رحمتش سابق بدست از قهر زان ** تا ز رحمت گردد اهل امتحان
His (God's) mercy is prior to His wrath, to the end that by (God's) mercy he (the afflicted person) may suffer affliction.
رحمتش بر قهر از آن سابق شدست ** تا که سرمایه‌ی وجود آید بدست
His (God's) mercy (eternally) preceded His wrath in order that the stock-in-trade, (which is) existence, should come to hand (be acquired);
زانک بی‌لذت نروید لحم و پوست ** چون نروید چه گدازد عشق دوست
For, without pleasure, flesh and skin do not grow; and unless they grow, what shall the love of the Friend consume?
زان تقاضا گر بیاید قهرها ** تا کنی ایثار آن سرمایه را
If, because of that requirement, acts of wrath come to pass, to the end that you may give up that stock-in-trade,
باز لطف آید برای عذر او ** که بکردی غسل و بر جستی ز جو4170
(Yet) again (afterwards) the Grace (of God) will come in order to excuse it (the act of wrath), saying, “(Now) thou hast washed thyself (clean) and hast leaped forth from the river (of tribulation).”
گوید ای نخود چریدی در بهار ** رنج مهمان تو شد نیکوش دار
She (the housewife) says, “O chickpea, thou didst feed in the springtime: (now) Pain has become thy guest: entertain him well,
تا که مهمان باز گردد شکر ساز ** پیش شه گوید ز ایثار تو باز
That the guest may return (home), giving thanks (for his entertainment), and may relate thy generosity in the presence of the King,
تا به جای نعمتت منعم رسد ** جمله نعمتها برد بر تو حسد
So that the Bestower of favour may come to thee instead of the favour, and that all favours may envy thee.
من خلیلم تو پسر پیش بچک ** سر بنه انی ارانی اذبحک
I am Khalíl (Abraham), and thou art my son: lay thy head before the knife:lo, I see (in a dream) that I shall sacrifice thee.
سر به پیش قهر نه دل بر قرار ** تا ببرم حلقت اسمعیل‌وار4175
Lay thy head before (my) wrath, with heart unmoved, that I may cut thy throat, like (that of) Ismá‘íl (Ishmael).