آن که بد نزدیک ما نامش منی ** پیش حق این نقش بد که با منی‌‌

That of which the name, with us, was ‘seed’ was, in the sight of God, this figure (of thee) who art (now) with me.

صورتی بود این منی اندر عدم ** پیش حق موجود نه بیش و نه کم‌‌

This ‘seed’ was a form (idea) in non-existence (potentiality), existent with God, neither more nor less (than the form in which it appeared externally).

حاصل آن آمد حقیقت نام ما ** پیش حضرت کان بود انجام ما

In brief, that which is our end is really our name with God.

مرد را بر عاقبت نامی نهد ** نه بر آن کاو عاریت نامی نهد 1245

He bestows on a man a name according to his final state, not according to that (state) to which He gives the name of ‘a loan.’

چشم آدم چون به نور پاک دید ** جان و سر نامها گشتش پدید

Inasmuch as the eye of Adam saw by means of the Pure Light, the soul and inmost sense of the names became evident to him.

چون ملک انوار حق در وی بیافت ** در سجود افتاد و در خدمت شتافت‌‌

Since the angels perceived in him the rays of God, they fell in worship and hastened to do homage.

مدح این آدم که نامش می‌‌برم ** قاصرم گر تا قیامت بشمرم‌‌

If until the Resurrection I reckon up the praise of this Adam whose name I am celebrating, I fall short (of what is due).

این همه دانست و چون آمد قضا ** دانش یک نهی شد بر وی خطا

All this he knew; (yet) when the Divine destiny came, he was at fault in the knowledge of a single prohibition,

کای عجب نهی از پی تحریم بود ** یا به تاویلی بد و توهیم بود 1250

Wondering whether the prohibition was for the purpose of making unlawful (the thing prohibited), or whether it admitted of an interpretation and was a cause of perplexity.

در دلش تاویل چون ترجیح یافت ** طبع در حیرت سوی گندم شتافت‌‌

When (the view that it admitted of) interpretation prevailed in his mind, his nature hastened in bewilderment towards the wheat.