این دعا می‌کرد دایم کای خدا ** ثروتی بی رنج روزی کن مرا
Used always to utter this prayer: “O God, bestow on me riches without trouble!
چون مرا تو آفریدی کاهلی ** زخم‌خواری سست‌جنبی منبلی
Since Thou hast created me a lazybones, a receiver of blows, a slow mover, a sluggard,
بر خران پشت‌ریش بی‌مراد ** بار اسپان و استران نتوان نهاد
One cannot place on sore-backed luckless asses the load carried by horses and mules.
کاهلم چون آفریدی ای ملی ** روزیم ده هم ز راه کاهلی
Inasmuch as Thou, O perfect One, hast created me lazy, do Thou accordingly give me the daily bread by the way of laziness.
کاهلم من سایه‌ی خسپم در وجود ** خفتم اندر سایه‌ی این فضل و جود1455
I am lazy and sleeping in the shade in (the world of) existence: I sleep in the shade of this Bounty and Munificence.
کاهلان و سایه‌خسپان را مگر ** روزیی بنوشته‌ای نوعی دگر
Surely for them that are lazy and sleeping in the shade Thou hast prescribed a livelihood in another fashion.
هر که را پایست جوید روزیی ** هر که را پا نیست کن دلسوزیی
Every one that has a foot (power to move) seeks a livelihood: do Thou show some pity towards every one that has no foot.
رزق را می‌ران به سوی آن حزین ** ابر را باران به سوی هر زمین
Send the daily bread to that sorrowful one: cause the cloud to rain in the direction of every land.
چون زمین را پا نباشد جود تو ** ابر را راند به سوی او دوتو
Since the land has no foot, Thy munificence drives the clouds doubly towards it.
طفل را چون پا نباشد مادرش ** آید و ریزد وظیفه بر سرش1460
Since the babe has no foot (means of seeking nutriment), its mother comes and pours the ration (of milk) upon it.
روزیی خواهم بناگه بی تعب ** که ندارم من ز کوشش جز طلب
I crave a daily portion (that is bestowed) suddenly without fatigue (on my part), for I have naught of endeavour except the seeking.”
مدت بسیار می‌کرد این دعا ** روز تا شب شب همه شب تا ضحی
Thus was he praying for a long time, (all) day until night and all night until morning.
خلق می‌خندید بر گفتار او ** بر طمع‌خامی و بر بیگار او
The people were laughing at his words, at the folly of his hope, and at his contention,
که چه می‌گوید عجب این سست‌ریش ** یا کسی دادست بنگ بیهشیش
Saying, “Marvellous! What is he saying—this idiot? Or has some one given him beng (that is the cause) of senselessness?
راه روزی کسب و رنجست و تعب ** هر کسی را پیشه‌ای داد و طلب1465
The way of (getting) daily bread is work and trouble and fatigue; He (God) hath given every one a handicraft and (the capacity for) seeking (a livelihood):
اطلبوا الارزاق فی اسبابها ** ادخلو الاوطان من ابوابها
‘Seek ye your daily portions in the means thereof: enter your dwellings by their doors.’
شاه و سلطان و رسول حق کنون ** هست داود نبی ذو فنون
At present the King and ruler and messenger of God is the prophet David, one endowed with many accomplishments.
با چنان عزی و نازی کاندروست ** که گزیدستش عنایتهای دوست
Notwithstanding such glory and pride as is in him, forasmuch as the favours of the Friend have chosen him out—
معجزاتش بی شمار و بی عدد ** موج بخشایش مدد اندر مدد
His miracles are countless and innumerable, the waves of his bounty are tide upon tide:
هیچ کس را خود ز آدم تا کنون ** کی بدست آواز صد چون ارغنون1470
When has any one, even from Adam till now, had a hundred (melodious) voices like an organ,
که بهر وعظی بمیراند دویست ** آدمی را صوت خوبش کرد نیست
Which at every preaching causes (people) to die? His beautiful voice made two hundred human beings non-existent.
شیر و آهو جمع گردد آن زمان ** سوی تذکیرش مغفل این از آن
At that time the lion and the deer unite (in turning) towards his exhortation, the one oblivious of the other;
کوه و مرغان هم‌رسایل با دمش ** هردو اندر وقت دعوت محرمش
The mountains and the birds are accompanying his breath (voice), both are his confidants in the hour of his calling (unto God);
این و صد چندین مرورا معجزات ** نور رویش بی جهان و در جهات
These and a hundred times as many miracles are (vouchsafed) to him; the light of his countenance is (both) transcendent and immanent—
با همه تمکین خدا روزی او ** کرده باشد بسته اندر جست و جو1475
Notwithstanding all (this) majesty, God must have made his livelihood to be bound up with seeking and endeavour.