گر ندیدی دیو را خود را ببین ** بی‌‌جنون نبود کبودی بر جبین
If thou hast not seen the Devil, behold thyself: without diabolic possession there is no blueness in the forehead.
هر که را در دل شک و پیچانی است ** در جهان او فلسفی پنهانی است3285
Whosoever hath doubt and perplexity in his heart, he in this world is a secret philosopher.
می‌‌نماید اعتقاد و گاه گاه ** آن رگ فلسف کند رویش سیاه
He is professing firm belief, but some time or other that philosophical vein will blacken his face (bring him to shame).
الحذر ای مومنان کان در شماست ** در شما بس عالم بی‌‌منتهاست
Take care, O ye Faithful! for that (vein) is in you: in you is many an infinite world.
جمله هفتاد و دو ملت در تو است ** وه که روزی آن بر آرد از تو دست
In thee are all the two-and-seventy sects: woe (to thee) if one day they gain the upper hand over thee.
هر که او را برگ آن ایمان بود ** همچو برگ از بیم این لرزان بود
From fear of this, every one who has the fortune (barg) of (holding) that Faith (Islam) is trembling like a leaf (barg).
بر بلیس و دیو از آن خندیده‌‌ای ** که تو خود را نیک مردم دیده‌‌ای3290
Thou hast laughed at Iblís and the devils because thou hast regarded thyself as a good man.
چون کند جان باژگونه پوستین ** چند واویلا بر آید اهل دین
When the soul shall turn its coat inside out (and be revealed as it really is), how many a “Woe is me” will arise from the followers of the (Mohammedan) Religion!
بر دکان هر زرنما خندان شده ست ** ز آنکه سنگ امتحان پنهان شده ست
On the counter (of the shop) everything (every gilded coin) that looks like gold is smiling, because the touchstone is out of sight.
پرده ای ستار از ما بر مگیر ** باش اندر امتحان ما مجیر
O Coverer (of faults), do not lift up the veil from us, be a protector to us in our test (on the Day of Judgement).
قلب پهلو می‌‌زند با زر به شب ** انتظار روز می‌‌دارد ذهب
At night the false coin jostles (in rivalry) with the gold: the gold is waiting for day.
با زبان حال زر گوید که باش ** ای مزور تا بر آید روز فاش3295
With the tongue of its (inward) state the gold says, “Wait, O tinselled one, till day rises clear.”
صد هزاران سال ابلیس لعین ** بود ز ابدال و امیر المؤمنین
Hundreds of thousands of years the accursed Iblís was a saint and the prince of true believers;
پنجه زد با آدم از نازی که داشت ** گشت رسوا همچو سرگین وقت چاشت
On account of the pride which he had, he grappled with Adam and was put to shame, like dung at morning tide.
دعا کردن بلعم باعور که موسی و قومش را از این شهر که حصار داده‌‌اند بی‌‌مراد باز گردان
How Bal‘am son of Bá‘úr prayed (to God), saying, “Cause Moses and his people to turn back, without having gained their desire, from this city which they have besieged and how his prayer was granted.”
بلعم باعور را خلق جهان ** سغبه شد مانند عیسای زمان
To Bal‘am son of Bá‘úr the people of the world became subject, (for he was) like unto the Jesus of the time.
سجده ناوردند کس را دون او ** صحت رنجور بود افسون او
They bowed (worshipfully) to none but him: his spell was (giving) health to the sick.
پنجه زد با موسی از کبر و کمال ** آن چنان شد که شنیده ستی تو حال3300
From pride and (conceit of) perfection he grappled with Moses: his plight became such as thou hast heard.
صد هزار ابلیس و بلعم در جهان ** همچنین بوده ست پیدا و نهان
Even so there have been in the world, manifest or hidden, a hundred thousand like Iblís and Bal‘am.
این دو را مشهور گردانید اله ** تا که باشد این دو بر باقی گواه
God caused these twain to be notorious, that these twain might bear witness against the rest.
این دو دزد آویخت از دار بلند ** ور نه اندر قهر بس دزدان بدند
These two thieves He hanged on a high gallows (to be a warning to all); else there were many (other) thieves in (the pale of) His vengeance.
این دو را پرچم به سوی شهر برد ** کشتگان قهر را نتوان شمرد
These twain He dragged by their forelocks to the city (for slaughter); (but) ’tis impossible to number (all) the victims of His wrath.
نازنینی تو ولی در حد خویش ** الله الله پا منه از حد خویش3305
You are a favourite (of God), but within your (due) bounds. (Fear) God, (fear) God, do not set foot beyond (those) bounds.
گر زنی بر نازنین تر از خودت ** در تگ هفتم زمین زیر آردت
If you combat with one who is a greater favourite than yourself, ’twill bring you down to the lowest depth of the seventh earth.
قصه‌‌ی عاد و ثمود از بهر چیست ** تا بدانی کانبیا را نازکی است
For what purpose is the tale of ‘Ád and Thamúd? That you may know that the prophets have disdain (for the wicked).
این نشان خسف و قذف و صاعقه ** شد بیان عز نفس ناطقه
These signs—the (earth's) swallowing up (sinners), the hurling of stones (upon them), and the thunderbolts—were evidence of the might of the Rational Soul.