade. Number its paupers and criminals as to increase or decrease.
Do not consider its wealth, ships, armies, or great buildings. These all together are only one grade, and are of no value as to the spiritual grade of its people.
For the strength and life of your nation depend on its spiritual grade. Pursue this course, and you shall prophesy truly as to the growth or the downfall of a nation.
Pursue this also with regard to the nations of the earth, and you shall determine the relative place of your own nation in the es world.