نه به نورش نامه توانی خواندن ** نه به منزل اسپ دانی راندن

By its light thou canst neither read a letter nor ride to thy destination.

لیک جرم آنک باشی رهن برق ** از تو رو اندر کشد انوار شرق

But, as a penalty for thy being enthralled by the lightning, the beams of sunrise withdraw themselves from thee.

می‌کشاند مکر برقت بی‌دلیل ** در مفازه‌ی مظلمی شب میل میل

Mile after mile through the night the lightning's deception leads thee on, without a guide, in a dark wilderness.

بر که افتی گاه و در جوی اوفتی ** گه بدین سو گه بدان سوی اوفتی

Now thou fallest on a mountain, now into a river; now thou wanderest in this direction, now in that.

خود نبینی تو دلیل ای جاه‌جو ** ور ببینی رو بگردانی ازو 4100

O seeker of worldly estate, thou wilt never find the guide; and if thou find him, thou wilt avert thy face from him,

که سفر کردم درین ره شصت میل ** مر مرا گمراه گوید این دلیل

Saying, “I have travelled sixty miles on this road, and (now) this guide tells me I have lost my way.

گر نهم من گوش سوی این شگفت ** ز امر او راهم ز سر باید گرفت

If I give ear to this marvel, I must begin my journey again under his authority.

من درین ره عمر خود کردم گرو ** هرچه بادا باد ای خواجه برو

I have devoted my life to this journey: (I will pursue it) come what may. Begone, O Khwája!”

راه کردی لیک در ظن چو برق ** عشر آن ره کن پی وحی چو شرق

“(Yes), thou hast journeyed (far), but (only) in opinion (unsubstantial) as lightning: (come), make a tenth part of that journey for the sake of (Divine) inspiration (glorious) as the sunrise.

ظن لایغنی من الحق خوانده‌ای ** وز چنان برقی ز شرقی مانده‌ای 4105

Thou hast read (the Verse), Opinion cannot serve instead of truth, and (yet) by a lightning-flash like that thou hast been blinded to a rising sun.