ساحره‌ی دنیا قوی دانا زنیست ** حل سحر او به پای عامه نیست
The sorceress, (who is) the World, is a mightily cunning woman: ’tis not in the power of the vulgar to undo her sorcery;
ور گشادی عقد او را عقلها ** انبیا را کی فرستادی خدا
And if (men's) understandings could loose her knot, how should God have sent the prophets?
هین طلب کن خوش‌دمی عقده‌گشا ** رازدان یفعل الله ما یشا
Hark, seek one whose breath is pure, a looser of knots, one who knows the mystery of God doeth whatso He willeth.
هم‌چو ماهی بسته است او به شست ** شاه زاده ماند سالی و تو شصت
She (the World) hath imprisoned thee, like a fish, in her net: the prince remained (there) one year, and thou sixty.
شصت سال از شست او در محنتی ** نه خوشی نه بر طریق سنتی3200
From (being enmeshed in) her net thou art in tribulation sixty years: neither art thou happy nor (dost thou walk) in the way of the Sunna.
فاسقی بدبخت نه دنیات خوب ** نه رهیده از وبال و از ذنوب
Thou art a miserable unrighteous man: neither is thy worldly life good (happy) nor art thou delivered from guilt and sins.
نفخ او این عقده‌ها را سخت کرد ** پس طلب کن نفخه‌ی خلاق فرد
Her (the World's) breathing hath made these knots tight: seek, then, the breathing of the unique Creator,
تا نفخت فیه من روحی ترا ** وا رهاند زین و گوید برتر آ
In order that “I breathed of My spirit into him” may deliver thee from this (sorcery) and say (to thee), “Come higher!”
جز به نفخ حق نسوزد نفخ سحر ** نفخ قهرست این و آن دم نفح مهر
The breathing of sorcery is not consumed save by the breathing of God: this (the former) is the breathing of (Divine) wrath, (while) that (the latter) exhalation is the breathing of (Divine) love.
رحمت او سابقست از قهر او ** سابقی خواهی برو سابق بجو3205
His mercy is prior to His wrath: (if) thou desirest priority (in spiritual rank), go, seek that (attribute) which is prior,
تا رسی اندر نفوس زوجت ** کای شه مسحور اینک مخرجت
That thou mayst attain unto the souls that are wedded; for lo, this, O ensorcelled prince, is thy way of escape.
با وجود زال ناید انحلال ** در شبیکه و در بر آن پر دلال
With the existence of the old woman, there can be no undoing (of the knots), (whilst thou art) in the net and in the arms of that (paramour) full of blandishments.
نه بگفتست آن سراج امتان ** این جهان و آن جهان را ضرتان
Hath not the Lamp of the peoples called this world and that world the two fellow-wives (who are always quarrelling with each other)?
پس وصال این فراق آن بود ** صحت این تن سقام جان بود
Therefore union with this (world) is separation from that (world): the health of this body is the sickness of the spirit.
سخت می‌آید فراق این ممر ** پس فراق آن مقر دان سخت‌تر3210
Hard is the separation from this transitory abode: know, then, that the separation from that permanent abode is harder
چون فراق نقش سخت آید ترا ** تا چه سخت آید ز نقاشش جدا
Since it is hard for thee to be separated from the form, how hard must it be to be parted from its Maker!
ای که صبرت نیست از دنیای دون ** چونت صبرست از خدا ای دوست چون
O thou that hast not the patience to do without the vile world, how, O friend, how hast thou the patience to do without God?
چونک صبرت نیست زین آب سیاه ** چون صبوری داری از چشمه‌ی اله
Since thou hast not the patience to do without this black water, how hast thou the patience to do without God's (pure) fountain?
چونک بی این شرب کم داری سکون ** چون ز ابراری جدا وز یشربون
Since thou art restless without this (worldly) drink, how art thou (remaining patiently) apart from the righteous and from they shall drink (of the wine of Paradise)?
گر ببینی یک نفس حسن ودود ** اندر آتش افکنی جان و وجود3215
If for one moment thou behold the beauty of the Loving One and cast thy soul and existence into the fire (of love),
جیفه بینی بعد از آن این شرب را ** چون ببینی کر و فر قرب را
After that thou wilt regard this (worldly) drink as a carcase, when thou beholdest the glory and splendour of nighness (unto Him).
هم‌چو شه‌زاده رسی در یار خویش ** پس برون آری ز پا تو خار خویش
Like the prince, thou wilt attain unto thy Beloved; then thou wilt draw out from thy foot the thorn of self.
جهد کن در بی‌خودی خود را بیاب ** زودتر والله اعلم بالصواب
Strive for selflessness, find thy (true) self as soon as possible— and God best knoweth the right course.
هر زمانی هین مشو با خویش جفت ** هر زمان چون خر در آب و گل میفت
Take heed, never be wedded to self: do not, like an ass, be always falling into water and mud.
از قصور چشم باشد آن عثار ** که نبیند شیب و بالا کور وار3220
That stumbling arises from shortsightedness; for like a blind man, he (such a one) does not see the ups and downs.