تلخ‌‌تر از فرقت تو هیچ نیست ** بی‌‌پناهت غیر پیچا پیچ نیست‌‌

There is naught more bitter than separation from Thee: without Thy protection there is naught but perplexity.

رخت ما هم رخت ما را راه زن ** جسم ما مر جان ما را جامه کن‌‌

Our (worldly) goods waylay (and plunder) our (spiritual) goods: our bodies tear the garment (of spirituality) from our souls.

دست ما چون پای ما را می‌‌خورد ** بی‌‌امان تو کسی جان چون برد

Inasmuch as (the evil wrought by) our hand devours (the good towards which we move) our foot, how shall any one save his soul without Thy security?

ور برد جان زین خطرهای عظیم ** برده باشد مایه‌‌ی ادبار و بیم‌‌ 3905

And (even) if (unaided) he save his soul from these awful dangers, he will (only) have saved a stock of misfortune and fear,

ز آن که جان چون واصل جانان نبود ** تا ابد با خویش کور است و کبود

Because the soul, when it is not united with the Beloved, is blind and blue (miserable) with itself for ever.

چون تو ندهی راه جان خود برده گیر ** جان که بی‌‌تو زنده باشد مرده گیر

When Thou wilt not give him admission (to Thy presence) —even suppose he has saved his soul, regard as dead the soul that would live without Thee.

گر تو طعنه می‌‌زنی بر بندگان ** مر ترا آن می‌‌رسد ای کامران‌‌

If Thou art upbraiding Thy slaves, that is suitable to Thee, O Thou whose every wish is fulfilled.

ور تو ماه و مهر را گویی جفا ** ور تو قد سرو را گویی دوتا

And if Thou utter abuse of the moon and sun, and if Thou say that the (straight) stature of the cypress is (bent) double,

ور تو چرخ و عرش را خوانی حقیر ** ور تو کان و بحر را گویی فقیر 3910

And if Thou call the sky and the empyrean contemptible, and if Thou say that the mine and the sea are poor—

آن به نسبت با کمال تو رواست ** ملک اکمال فناها مر تراست‌‌

That is proper in reference to Thy perfection: Thine is the power of perfecting (all) mortalities,

که تو پاکی از خطر و ز نیستی ** نیستان را موجد و معنیستی‌‌

For Thou art holy (and free) from danger and from non-existence: Thou art He that brings the non-existent ones into being and endows (them with existence).

آن که رویانید داند سوختن ** ز آن که چون بدرید داند دوختن‌‌

He that made to grow can burn (destroy), because when He has torn, He can sew (mend).

می‌‌بسوزد هر خزان مر باغ را ** باز رویاند گل صباغ را

Every autumn He burns (withers) the garden; (then) He makes to grow again the rose that dyes (the garden),

کای بسوزیده برون آ تازه شو ** بار دیگر خوب و خوب آوازه شو 3915

Saying, “O thou who wert withered, come forth, be fresh, once more be fair and of fair renown!”

چشم نرگس کور شد بازش بساخت ** حلق نی ببرید و بازش خود نواخت‌‌

The eye of the narcissus became blind: He restored it; the throat of the reed was cut: He himself fostered it again (and revived it).

ما چو مصنوعیم و صانع نیستیم ** جز زبون و جز که قانع نیستیم‌‌

Since we are made (by God) and are not makers, we are not (entitled to be anything) but humble and content.

ما همه نفسی و نفسی می‌‌زنیم ** گر نخوانی ما همه اهرمنیم‌‌

We all are of the flesh and busy with fleshliness: if Thou call us not (to Thyself), we all are Ahrimans (Devils).

ز آن ز اهرمن رهیدستیم ما ** که خریدی جان ما را از عمی‌‌

(If) we have been delivered from Ahriman, (it is only) because Thou hast redeemed our souls from blindness.

تو عصا کش هر که را که زندگی است ** بی‌‌عصا و بی‌‌عصا کش کور چیست‌‌ 3920

Thou art the Guide of every one that hath life: what is the blind man without staff and guide?

غیر تو هر چه خوش است و ناخوش است ** آدمی سوز است و عین آتش است‌‌

Excepting Thee (alone), whatsoever is sweet or unsweet is man-destroying and the essence of fire.

هر که را آتش پناه و پشت شد ** هم مجوسی گشت و هم زردشت شد

Any one to whom fire is a refuge and support becomes both a Magian and a Zoroaster.

کل شی‌‌ء ما خلا الله باطل ** إن فضل الله غیم هاطل‌‌

Everything except Allah is vain: verily the grace of Allah is a cloud pouring abundantly and continually.

باز گشتن به حکایت امیر المؤمنین علی کرم الله وجهه و مسامحت کردن او با خونی خویش‌‌

Returning to the story of ‘Alí—may God honour his person!— and how generously he behaved to his murderer.

باز رو سوی علی و خونی‌‌اش ** و آن کرم با خونی و افزونی‌‌اش‌‌

Go back to ‘Alí and his murderer, and the kindness he showed to the murderer, and his superiority (moral and spiritual excellence).

گفت دشمن را همی بینم به چشم ** روز و شب بر وی ندارم هیچ خشم 3925

He said, “Day and night I see the enemy with my eyes, (but) I have no anger against him,

ز آنکه مرگم همچو من خوش آمده ست ** مرگ من در بعث چنگ اندر زده ست‌‌

Because death has become sweet as manna to me: my death has laid fast hold of resurrection.”