از بتان و از خدا در خواستیم ** که بکن ما را اگر ناراستیم
We besought the idols and God, saying, ‘Destroy us if we are untrue.
آنک حق و راستست از ما و او ** نصرتش ده نصرت او را بجو
Whichever is right and true, between us and him, give the victory to that one and desire him to be victorious.’
این دعا بسیار کردیم و صلات ** پیش لات و پیش عزی و منات
Ofttimes we made this invocation and (bowed down in) prayer before Lát and ‘Uzzá and Manát,
که اگر حقست او پیداش کن ** ور نباشد حق زبون ماش کن
Saying, ‘If he is in the right, make him manifest; if he is not in the right, make him subject to us.’
چونک وا دیدیم او منصور بود ** ما همه ظلمت بدیم او نور بود4490
When we recognised (what had come to pass), he was the one to whom victory was given: we all were darkness, he was the light.
این جواب ماست کانچ خواستید ** گشت پیدا که شما ناراستید
This is our answer (from God)—‘(Concerning) that which ye desired (to know), it has become evident that ye are the untrue.’”
باز این اندیشه را از فکر خویش ** کور می‌کردند و دفع از ذکر خویش
Then, again, they were blindfolding (hiding) this thought from their reflective faculty and banishing it from their memory,
کین تفکرمان هم از ادبار رست ** که صواب او شود در دل درست
Saying, “This thought too has arisen from our ill-luck, (namely, the thought) that his being in the right should be perfectly established (proven beyond doubt) in our minds.
خود چه شد گر غالب آمد چند بار ** هر کسی را غالب آرد روزگار
What, indeed, does it matter if he has prevailed (against us) several times? Time (Fortune) brings every one to predominance (now and then).
ما هم از ایام بخت‌آور شدیم ** بارها بر وی مظفر آمدیم4495
We also were made successful by the Days (Fortune), and at times became victorious over him.”