خیمه در خیمه طناب اندر طناب ** شکر آنک کرد بیدارم ز خواب
Tent on tent and tent-rope on tent-rope. Thanks be to Him who awakened me from slumber!”
آنک مردن پیش چشمش تهلکه‌ست ** امر لا تلقوا بگیرد او به دست
That one in whose eyes death is destruction—he takes hold of (clings to) the (Divine) command, “Do not cast (yourselves into destruction)”;
و آنک مردن پیش او شد فتح باب ** سارعوا آید مرورا در خطاب3435
And that one to whom death is the opening of the gate—for him in the (Divine) Allocution (the Qur’án) there is (the command), “Vie ye with each other in hastening.”
الحذر ای مرگ‌بینان بارعوا ** العجل ای حشربینان سارعوا
Beware, O ye who regard death! Surpass one another (in dread of death)! Quick, O ye who regard the Resurrection! Vie ye with each other in hastening!
الصلا ای لطف‌بینان افرحوا ** البلا ای قهربینان اترحوا
Welcome, O ye who regard the (Divine) grace! Rejoice! Woe (to you), O ye who regard the (Divine) wrath! Be sorrowful!
هر که یوسف دید جان کردش فدی ** هر که گرگش دید برگشت از هدی
Whosoever deems it (death) to be (lovely as) Joseph gives up his soul in ransom for it; whosoever deems it to be (like) the wolf turns back from (the path of) right guidance.
مرگ هر یک ای پسر همرنگ اوست ** پیش دشمن دشمن و بر دوست دوست
Every one's death is of the same quality as himself, my lad: to the enemy (of God) an enemy, and to the friend (of God) a friend.
پیش ترک آیینه را خوش رنگیست ** پیش زنگی آینه هم زنگیست3440
In the eyes of the Turcoman the mirror hath a fair colour; similarly in the eyes of the Ethiopian the mirror is (dark as) an Ethiopian.
آنک می‌ترسی ز مرگ اندر فرار ** آن ز خود ترسانی ای جان هوش دار
Your fear of death in fleeing (from it) is (really) your fear of yourself. Take heed, O (dear) soul!
روی زشت تست نه رخسار مرگ ** جان تو همچون درخت و مرگ برگ
’Tis your (own) ugly face, not the visage of Death: your spirit is like the tree, and death (is like) the leaf.