صد هزاران دام و دانه ست ای خدا ** ما چو مرغان حریص بی‌‌نوا

O God, there are myriads of snares and baits, and we are as greedy foodless birds.

دم‌‌به‌‌دم ما بسته‌‌ی دام نویم ** هر یکی گر باز و سیمرغی شویم‌‌ 375

From moment to moment we are caught in a fresh snare, though we become, each one, (like) a falcon or a Símurgh.

می‌‌رهانی هر دمی ما را و باز ** سوی دامی می‌‌رویم ای بی‌‌نیاز

Every moment Thou art delivering us, and again we are going to a snare, O Thou who art without want!

ما در این انبار گندم می‌‌کنیم ** گندم جمع آمده گم می‌‌کنیم‌‌

We are putting corn in this barn, (and then) we are losing the corn that has been garnered.

می‌‌نیندیشیم آخر ما به هوش ** کین خلل در گندم است از مکر موش‌‌

(Why), after all, do not we consider with intelligent mind that this damage to the corn arises from the deceitfulness of the mouse?

موش تا انبار ما حفره زده ست ** وز فنش انبار ما ویران شده ست‌‌

Since the mouse has made a hole in our barn, and our barn has been ravaged by its guile,

اول ای جان دفع شر موش کن ** وانگهان در جمع گندم جوش کن‌‌ 380

O soul, in the first place avert the mischief of the mouse, and then show fervour (zeal) in garnering the corn.

بشنو از اخبار آن صدر الصدور ** لا صلاة تم الا بالحضور

Hear (one) of the sayings related from the Chiefest of the Chief (the Prophet): “No prayer is complete without ‘presence’ (concentration of the mind on God).”

گر نه موشی دزد در انبار ماست ** گندم اعمال چل ساله کجاست‌‌

If there is no thievish mouse in our barn, where is the corn of forty years' works (of devotion)?

ریزه ریزه صدق هر روزه چرا ** جمع می‌‌ناید در این انبار ما

Why is the daily sincerity (of our devotions) not being stored, bit by bit, in this barn of ours?

بس ستاره‌‌ی آتش از آهن جهید ** و ان دل سوزیده پذرفت و کشید

Many a star (spark) of fire shot forth from the iron (of good works), and that burning heart received (it) and drew (it) in;

لیک در ظلمت یکی دزدی نهان ** می‌‌نهد انگشت بر استارگان‌‌ 385

But in the darkness a hidden thief is laying his finger upon the stars,

می‌‌کشد استارگان را یک به یک ** تا که نفروزد چراغی از فلک‌‌

Extinguishing the stars one by one, that no lamp may shine from the (spiritual) sky.

گر هزاران دام باشد در قدم ** چون تو با مایی نباشد هیچ غم‌‌

Though there be thousands of snares at our feet, when Thou art with us there is not any trouble.

هر شبی از دام تن ارواح را ** می‌‌رهانی می‌‌کنی الواح را

Every night Thou freest the spirits from the body's snare, and dost erase (the impressions on) the tablets (of the mind).

می‌‌رهند ارواح هر شب زین قفس ** فارغان، نه حاکم و محکوم کس‌‌

The spirits are set free every night from this cage, independent, neither ruling nor ruled by anyone.

شب ز زندان بی‌‌خبر زندانیان ** شب ز دولت بی‌‌خبر سلطانیان‌‌ 390

At night prisoners are unconscious of their prison, at night governors are unconscious of their power.

نه غم و اندیشه‌‌ی سود و زیان ** نه خیال این فلان و آن فلان‌‌

There is no sorrow, no thought of gain or loss, no fancy of this person or that person.

حال عارف این بود بی‌‌خواب هم ** گفت ایزد هم رقود زین مرم‌‌

This is the state of the ‘árif (gnostic), even without sleep: God said, (Thou wouldst deem them awake) whilst they slept. Shy not at this.

خفته از احوال دنیا روز و شب ** چون قلم در پنجه‌‌ی تقلیب رب‌‌

He is asleep, day and night, to the affairs of the world, like a pen in the hand of the Lord's control.

آن که او پنجه نبیند در رقم ** فعل پندارد به جنبش از قلم‌‌

One who sees not the hand in the writing thinks (that) the act (of writing proceeds) from the pen by means of movement.

شمه‌‌ای زین حال عارف وانمود ** خلق را هم خواب حسی در ربود 395

He (God) hath shown forth some part of this state of the ‘árif, (inasmuch as) the intellect too is carried off (overtaken) by sleep of the senses.

رفته در صحرای بی‌‌چون جانشان ** روحشان آسوده و ابدانشان‌‌

Their souls are gone into the desert that is without description: their spirits and bodies are at rest;

وز صفیری باز دام اندر کشی ** جمله را در داد و در داور کشی‌‌

And with a whistle thou leadest them back to the snare, leadest them all (back) to justice and to the judge.

فالق الإصباح اسرافیل‌‌وار ** جمله را در صورت آرد ز ان دیار

Like Isráfíl (Seraphiel), He (God) who causes the dawn to break brings them all from those lands (of spirit) into (the world of) form.