عقده‌ای که آن بر گلوی ماست سخت ** که بدانی که خسی یا نیک‌بخت
The knot that is (fastened) tight on our throat is that thou shouldst know whether thou art vile or fortunate.
حل این اشکال کن گر آدمی ** خرج این کن دم اگر آدم‌دمی
Solve this problem, if thou art a man: spend thy breath (life) on this, if thou hast the breath (spirit) of Adam (within thee).
حد اعیان و عرض دانسته گیر ** حد خود را دان که نبود زین گزیر
Suppose thou knowest the definitions of (all) substances and accidents, (how shall it profit thee?): know the (true) definition of thyself, for this is indispensable.
چون بدانی حد خود زین حدگریز ** تا به بی‌حد در رسی ای خاک‌بیز 565
When thou knowest the definition of thyself, flee from this definition, that thou mayst attain to Him who hath no definition, O sifter of dust.
عمر در محمول و در موضوع رفت ** بی‌بصیرت عمر در مسموع رفت
(Thy) life has gone (to waste) in (the consideration of logical) predicate and subject: (thy) life, devoid of (spiritual) insight, has gone in (study of) what has been received by hearsay.
هر دلیلی بی‌نتیجه و بی‌اثر ** باطل آمد در نتیجه‌ی خود نگر
Every proof (that is) without (a spiritual) result and effect is vain: consider the (final) result of thyself!
جز به مصنوعی ندیدی صانعی ** بر قیاس اقترانی قانعی
Thou hast never perceived a Maker except by means of a thing made: thou art content with a syllogism.
می‌فزاید در وسایط فلسفی ** از دلایل باز برعکسش صفی
The philosopher multiplies links (consisting) of (logical) proofs; on the other hand, the elect (the mystic) is contrary to him (in this respect).
این گریزد از دلیل و از حجاب ** از پی مدلول سر برده به جیب 570
The latter flees from the proof and from the veil (between himself and God): he has sunk his head in his bosom for the sake of (contemplating) the Object of the proof.
گر دخان او را دلیل آتشست ** بی‌دخان ما را در آن آتش خوشست
If to him (the philosopher) the smoke is a proof of the fire, to us (mystics) ’tis sweet (to be) in the fire without the smoke,