The people's clothes were being rent by the thorns: the feet of the poor were being wounded pitiably.
چون به جد حاکم بدو گفت این بکن ** گفت آری بر کنم روزیش من
When the Governor said to him with earnestness, “Dig this up,” he replied, “Yes, I will dig it up some day.”
مدتی فردا و فردا وعده داد ** شد درخت خار او محکم نهاد
For a long while he promised (to dig it up) to-morrow and to-morrow; (meantime) his thorn bush became robust in constitution.
گفت روزی حاکمش ای وعده کژ** پیش آ در کار ما وا پس مغژ
One day the Governor said to him, “O false promiser, go forward with my affair, do not creep back.”
گفت الایام یا عم بیننا ** گفت عجل لا تماطل دیننا
He replied, “O uncle, the days are between us.” “Make haste,” said he, “do not put off payment of my debt.”
تو که میگویی که فردا این بدان ** که به هر روزی که میآید زمان1235
You who say “To-morrow,” be aware of this, that with every day that time is coming (and going),
آن درخت بد جوانتر میشود ** وین کننده پیر و مضطر میشود
That evil tree is growing younger, while this digger is waxing old and sorely distressed.
خار بن در قوت و برخاستن ** خار کن در پیری و در کاستن
The thorn bush (is) in (process of gaining) strength and (in) ascent; its digger (is) in (process of) aging and decline.
خار بن هر روز و هر دم سبز و تر ** خار کن هر روز زار و خشکتر
The thorn bush every day and every moment is green and fresh; its digger is every day more sickly and withered.
او جوانتر میشود تو پیرتر ** زود باش و روزگار خود مبر
It is growing younger, you older: be quick and do not waste your time!
خار بن دان هر یکی خوی بدت ** بارها در پای خار آخر زدت1240
Know that every single bad habit of yours is a thorn bush: many a time, after all, have its thorns pierced your foot.
بارها از خوی خود خسته شدی ** حس نداری سخت بیحس آمدی
Many a time have you been wounded by your own (evil) habits—you have no sense, you are very senseless.
گر ز خسته گشتن دیگر کسان ** که ز خلق زشت تو هست آن رسان
If to the wounding of other persons, which comes to pass from your evil nature,
غافلی باری ز زخم خود نهای ** تو عذاب خویش و هر بیگانهای
You are indifferent, at any rate you are not (indifferent) to your own wounds: you are the torment of yourself and of every stranger.
یا تبر برگیر و مردانه بزن ** تو علیوار این در خیبر بکن
Either take up the axe and strike like a man—like ‘Alí, destroy this gate of Khaybar—
یا به گلبن وصل کن این خار را ** وصل کن با نار نور یار را1245
Or unite these thorns with the rosebush: unite the light of the friend (of God) with the (sensual) fire,
تا که نور او کشد نار تو را ** وصل او گلشن کند خار تو را
In order that his light may extinguish your fire, (and that) union with him may make your thorns roses.
تو مثال دوزخی او مومن است ** کشتن آتش به مومن ممکن است
You are like Hell, he is a true believer: the extinction of the fire (of Hell) by means of a true believer is possible.
مصطفی فرمود از گفت جحیم ** کاو به مومن لابه گر گردد ز بیم
Mustafá (Mohammed) said concerning the speech of Hell, that on account of fear it begins humbly to entreat the true believer,
گویدش بگذر ز من ای شاه زود ** هین که نورت سوز نارم را ربود
And says to him, “Pass quickly away from me, O king: hark, for thy light has taken away the burning of my fire.”
پس هلاک نار نور مومن است ** ز انکه بیضد دفع ضد لا یمکن است1250
Therefore the true believer's light is the death of the fire, because without an opposite the removal of the (other) opposite is impossible.
نار ضد نور باشد روز عدل ** کان ز قهر انگیخته شد این ز فضل
On the Day of Justice (Judgement) the fire will be the opponent of the light, since the former was aroused by (God's) wrath, the latter by (His) grace.
گر همیخواهی تو دفع شر نار ** آب رحمت بر دل آتش گمار
If you are wishing to remove the evil of the fire, direct the water of (Divine) mercy against the heart of the fire.