’Tis the turn (reign) of many-colouredness and many-mindedness: how should the one-coloured world become unveiled?
نوبت زنگست رومی شد نهان ** این شبست و آفتاب اندر رهان 1870
’Tis the turn (reign) of the Ethiopian; the Greek is hidden (from view): this is night, and the sun is in pawn.
نوبت گرگست و یوسف زیر چاه ** نوبت قبطست و فرعونست شاه
’Tis the turn (reign) of the wolf, and Joseph is at the bottom of the well; ’tis the turn (reign) of the Egyptians, and Pharaoh is king.
تا ز رزق بی‌دریغ خیره‌خند ** این سگان را حصه باشد روز چند
(Such is the Divine purpose), in order that for a few days these curs may have their allotted portion of the unstinted and deluding (worldly) provision.
در درون بیشه شیران منتظر ** تا شود امر تعالوا منتشر
(But) within the jungle (of this world) are lions (righteous and holy men), waiting for the command “Come!” to be spread abroad.
پس برون آیند آن شیران ز مرج ** بی‌حجابی حق نماید دخل و خرج
Then those lions will come forth from the (worldly) pasture, and God will show (unto them) their income and expenditure without any veil (disguise).
جوهر انسان بگیرد بر و بحر ** پیسه گاوان بسملان آن روز نحر 1875
The (spiritual) essence of Man will encompass land and sea, (while) the piebald cattle will be killed as victims on the Day of Slaughter.
روز نحر رستخیز سهمناک ** مومنان را عید و گاوان را هلاک
The terrible Day of Slaughter at the Resurrection is a festival for the true believers and (the hour of) destruction for the cattle.
جمله‌ی مرغان آب آن روز نحر ** هم‌چو کشتیها روان بر روی بحر
On that Day of Slaughter all the water-birds (will be) sailing along like ships on the surface of the Sea.
تا که یهلک من هلک عن بینه ** تا که ینجو من نجا واستیقنه
(This Day is ordained) to the end that they who perish may perish by a clear proof, and that they who are saved and have sure knowledge thereof may be saved (by a clear proof),
تا که بازان جانب سلطان روند ** تا که زاغان سوی گورستان روند
And that the falcons may go to the Sultan and that the crows may go to the graveyard;
که استخوان و اجزاء سرگین هم‌چو نان ** نقل زاغان آمدست اندر جهان 1880
For in this world the dessert of the crows was bones and pieces of dung like bread.
قند حکمت از کجا زاغ از کجا ** کرم سرگین از کجا باغ از کجا
How remote is the sugar of wisdom from the crow! How remote is the dung-beetle from the orchard!
نیست لایق غزو نفس و مرد غر ** نیست لایق عود و مشک و کون خر
It is not suitable for an effeminate man to go to fight against the carnal soul: aloes-wood and musk are not suitable for the arse of an ass.
چون غزا ندهد زنان را هیچ دست ** کی دهد آنک جهاد اکبرست
Since women are not at all adapted for fighting, how should they be adapted for that (fight) which is the greater holy war?
جز بنادر در تن زن رستمی ** گشته باشد خفیه هم‌چون مریمی
A Rustam may (sometimes) have been concealed in a woman's body, as (was the case with) a Mary; (but) only seldom.
آنچنان که در تن مردان زنان ** خفیه‌اند و ماده از ضعف جنان 1885
Similarly, women are (sometimes) concealed in men's bodies, and they (such men) are (virtually) female because of (their) faintness of heart.
آن جهان صورت شود آن مادگی ** هر که در مردی ندید آمادگی
In that world, if any one has not found in his manhood the capacity (for spiritual combat), his feminality takes (visible) shape.
روز عدل و عدل داد در خورست ** کفش آن پا کلاه آن سرست
The Day (of Judgement) is justice, and justice consists in giving (to every one) what is proper: the shoe belongs to the foot, and the cap belongs to the head.
تا به مطلب در رسد هر طالبی ** تا به غرب خود رود هر غاربی
(This is) in order that every seeker may attain to the object of his search, and that everything destined to set may go to its point of setting.
نیست هر مطلوب از طالب دریغ ** جفت تابش شمس و جفت آب میغ
No object of search is withheld from the seeker: the sun is paired with heat and the cloud with water.
هست دنیا قهرخانه‌ی کردگار ** قهر بین چون قهر کردی اختیار 1890
The present world is the Creator's penitentiary: since you have chosen (to incur) punishment, suffer punishment!
استخوان و موی مقهوران نگر ** تیغ قهر افکنده اندر بحر و بر
Contemplate the bones and hair of the punished ones (whom) the sword of (Divine) punishment overthrew on sea and land.
پر و پای مرغ بین بر گرد دام ** شرح قهر حق کننده بی‌کلام
Consider the bird's feathers and feet (lying) around the trap and silently expounding (the nature of) God's punishment.
مرد او بر جای خرپشته نشاند ** وآنک کهنه گشت هم پشته نماند
He (the worldling) dies and leaves a (sepulchral) vault to occupy his place; and (in the case of) one who has lain for ages (in the earth), even the vault has disappeared.