بسته در زنجیر چون شادی کند ** کی اسیر حبس آزادی کند

How should one make merry who is bound in chains? When does the captive in prison behave like the man who is free?

ور تو می‌‌بینی که پایت بسته‌‌اند ** بر تو سرهنگان شه بنشسته‌‌اند

And if you consider that your foot is shackled (and that) the king's officers are sitting (as custodians) over you,

پس تو سرهنگی مکن با عاجزان ** ز آن که نبود طبع و خوی عاجز آن‌‌

Then do not act like an officer (tyrannously) towards the helpless, inasmuch as that is not the nature and habit of a helpless man.

چون تو جبر او نمی‌‌بینی مگو ** ور همی‌‌بینی نشان دید کو

Since you do not feel His compulsion, do not say (that you are compelled); and if you feel it, where is the sign of your feeling?

در هر آن کاری که میل استت بدان ** قدرت خود را همی‌‌بینی عیان‌‌ 635

In every act for which you have inclination, you are clearly conscious of your power (to perform it),

و اندر آن کاری که میلت نیست ** و خواست خویش را جبری کنی کاین از خداست‌‌

(But) in the act for which you have no inclination and desire, you make yourself a necessitarian, saying, “This is from God.”

انبیا در کار دنیا جبری‌‌اند ** کافران در کار عقبی جبری‌‌اند

The prophets are necessitarians in regard to the works of this world, (while) the infidels are necessitarians in regard to the works of the next world.

انبیا را کار عقبی اختیار ** جاهلان را کار دنیا اختیار

To the prophets the works of the next world are (a matter of) freewill; to the foolish the works of this world are (a matter of) freewill,

ز آن که هر مرغی به سوی جنس خویش ** می‌‌پرد او در پس و جان پیش پیش‌‌

Because every bird flies to its own congener: it (follows) behind, and its spirit (goes) before, (leading it on).

کافران چون جنس سجین آمدند ** سجن دنیا را خوش آیین آمدند 640

Inasmuch as the infidels were congeners of Sijjn (Hell), they were well-disposed to the prison (sijn) of this world.