بی ز جهدی آفریدی مر مرا ** بی فن من روزیم ده زین سرا
Thou didst create me without any exertion (on my part): give me daily bread from this mansion (the world) without contrivance (on my part).
پنج گوهر دادیم در درج سر ** پنج حس دیگری هم مستتر
Thou gavest me the five jewels in the casket of my head, and also five other occult senses.
لا یعد این داد و لا یحصی ز تو ** من کلیلم از بیانش شرم‌رو
These gifts of Thine are not to be numbered or computed; in setting them forth I am tongue-tied and shamefaced.
چونک در خلاقیم تنها توی ** کار رزاقیم تو کن مستوی
Since Thou art alone (without partner) in my creation, do Thou adjust (accordingly) the matter of providing me with daily bread.”
سالها زو این دعا بسیار شد ** عاقبت زاری او بر کار شد 1840
For years this prayer was frequently uttered by him, and at last his supplication took effect,
هم‌چو آن شخصی که روزی حلال ** از خدا می‌خواست بی‌کسب و کلال
As (in the case of) the person who used to beg God to grant him a lawful livelihood without labour and fatigue,
گاو آوردش سعادت عاقبت ** عهد داود لدنی معدلت
(Till) at length the cow brought him happiness: (’twas in) the epoch of David whose justice was divinely inspired.
این متیم نیز زاریها نمود ** هم ز میدان اجابت گو ربود
This thrall of love, too, made piteous entreaties, and he likewise carried off the ball from the field of (favourable) response.
گاه بدظن می‌شدی اندر دعا ** از پی تاخیر پاداش و جزا
(Yet) while praying he would at times become distrustful on account of the postponement of the recompense and reward;
باز ارجاء خداوند کریم ** در دلش بشار گشتی و زعیم 1845
(And then) again the gracious Lord's deferment (of his hopes) would bring a message of joy to his heart and become a surety (for their fulfilment).
چون شدی نومید در جهد از کلال ** از جناب حق شنیدی که تعال
Whenever in (the course of his) earnest supplication weariness caused him to despair, he would hear from the Presence of God (the call) “Come!”
خافضست و رافعست این کردگار ** بی ازین دو بر نیاید هیچ کار
This (Divine) Maker is He who abaseth and exalteth: without these two (attributes) no work is accomplished.
خفض ارضی بین و رفع آسمان ** بی ازین دو نیست دورانش ای فلان
Consider the lowness of the earth and the loftiness of the sky: without these two (attributes) its (the sky's) revolution is not (possible), O such-and-such.
خفض و رفع این زمین نوعی دگر ** نیم سالی شوره نیمی سبز و تر
The lowness and loftiness of this earth are of another sort: for one half of the year it is barren and for (the other) half (it is) green and fresh.
خفض و رفع روزگار با کرب ** نوع دیگر نیم روز و نیم شب 1850
The lowness and loftiness of distressful Time are of another sort: one half day and (the other) half night.
خفض و رفع این مزاج ممترج ** گاه صحت گاه رنجوری مضج
The lowness and loftiness of this blended (bodily) temperament (of ours) are now health and now sickness that causes (us) to cry out (in pain).
هم‌چنین دان جمله احوال جهان ** قحط و جدب و صلح و جنگ از افتتان
Know that even so are all the changing conditions of the world—famine and drought and peace and war—(which arise) from (Divine) probation.
این جهان با این دو پر اندر هواست ** زین دو جانها موطن خوف و رجاست
By means of these two wings this world is (kept up like a bird) in the air; by means of these twain (all) souls are habitations of fear and hope,
تا جهان لرزان بود مانند برگ ** در شمال و در سموم بعث و مرگ
To the end that the world may be (always) trembling like a leaf in the north wind and simoom of resurrection and death,
تا خم یک‌رنگی عیسی ما ** بشکند نرخ خم صدرنگ را 1855
(And) that (ultimately) the vat of the unicolority of our Jesus may destroy the value of the vat containing a hundred dyes;
کان جهان هم‌چون نمکسار آمدست ** هر چه آنجا رفت بی‌تلوین شدست
For that world (of Unity) is like a salt-mine: whatever has gone thither has become exempt from coloration (dyeing with various colours).
خاک را بین خلق رنگارنگ را ** می‌کند یک رنگ اندر گورها
Look at earth: it makes many-coloured (diverse) humankind to be (all) of one colour in their graves.
این نمکسار جسوم ظاهرست ** خود نمکسار معانی دیگرست
This is the salt-mine for visible (material) bodies, (but) in sooth the salt-mine for ideal (supersensible) things is different.
آن نمکسار معانی معنویست ** از ازل آن تا ابد اندر نویست
The salt-mine for ideal things is ideal (spiritual and real): it remains new from eternity unto everlasting.
این نوی را کهنگی ضدش بود ** آن نوی بی ضد و بی ند و عدد 1860
This (earthly) newness has oldness as its opposite, but that newness (belonging to the world of Reality) is without opposite or like or number.