نه چو عیسی سوی گردون بر شود ** نه چو قارون در زمین اندر رود345
Neither doth He ascend to Heaven, like Jesus, nor go (down) into the earth, like Qárún (Korah).
با تو باشد در مکان و بی‌مکان ** چون بمانی از سرا و از دکان
He is with you in space and in the spaceless (world) when you leave house and shop behind.
او بر آرد از کدورتها صفا ** مر جفاهای ترا گیرد وفا
He brings forth purity from defilements, He takes your acts of wrong as faithful performance (of duty).
چون جفا آری فرستد گوشمال ** تا ز نقصان وا روی سوی کمال
When you commit wrong, He sends chastisement, to the end that you may go back from imperfection towards perfection.
چون تو وردی ترک کردی در روش ** بر تو قبضی آید از رنج و تبش
When you have neglected a part of your orisons in the Way, there comes over you a painful and hot feeling of contraction.
آن ادب کردن بود یعنی مکن ** هیچ تحویلی از آن عهد کهن350
That is the corrective act (of God), meaning, “Do not make any change in the ancient covenant
پیش از آن کین قبض زنجیری شود ** این که دلگیریست پاگیری شود
Before (the day when) this contraction shall become a chain, (and when) this which (now) grips the heart shall become a fetter gripping the foot.”
رنج معقولت شود محسوس و فاش ** تا نگیری این اشارت را بلاش
Your mental pain shall become perceptible to the senses and manifest. See (therefore) that you do not hold this indication as naught.
در معاصی قبضها دلگیر شد ** قبضها بعد از اجل زنجیر شد
The (spiritual) contractions (which occur) in (the case of) sins affect (only) the heart; after death (these) contractions become (actual) chains.
نعط من اعرض هنا عن ذکرنا ** عیشة ضنک و نجزی بالعمی
“Whosoever here (in this world) shall turn his back upon Our commemoration, We shall give him a straitened life (hereafter) and reward him with blindness.”
دزد چون مال کسان را می‌برد ** قبض و دلتنگی دلش را می‌خلد355
When a thief is carrying off people's property, contraction and straitness of heart prick his heart (conscience),
او همی‌گوید عجب این قبض چیست ** قبض آن مظلوم کز شرت گریست
(And) he says, “I wonder what this contraction is”: (say), “The contraction (distress) of the injured person who wept at thy wickedness.”
چون بدین قبض التفاتی کم کند ** باد اصرار آتشش را دم کند
When he pays no regard to this contraction, the wind of perseverance (in evil) blows (fans) its (the evil's) fire.
قبض دل قبض عوان شد لاجرم ** گشت محسوس آن معانی زد علم
The contraction that grips the heart turns into the grip of the policeman: inevitably those ideas become sensible (materialised) and display themselves.
غصه‌ها زندان شدست و چارمیخ ** غصه بیخست و بروید شاخ بیخ
The pangs have become prison and the cross (crucifixion): the pang is (as) the root, and the root produces boughs.
بیخ پنهان بود هم شد آشکار ** قبض و بسط اندرون بیخی شمار360
The root was hidden, it is (now) revealed. Consider (your) inward contraction and expansion as a root.
چونک بیخ بد بود زودش بزن ** تا نروید زشت‌خاری در چمن
When it is a bad root, smite it quickly, so that an ugly thorn may not grow in the garden.
قبض دیدی چاره‌ی آن قبض کن ** زانک سرها جمله می‌روید ز بن
You have felt the contraction: seek a remedy for it, because all heads (excrescences) grow from the bottom (root).
بسط دیدی بسط خود را آب ده ** چون بر آید میوه با اصحاب ده
You have felt the expansion: water your expansion, and when the fruit appears, give it to your friends.
باقی قصه‌ی اهل سبا
The remainder of the Story of the people of Saba.
آن سبا ز اهل صبا بودند و خام ** کارشان کفران نعمت با کرام
Saba were folk given over to dalliance and foolish; ‘twas their practice to show ingratitude to the generous.
باشد آن کفران نعمت در مثال ** که کنی با محسن خود تو جدال365
By was of illustration, it would be ingratitude to dispute with your benefactor,
که نمی‌باید مرا این نیکوی ** من برنجم زین چه رنجم می‌شوی
Saying, “O do not want this kindness, I am annoyed by it: why art thou troubling me?
لطف کن این نیکوی را دور کن ** من نخواهم چشم زودم کور کن
Do (me) a favour, take away this kindness; I do not desire an eye: blind me at once!”
پس سبا گفتند باعد بیننا ** شیننا خیر لنا خذ زیننا
Hence the people of Saba said, “ (O Lord), put a far distance between us: our blemish is better for us, take away our adornment.
ما نمی‌خواهیم این ایوان و باغ ** نه زنان خوب و نه امن و فراغ
We do not desire these palaces and orchards, nor fair women nor that safety and ease (which we now enjoy).