لب ببند و کف پر زر بر گشا ** بخل تن بگذار و پیش آور سخا
Shut the lips and open the palm filled with gold: leave off being a miser with the body, exhibit munificence.
ترک شهوتها و لذتها سخاست ** هر که در شهوت فرو شد بر نخاست
Munificence is the abandonment of lusts and pleasures; no one who is sunken in lust rises up (again).
این سخا شاخی است از سرو بهشت ** وای او کز کف چنین شاخی بهشت
This munificence is a branch of the cypress of Paradise: woe to him that lets such a branch go from his hand!
عروة الوثقی است این ترک هوا ** بر کشد این شاخ جان را بر سما
This abandonment of sensuality is the firmest handle: this branch draws the spirit up to Heaven.
تا برد شاخ سخا ای خوب کیش ** مر ترا بالا کشان تا اصل خویش1275
(So act) that the branch of munificence, O righteous man, drawing you aloft may bear you to its origin.
یوسف حسنی و این عالم چو چاه ** وین رسن صبر است بر امر اله
You are Joseph (full) of beauty, and this world is as the well, and this rope (to draw you forth) is patience with (submission to) the command of God.
یوسفا آمد رسن در زن دو دست ** از رسن غافل مشو بیگه شده ست
O Joseph, the rope is come: put your two hands upon it. Do not neglect the rope, (for) it has grown late.
حمد لله کین رسن آویختند ** فضل و رحمت را بهم آمیختند
Praise be to God, that this rope has been dangled, (and that) grace and mercy have been blended together,
تا ببینی عالم جان جدید ** عالم بس آشکار ناپدید
So that you may behold the world of the new spirit, a world very manifest, (though) invisible.
این جهان نیست چون هستان شده ** و آن جهان هست بس پنهان شده1280
This (phenomenal) world of non-existence has become like (real) existence, while that world of (real) existence has become very hidden.
خاک بر باد است و بازی میکند ** کژنمایی پرده سازی میکند
The dust is on the wind: it is playing, it is making a false show and forming a veil.
اینکه بر کار است بیکار است و پوست ** و انکه پنهان است مغز و اصل اوست
This, which is busy (in appearance), is (really) idle and (superficial, like) a husk; and that which is hidden is its core and origin.
خاک همچون آلتی در دست باد ** باد را دان عالی و عالی نژاد
The dust is as a tool in the hand of the wind: deem the wind high and of high descent.
چشم خاکی را به خاک افتد نظر ** باد بین چشمی بود نوعی دگر
The gaze of the eye of dust falls on the dust; an eye that sees the wind is of another sort.
اسب داند اسب را کاو هست یار ** هم سواری داند احوال سوار1285
A horse knows a horse, because it (one horse) is associated (homogeneous with other horses); likewise (only) a rider knows the things appertaining to a rider.
چشم حس اسب است و نور حق سوار ** بیسواره اسب خود ناید به کار
The sensuous eye is the horse, and the Light of God is the rider: without the rider the horse itself is useless.
پس ادب کن اسب را از خوی بد ** ور نه پیش شاه باشد اسب رد
Therefore train the horse (so as to cure it) of bad habits; else the horse will be rejected before the King.
چشم اسب از چشم شه رهبر بود ** چشم او بیچشم شه مضطر بود
The horse's eye finds the way from the King's eye: without the King's eye its eye is in desperate plight.
چشم اسبان جز گیاه و جز چرا ** هر کجا خوانی بگوید نه چرا
The eye of horses, whithersoever you call it except to grass and pasture, says, “Nay, why (should we go)?”
نور حق بر نور حس راکب شود ** آن گهی جان سوی حق راغب شود1290
The Light of God mounts (as a rider) on the sensuous eye, and then the soul yearns after God.
اسب بیراکب چه داند رسم راه ** شاه باید تا بداند شاه راه
How should the riderless horse know the marks of the road? The King is needed (to ride it) in order that it may know the King's road.
سوی حسی رو که نورش راکب است ** حس را آن نور نیکو صاحب است
Go towards a sense on which the Light is riding: that Light is a good companion for the sense.
نور حس را نور حق تزیین بود ** معنی نور علی نور این بود
The Light of God is an ornament to the light of sense: this is the meaning of light upon light.
نور حسی میکشد سوی ثری ** نور حقش میبرد سوی علی
The light of sense draws (a man) towards earth; the Light of God bears him aloft,
ز انکه محسوسات دونتر عالمی است ** نور حق دریا و حس چون شبنمی است1295
Because sensible things are a lower world: the Light of God is (as) the sea, and the sense as a dew-drop.