من گمان بردم که ایمان آورم ** تا ازین طوفان خون آبی خورم

I thought I would profess the Faith in order that from this deluge of blood I might drink some water.

من چه دانستم که تبدیلی کند ** در نهاد من مرا نیلی کند 3530

How did I know that He would work a transformation in my nature and make me a (spiritual) Nile?

سوی چشم خود یکی نیلم روان ** برقرارم پیش چشم دیگران

To my own eye, I am a flowing Nile, (but) to the eyes of others I am at rest.”

هم‌چنانک این جهان پیش نبی ** غرق تسبیحست و پیش ما غبی

Just as, to the Prophet, this world is plunged in glorification of God, while to us it is heedless (insensible).

پیش چشمش این جهان پر عشق و داد ** پیش چشم دیگران مرده و جماد

To his eye, this world is filled with love and bounty; to the eyes of others it is dead and inert.

پست و بالا پیش چشمش تیزرو ** از کلوخ و خشت او نکته شنو

To his eye, vale and hill are moving swiftly: he hears subtle discourse from clod and brick.

با عوام این جمله بسته و مرده‌ای ** زین عجب‌تر من ندیدم پرده‌ای 3535

To the vulgar, all this (world) is a bound and dead (thing): I have not seen a veil (of blindness) more wonderful than this.

گورها یکسان به پیش چشم ما ** روضه و حفره به چشم اولیا

To our eye, (all) the graves are alike; to the eyes of the saints, (one is) a garden (in Paradise), and (another is) a pit (in Hell).

عامه گفتندی که پیغامبر ترش ** از چه گشتست و شدست او ذوق‌کش

The vulgar would say, “Wherefore has the Prophet become sour (of visage) and why has he become pleasure-killing?”

خاص گفتندی که سوی چشمتان ** می‌نماید او ترش ای امتان

The elect would say, “To your eyes, O peoples, he appears to be sour;