Rumi's Masnavi - 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.

برق می‌انداخت می‌سوزید سنگ ** ابر می‌غرید رخ می‌ریخت رنگ
It was shooting (flashes of) lightning, the rocks were burning; the cloud was roaring, cheeks were shedding colour.

جملگان بر بامها بودند شب ** که پدید آمد ز بالا آن کرب 1610
All (the people) were on the roofs at night, when that woe came into view from on high.

مادران بچگان برون انداختند ** تا همه ناله و نفیر افراختند
Mothers cast out their children, that all might raise wailing and distressful cries.

از نماز شام تا وقت سحر ** خاک می‌کردند بر سر آن نفر
From (the time of) the evening prayer till the hour of dawn, those folk were throwing dust on their heads.

جملگی آوازها بگرفته شد ** رحم آمد بر سر آن قوم لد
(Then) all voices were hushed: the (Divine) mercy came upon that perverse people.

بعد نومیدی و آه ناشکفت ** اندک‌اندک ابر وا گشتن گرفت 1615
After despair and unrestrained lamentation, little by little the cloud began to turn back.

قصه‌ی یونس درازست و عریض ** وقت خاکست و حدیث مستفیض
The story of Yúnus is long and broad: it is time (to speak) of the Earth and (resume) the far-spread tale.