نقش باشد پیش نقاش و قلم ** عاجز و بسته چو کودک در شکم
Before the painter and the brush the picture is helpless and bound like a child in the womb.
پیش قدرت خلق جمله بارگه ** عاجزان چون پیش سوزن کارگه
Before Omnipotence all the people of the (Divine) court of audience (the world) are as helpless as the (embroiderer's) fabric before the needle.
گاه نقشش دیو و گه آدم کند ** گاه نقشش شادی و گه غم کند
Now He makes the picture thereon (one of) the Devil, now (of) Adam; now He makes the picture thereon (one of) joy, now (one of) grief.
دست نه تا دست جنباند به دفع ** نطق نه تا دم زند در ضر و نفع
There is no power (to any one) that he should move a hand in defence; no (right of) speech, that he should utter a word concerning injury or benefit.
تو ز قرآن باز خوان تفسیر بیت ** گفت ایزد ما رميت إذ رمیت615
Recite from the Qur’án the interpretation of (i.e. a text which interprets) the (preceding) verse: God said, Thou didst not throw when thou threwest.
گر بپرانیم تیر آن نه ز ماست ** ما کمان و تیر اندازش خداست
If we let fly an arrow, that (action) is not from us: we are (only) the bow, and the shooter of the arrow is God.
این نه جبر این معنی جباری است ** ذکر جباری برای زاری است
This is not jabr (compulsion); it is the meaning of jabbárí (almightiness): the mention of almightiness is for the sake of (inspiring us with) humility.
زاری ما شد دلیل اضطرار ** خجلت ما شد دلیل اختیار
Our humility is evidence of necessity, (but) our sense of guilt is evidence of freewill.
گر نبودی اختیار این شرم چیست ** وین دریغ و خجلت و آزرم چیست
If there were not freewill, what is this shame? And what is this sorrow and guilty confusion and abashment?
زجر استادان و شاگردان چراست ** خاطر از تدبیرها گردان چراست620
Why is there chiding between pupils and masters? Why is the mind changing (so as to depart) from plans (already formed)?