قدر همت باشد آن جهد و دعا ** لیس للانسان الا ما سعی
That (devotional) work and prayer is in proportion to the (worshipper's) aspiration: Man hath nothing but what he hath striven after.
واهب همت خداوندست و بس ** همت شاهی ندارد هیچ خس
God alone is the giver of aspiration: no base churl aspires to be a king.
نیست تخصیص خدا کس را به کار ** مانع طوع و مراد و اختیار
God's assignment of a particular lot to any one does not hinder (him from exercising) consent and will and choice;
لیک چون رنجی دهد بدبخت را ** او گریزاند به کفران رخت را2915
But when He brings some trouble on an ill-fated man, he (that man) ungratefully packs off in flight;
نیکبختی را چو حق رنجی دهد ** رخت را نزدیکتر وا می‌نهد
(Whereas), when God brings some trouble on a good-fortuned (blessed) man, he always (approaches and) abides nearer (to God).
بددلان از بیم جان در کارزار ** کرده اسباب هزیمت اختیار
In battle the pusillanimous from fear for their lives have chosen the means (resource) of flight,
پردلان در جنگ هم از بیم جان ** حمله کرده سوی صف دشمنان
(While) the courageous, also from fear for their lives, have charged towards the ranks of the enemy.
رستمان را ترس و غم وا پیش برد ** هم ز ترس آن بددل اندر خویش مرد
Rustams (heroes) are borne onward by (their) fear and pain; from fear, too, the man of infirm spirit dies within himself.
چون محک آمد بلا و بیم جان ** زان پدید آید شجاع از هر جبان2920
Tribulation and fear for one's life are like a touchstone: thereby the brave man is distinguished from every coward.
وحی کردن حق به موسی علیه‌السلام کی ای موسی من کی خالقم تعالی ترا دوست می‌دارم
How God made a revelation to Moses, on whom be peace, saying, "O Moses, I who am the exalted Creator love thee."
گفت موسی را به وحی دل خدا ** کای گزیده دوست می‌دارم ترا
God spoke to Moses by inspiration of the heart, saying, “O chosen one, I love thee.”
گفت چه خصلت بود ای ذوالکرم ** موجب آن تا من آن افزون کنم
He (Moses) said, “O Bountiful One, (tell me) what disposition (in me) is the cause of that, in order that I may augment it.”
گفت چون طفلی به پیش والده ** وقت قهرش دست هم در وی زده
He (God) said, “Thou art like a child in the presence of its mother: when she chastises it, it still lays hold of her.
خود نداند که جز او دیار هست ** هم ازو مخمور هم از اوست مست
It does not even know that there is any one in the world except her: it is both afflicted with headache (sorrow) by her and intoxicated (with joy) by her.
مادرش گر سیلیی بر وی زند ** هم به مادر آید و بر وی تند2925
If its mother give it a slap, still it comes to its mother and clings to her.
از کسی یاری نخواهد غیر او ** اوست جمله شر او و خیر او
It does not seek help from any one but her: she is all its evil and its good.
خاطر تو هم ز ما در خیر و شر ** التفاتش نیست جاهای دگر
Thy heart, likewise, in good or evil (plight) never turns from Me to other quarters.
غیر من پیشت چون سنگست و کلوخ ** گر صبی و گر جوان و گر شیوخ
In thy sight all besides Me are as stones and clods, whether (they be) boys or youths or old men.”
هم‌چنانک ایاک نعبد در حنین ** در بلا از غیر تو لانستعین
Just as Thee we worship in yearning entreaty, (so) in tribulation we ask help of none but Thee.
هست این ایاک نعبد حصر را ** در لغت و آن از پی نفی ریا2930
This Thee we worship is (used) idiomatically for the purpose of (expressing) appropriation, and that (appropriation) is for the purpose of negating hypocrisy.
هست ایاک نستعین هم بهر حصر ** حصر کرده استعانت را و قصر
Of Thee we ask help also is for the purpose of appropriation: he (who recites these words) appropriates and restricts the asking of help,
که عبادت مر ترا آریم و بس ** طمع یاری هم ز تو داریم و بس
Meaning, “We perform worship to Thee alone; we have hope of help from Thee alone.”
خشم کردن پادشاه بر ندیم و شفاعت کردن شفیع آن مغضوب علیه را و از پادشاه درخواستن و پادشاه شفاعت او قبول کردن و رنجیدن ندیم از این شفیع کی چرا شفاعت کردی
How a king was enraged with his boon-companion, and an intercessor interceded on behalf of the object of (the king's) anger and begged the king (to pardon the offender); and how (when) the king accepted his intercession, the boon-companion resented the action of the intercessor and asked, "Why did you intercede?"
پادشاهی بر ندیمی خشم کرد ** خواست تا از وی برآرد دود و گرد
A king was enraged with a boon-companion and was about to reduce him to smoke and dust.
کرد شه شمشیر بیرون از غلاف ** تا زند بر وی جزای آن خلاف
The king drew his sword from the scabbard that he might inflict upon him the punishment for that disobedience.
هیچ کس را زهره نه تا دم زند ** یا شفیعی بر شفاعت بر تند2935
No one had the courage to utter a word nor any intercessor to venture on intercession,
جز عمادالملک نامی در خواص ** در شفاعت مصطفی‌وارانه خاص
Except one amongst the courtiers named ‘Imádu ’l-Mulk, (who was) privileged in respect of intercession, like Mustafá (Mohammed).