هست این را خوش جواب ار بشنوی ** بگذری از کفر و در دین بگروی‌‌

There is a good answer to this; if you hearken, you will relinquish unbelief and incline towards the (true) religion.

حسرت و زاری گه بیماری است ** وقت بیماری همه بیداری است‌‌

Remorse and humility occur at the time of illness: the time of illness is wholly wakefulness (of conscience).

آن زمان که می‌‌شوی بیمار تو ** می‌‌کنی از جرم استغفار تو

At the time when you are becoming ill, you pray God to forgive your trespass;

می‌‌نماید بر تو زشتی گنه ** می‌‌کنی نیت که باز آیم به ره‌‌ 625

The foulness of your sin is shown to you, you resolve to come back to the (right) way;

عهد و پیمان می‌‌کنی که بعد از این ** جز که طاعت نبودم کار گزین‌‌

You make promises and vows that henceforth your chosen course (of action) will be nothing but obedience (to God):

پس یقین گشت این که بیماری ترا ** می‌‌ببخشد هوش و بیداری ترا

Therefore it has become certain that illness gives to you conscience and wakefulness.

پس بدان این اصل را ای اصل جو ** هر که را درد است او برده ست بو

Note, then, this principle, O thou that seekest the principle; every one who suffers pain has caught the scent (thereof):

هر که او بیدارتر پر دردتر ** هر که او آگاه‌‌تر رخ زردتر

The more wakeful any one is, the more full of suffering he is; the more aware (of God) he is, the paler he is in countenance.

گر ز جبرش آگهی زاریت کو ** بینش زنجیر جباریت کو 630

If you are aware of His jabr (compulsion), where is your humility? Where is your feeling of (being loaded with) the chain of His jabbárí (almightiness)?

بسته در زنجیر چون شادی کند ** کی اسیر حبس آزادی کند

How should one make merry who is bound in chains? When does the captive in prison behave like the man who is free?

ور تو می‌‌بینی که پایت بسته‌‌اند ** بر تو سرهنگان شه بنشسته‌‌اند

And if you consider that your foot is shackled (and that) the king's officers are sitting (as custodians) over you,

پس تو سرهنگی مکن با عاجزان ** ز آن که نبود طبع و خوی عاجز آن‌‌

Then do not act like an officer (tyrannously) towards the helpless, inasmuch as that is not the nature and habit of a helpless man.

چون تو جبر او نمی‌‌بینی مگو ** ور همی‌‌بینی نشان دید کو

Since you do not feel His compulsion, do not say (that you are compelled); and if you feel it, where is the sign of your feeling?

در هر آن کاری که میل استت بدان ** قدرت خود را همی‌‌بینی عیان‌‌ 635

In every act for which you have inclination, you are clearly conscious of your power (to perform it),

و اندر آن کاری که میلت نیست ** و خواست خویش را جبری کنی کاین از خداست‌‌

(But) in the act for which you have no inclination and desire, you make yourself a necessitarian, saying, “This is from God.”

انبیا در کار دنیا جبری‌‌اند ** کافران در کار عقبی جبری‌‌اند

The prophets are necessitarians in regard to the works of this world, (while) the infidels are necessitarians in regard to the works of the next world.

انبیا را کار عقبی اختیار ** جاهلان را کار دنیا اختیار

To the prophets the works of the next world are (a matter of) freewill; to the foolish the works of this world are (a matter of) freewill,

ز آن که هر مرغی به سوی جنس خویش ** می‌‌پرد او در پس و جان پیش پیش‌‌

Because every bird flies to its own congener: it (follows) behind, and its spirit (goes) before, (leading it on).

کافران چون جنس سجین آمدند ** سجن دنیا را خوش آیین آمدند 640

Inasmuch as the infidels were congeners of Sijjn (Hell), they were well-disposed to the prison (sijn) of this world.

انبیا چون جنس علیین بدند ** سوی علیین جان و دل شدند

Inasmuch as the prophets were congeners of ‘Illiyyín (Heaven), they went towards the ‘Illiyyín of spirit and heart.

این سخن پایان ندارد لیک ما ** باز گوییم آن تمامی قصه را

This discourse hath no end, but let us (now) relate the story to its completion.

نومید کردن وزیر مریدان را از رفض خلوت

How the vizier made the disciples lose hope of his abandoning seclusion.

آن وزیر از اندرون آواز داد ** کای مریدان از من این معلوم باد

The vizier cried out from within, “O disciples, be this made known to you from me,

که مرا عیسی چنین پیغام کرد ** کز همه یاران و خویشان باش فرد

That Jesus hath given me a such-like message: ‘Be separated from all friends and kinsfolk.

روی در دیوار کن تنها نشین ** وز وجود خویش هم خلوت گزین‌‌ 645

Set thy face to the wall, sit alone, and choose to be secluded even from thine own existence.’

بعد از این دستوری گفتار نیست ** بعد از این با گفت و گویم کار نیست‌‌

After this there is no permission (for me) to speak; after this I have nothing to do with talk.