ور به خواب آییم مستان وی‌‌ایم ** ور به بیداری به دستان وی‌‌ایم‌‌

And if we come to sleep, we are His intoxicated ones; and if to wakefulness, we are in His hands;

ور بگرییم ابر پر زرق وی‌‌ایم ** ور بخندیم آن زمان برق وی‌‌ایم‌‌

And if we weep, we are His cloud shedding rain-drops abundantly; and if we laugh, at that time we are His lightning;

ور به خشم و جنگ عکس قهر اوست ** ور به صلح و عذر عکس مهر اوست‌‌

And if (we come) to wrath and war, ’tis the reflexion of His Might; and if to peace and forgiveness, ’tis the reflexion of His Love.

ما که‌‌ایم اندر جهان پیچ پیچ ** چون الف او خود چه دارد هیچ هیچ‌‌

Who are we? In this tangled (complex) world what (thing other than He) indeed hath He (who is single) like alif? Nothing, nothing.

سؤال کردن رسول روم از عمر از سبب ابتلای ارواح با این آب و گل اجساد

How the ambassador asked ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, concerning the cause of the tribulation suffered by spirits in this clay of the body.

گفت یا عمر چه حکمت بود و سر ** حبس آن صافی در این جای کدر 1515

He said, “O ‘Umar, what was the wisdom and mystery of imprisoning that pure one (the spirit) in this dirty place?

آب صافی در گلی پنهان شده ** جان صافی بسته‌‌ی ابدان شده‌‌

The pure water has become hidden in mud: the pure spirit has become bound in bodies.”

گفت تو بحثی شگرفی می‌‌کنی ** معنیی را بند حرفی می‌‌کنی‌‌

He (‘Umar) said, “Thou art making a profound inquiry, thou art confining a meaning in a word.

حبس کردی معنی آزاد را ** بند حرفی کرده ای تو یاد را

Thou hast imprisoned the free (unconditioned) meaning, thou hast bound the wind in a word.

از برای فایده این کرده‌‌ای ** تو که خود از فایده در پرده‌‌ای‌‌

This thou hast done for a benefit (good purpose), O thou who thyself art blind to the benefit (good purpose) of God.

آن که از وی فایده زاییده شد ** چون نبیند آن چه ما را دیده شد 1520

He from whom (every) benefit was born, how should He not see that which was seen by us?