دعوت زاریست روزی پنج بار ** بنده را که در نماز آ و بزار
There is a summons to the servant (of God) to lamentation five times a day— “come to (perform) the ritual prayer, and make lament.”
نعره‌ی مذن که حیا عل فلاح ** وآن فلاح این زاری است و اقتراح 1600
The muezzin's cry is “hasten to welfare,” and that welfare is this lamentation and petitioning.
آن که خواهی کز غمش خسته کنی ** راه زاری بر دلش بسته کنی
He whom Thou wishest to make sorrow-stricken—Thou dost bar against his heart the way to lamentation,
تا فرو آید بلا بی‌دافعی ** چون نباشد از تضرع شافعی
In order that affliction may descend (upon him) without (there being) anything to repel it, when there is no intercessor (in the form) of humble entreaty;
وانک خواهی کز بلااش وا خری ** جان او را در تضرع آوری
And (on the other hand) Thou dost lead to humble entreaty the spirit of him whom Thou wishest to redeem from affliction.
گفته‌ای اندر نبی که آن امتان ** که بریشان آمد آن قهر گران
Thou hast said in the Qur’án that (as regards) those peoples on which that heavy vengeance fell,
چون تضرع می‌نکردند آن نفس ** تا بلا زیشان بگشتی باز پس 1605
’Twas because at that moment they would not make humble entreaty that the affliction might be averted from them;
لیک دلهاشان چون قاسی گشته بود ** آن گنههاشان عبادت می‌نمود
But since their hearts had been hardened, their sins appeared (to them) as obedient service (rendered to God).
تا نداند خویش را مجرم عنید ** آب از چشمش کجا داند دوید
Until the sinner deems himself rebellious, how can tears run from his eye?
قصه‌ی قوم یونس علیه‌السلام بیان و برهان آنست کی تضرع و زاری دافع بلای آسمانیست و حق تعالی فاعل مختارست پس تضرع و تعظیم پیش او مفید باشد و فلاسفه گویند فاعل به طبع است و بعلت نه مختار پر تضرع طبع را نگرداند
The Story of the people of Yúnus (Jonah), on whom be peace, is a demonstration and manifest proof that humble entreaty and lamentation avert affliction sent from Heaven. And God most High acts by free choice: therefore humble entreaty and reverence avail with Him. The philosophers, however, say that He acts by (the necessity of His) nature and as a cause, not by free choice: therefore humble entreaty (is useless, for it) cannot alter nature.
قوم یونس را چو پیدا شد بلا ** ابر پر آتش جدا شد از سما
When the affliction became visible to the people of Yúnus, a cloud full of fire departed (descended) from heaven.