آخرین قرنها پیش از قرون ** در حدیث است آخرون السابقون
The last epoch is in front of the (other) epochs: in the Traditions of the Prophet is (the saying)—“(We are) the last (in time), the foremost (in excellence).”
تا هلاک قوم نوح و قوم هود ** عارض رحمت به جان ما نمود
In order that the destruction of the people of Noah and the people of Húd might display to our souls the face of (Divine) Mercy (who calls us to repentance),
کشت ایشان را که ما ترسیم از او ** ور خود این بر عکس کردی وای تو
He (God) slew them, that we might fear Him; and if indeed He had done contrariwise, alas for thee!
بیان حال خود پرستان و ناشکران در نعمت وجود انبیا و اولیا علیهم السلام
Explaining the state of those who are self-conceited and unthankful for the blessing of the existence of the prophets and saints—peace be unto them!
هر ک از ایشان گفت از عیب و گناه ** وز دل چون سنگ وز جان سیاه
Whosoever of them (the proclaimers of Divine Mercy) has spoken of fault and sin, and of a heart like stone, and of a black soul;
و ز سبک داری فرمانهای او ** و ز فراغت از غم فردای او3060
And of holding light His commands, and of being free from care for His To-morrow;
و ز هوس و ز عشق این دنیای دون ** چون زنان مر نفس را بودن زبون
And of being, like women, enslaved to the fleshly soul by passion and by love of this vile world;
و آن فرار از نکتههای ناصحان ** و آن رمیدن از لقای صالحان
And of fleeing from the pungent sayings of sincere counsellors, and of shrinking from the countenance of the righteous;
با دل و با اهل دل بیگانگی ** با شهان تزویر و روبهشانگی
(And of) estrangement from the spirit and spiritual folk, (and of) fraud and fox-like behaviour towards the (spiritual) kings;
سیر چشمان را گدا پنداشتن ** از حسدشان خفیه دشمن داشتن
(And of) thinking the fully satisfied (saints) to be (greedy) beggars, (and of) secretly regarding them with enmity (arising) from envy—
گر پذیرد چیز تو گویی گداست ** ور نه گویی زرق و مکر است و دغاست3065
If he (such a saintly man as has been described) accept anything, you say he is a beggar; and if not, you say it is (from) hypocrisy and deceit and guile.