در تردد می‌زند بر همدگر ** خوف و اومید بهی در کر و فر
In perplexity the fear (of failure) and the hope of success are always in conflict with each other, (now) advancing and (now) retreating.
مناجات و پناه جستن به حق از فتنه‌ی اختیار و از فتنه‌ی اسباب اختیار کی سماوات و ارضین از اختیار و اسباب اختیار شکوهیدند و ترسیدند و خلقت آدمی مولع افتاد بر طلب اختیار و اسباب اختیار خویش چنانک بیمار باشد خود را اختیار کم بیند صحت خواهد کی سبب اختیارست تا اختیارش بیفزاید و منصب خواهد تا اختیارش بیفزاید و مهبط قهر حق در امم ماضیه فرط اختیار و اسباب اختیار بوده است هرگز فرعون بی‌نوا کس ندیده است
A prayer and a seeking refuge with God from the temptation of free-will and from the temptation of those things that minister to free-will; for the heavens and the earths dreaded and feared free-will and the things that minister to it, while the nature of Man is addicted to seeking free-will and all that ministers to his free-will; as (for example) if he is sick he feels himself to have little free-will and desires health, which ministers to free-will, in order that his free-will may be increased; and he desires high office in order that his free-will may be increased. And it was excess of free-will and of whatever ministers to it that caused the wrath of God to fall upon the peoples of the past. No one ever saw Pharaoh destitute.
اولم این جزر و مد از تو رسید ** ورنه ساکن بود این بحر ای مجید 210
From Thee first came this ebb and flow within me; else, O glorious One, this sea (of mine) was still.
هم از آنجا کین تردد دادیم ** بی‌تردد کن مرا هم از کرم
From the same source whence Thou gavest me this perplexity, graciously (now) make me unperplexed likewise.
ابتلاام می‌کنی آه الغیاث ** ای ذکور از ابتلاات چون اناث
Thou art afflicting me. Ah, help (me), O Thou by whose affliction men are (made weak) as women.
تا بکی این ابتلا یا رب مکن ** مذهبی‌ام بخش و ده‌مذهب مکن
How long (will) this affliction (continue)? Do not (afflict me), O Lord! Bestow on me one path, do not make me follow ten paths!
اشتری‌ام لاغری و پشت ریش ** ز اختیار هم‌چو پالان‌شکل خویش
I am (like) an emaciated camel, and my back is wounded by my free-will which resembles a pack-saddle.
این کژاوه گه شود این سو گران ** آن کژاوه گه شود آن سو کشان 215
At one moment this pannier weighs heavily on this side, at another moment that pannier sags to that side.
بفکن از من حمل ناهموار را ** تا ببینم روضه‌ی ابرار را
Let the ill-balanced load drop from me, that I may behold the meadow of the pious.
هم‌چو آن اصحاب کهف از باغ جود ** می‌چرم ایقاظ نی بل هم رقود
(Then), like the Fellows of the Cave, I shall browse on the orchard of Bounty— not awake, nay, they are asleep.
خفته باشم بر یمین یا بر یسار ** برنگردم جز چو گو بی‌اختیار
I shall recline on the right or on the left, I shall not roll save involuntarily, like a ball,