جهد می‌‌کن تا توانی ای کیا ** در طریق انبیا و اولیا975
O master, exert thyself so long as thou canst in (following) the way of the prophets and saints!
با قضا پنجه زدن نبود جهاد ** ز آن که این را هم قضا بر ما نهاد
Endeavour is not a struggle with Destiny, because Destiny itself has laid this (endeavour) upon us.
کافرم من گر زیان کرده ست کس ** در ره ایمان و طاعت یک نفس
I am an infidel if any one has suffered loss a single moment (while walking) in the way of faith and obedience.
سر شکسته نیست این سر را مبند ** یک دو روزک جهد کن باقی بخند
Your head is not broken: do not bandage this head. Exert yourself (in doing good works) for one or two little days (i.e. during this brief life), and laugh unto everlasting!
بد محالی جست کاو دنیا بجست ** نیک حالی جست کاو عقبی بجست
An evil resort sought he that sought this world; a good state sought he that sought the world to come.
مکرها در کسب دنیا بارد است ** مکرها در ترک دنیا وارد است980
Plots for gaining (the things of) this world are worthless, (but) plots for renouncing this world are inspired (by God).
مکر آن باشد که زندان حفره کرد ** آن که حفره بست آن مکری ست سرد
The (right) plot is that he (the prisoner) digs a hole in his prison (in order to escape); if he blocks up the hole, that is a foolish plot.
این جهان زندان و ما زندانیان ** حفره کن زندان و خود را وارهان
This world is the prison, and we are the prisoners: dig a hole in the prison and let yourself out!
چیست دنیا از خدا غافل بدن ** نی قماش و نقره و میزان و زن
What is this world? To be forgetful of God; it is not merchandise and silver and weighing-scales and women.
مال را کز بهر دین باشی حمول ** نعم مال صالح خواندش رسول
As regards the wealth that you carry for religion's sake, “How good is righteous wealth (for the righteous man)!” as the Prophet recited.
آب در کشتی هلاک کشتی است ** آب اندر زیر کشتی پشتی است985
Water in the boat is the ruin of the boat, (but) water underneath the boat is a support.
چون که مال و ملک را از دل براند ** ز آن سلیمان خویش جز مسکین نخواند
Since he cast out from his heart (the desire for) wealth and possessions, on that account Solomon did not call himself (by any name) but “poor.”
کوزه‌‌ی سر بسته اندر آب زفت ** از دل پر باد فوق آب رفت
The stoppered jar, (though) in rough water, floated on the water because of its wind-filled (empty) heart.
باد درویشی چو در باطن بود ** بر سر آب جهان ساکن بود
When the wind of poverty is within (any one), he rests at peace on the surface of the water of the world;
گر چه جمله‌‌ی این جهان ملک وی است ** ملک در چشم دل او لا شی است
Although the whole of this world is his kingdom, in the eye of his heart the kingdom is nothing.
پس دهان دل ببند و مهر کن ** پر کنش از باد کبر من لدن990
Therefore stopper and seal the mouth of your heart, and fill it from the Divine ventilator.
جهد حق است و دوا حق است و درد ** منکر اندر نفی جهدش جهد کرد
Exertion is a reality, and medicine and disease are realities: the sceptic in his denial of exertion practised (and thereby affirmed) exertion.
مقرر شدن ترجیح جهد بر توکل
How the superiority of exertion to trust in God was established.
زین نمط بسیار برهان گفت شیر ** کز جواب آن جبریان گشتند سیر
The lion gave many proofs in this style, so that those necessitarians became tired of answering (him).
روبه و آهو و خرگوش و شغال ** جبر را بگذاشتند و قیل و قال
Fox and deer and hare and jackal abandoned (the doctrine of) necessity and (ceased from) disputation.
عهدها کردند با شیر ژیان ** کاندر این بیعت نیفتد در زیان
They made covenants with the furious lion, (ensuring) that he should incur no loss in this bargain,
قسم هر روزش بیاید بی‌‌جگر ** حاجتش نبود تقاضای دگر995
(That) the daily ration should come to him without trouble, and that he should not need to make a further demand.
قرعه بر هر که فتادی روز روز ** سوی آن شیر او دویدی همچو یوز
Day by day the one on whom the lot fell would run to the lion as (swiftly as) a cheetah.
چون به خرگوش آمد این ساغر به دور ** بانگ زد خرگوش کاخر چند جور
When this cup (of death) came round to the hare, the hare cried out, “Why, how long (are we to endure this) injustice?”
انکار کردن نخجیران بر خرگوش در تاخیر رفتن بر شیر
How the beasts of chase blamed the hare for his delay in going to the lion.
قوم گفتندش که چندین گاه ما ** جان فدا کردیم در عهد و وفا
The company (of beasts) said to him: “All this time we have sacrificed our lives in troth and loyalty.
تو مجو بد نامی ما ای عنود ** تا نرنجد شیر رو رو زود زود
Do not thou seek to give us a bad name, O rebellious one! Lest the lion be aggrieved, go, go! Quick! Quick!”