آنچنان که یوسف از زندانیی ** با نیازی خاضعی سعدانیی 3400
That is like Joseph's (asking help) of a (fellow-) prisoner, a needy abject groundling.
خواست یاری گفت چون بیرون روی ** پیش شه گردد امورت مستوی
He besought him for help and said, “When you come out (of prison), your affairs will prosper with the king.
یاد من کن پیش تخت آن عزیز ** تا مرا هم وا خرد زین حبس نیز
Make mention of me before the throne of that mighty prince, that he may redeem (release) me also from this prison.”
کی دهد زندانیی در اقتناص ** مرد زندانی دیگر را خلاص
(But) how should a prisoner in captivity give release to another imprisoned man?
اهل دنیا جملگان زندانیند ** انتظار مرگ دار فانیند
All the people of this world are prisoners (waiting) in expectation of death in the abode that is passing away;
جز مگر نادر یکی فردانیی ** تن بزندان جان او کیوانیی 3405
Except, to be sure, in the rare case of one who is single (fardání), one whose body is in the prison (of this world) and his spirit like Saturn (in the seventh heaven).
پس جزای آنک دید او را معین ** ماند یوسف حبس در بضع سنین
Therefore, in retribution for having regarded him (the fellow-prisoner) as a helper, Joseph was left in prison for several years.
یاد یوسف دیو از عقلش سترد ** وز دلش دیو آن سخن از یاد برد
The Devil erased from his mind the recollection of Joseph and removed from his memory those words (which Joseph had spoken).
زین گنه کامد از آن نیکوخصال ** ماند در زندان ز داور چند سال
In consequence of the sin which proceeded from that man of goodly qualities (Joseph), he was left in prison for several years by the (Divine) Judge,
که چه تقصیر آمد از خورشید داد ** تا تو چون خفاش افتی در سواد
Who said, “What failure was shown by the Sun of justice that thou shouldst fall, like a bat, into the blackness (of night)?