زشتی اعمال و شومی جحود ** راه توبه بر دل او بسته بود
The wickedness of (his) actions and the disastrousness of (his) denial (of the Truth) had barred the way of repentance to his heart.
دل به سختی همچو روی سنگ گشت ** چون شکافد توبه آن را بهر کشت1645
His heart became in hardness as the face of a rock: how should repentance cleave it for sowing?
چون شعیبی کو که تا او را دعا ** بهر کشتن خاک سازد کوه را
Where is one like Shu‘ayb, that by prayer he may make the mountain earth (fit) for sowing?
از نیاز و اعتقاد آن خلیل ** گشت ممکن امر صعب و مستحیل
Through the supplication and (firm) belief of that Friend (Abraham) the thing that was hard and impossible became possible.
یا به دریوزهی مقوقس از رسول ** سنگلاخی مزرعی شد با اصول
Or, (to give another example), through the Muqawqis' begging the Prophet a stony ground became a goodly cornfield.
همچنین بر عکس آن انکار مرد ** مس کند زر را و صلحی را نبرد
So, contrariwise, a man's disbelief turns gold into copper and peace into war.
کهربای مسخ آمد این دغا ** خاک قابل را کند سنگ و حصا1650
This falseness draws after it an evil transformation: it turns ground capable (of tillage) into stones and pebbles.
هر دلی را سجده هم دستور نیست ** مزد رحمت قسم هر مزدور نیست
Nor is it granted to every heart to fall down in prayer: the wages of (Divine) mercy are not the (allotted) portion of every hireling.
هین بپشت آن مکن جرم و گناه ** که کنم توبه در آیم در پناه
Beware! Do not commit crime and sin in reliance on (the thought), “I will repent and come to (take) refuge (with God).”
میبباید تاب و آبی توبه را ** شرط شد برق و سحابی توبه را
For (true) repentance, there must needs be a glow (of inward feeling) and a flood (of tears): (such) lightning and clouds are the condition indispensable to repentance.