سوی حسی رو که نورش راکب است ** حس را آن نور نیکو صاحب است‏

Go towards a sense on which the Light is riding: that Light is a good companion for the sense.

نور حس را نور حق تزیین بود ** معنی نور علی‏ نور این بود

The Light of God is an ornament to the light of sense: this is the meaning of light upon light.

نور حسی می‏کشد سوی ثری ** نور حقش می‏برد سوی علی‏

The light of sense draws (a man) towards earth; the Light of God bears him aloft,

ز انکه محسوسات دونتر عالمی است ** نور حق دریا و حس چون شبنمی است‏ 1295

Because sensible things are a lower world: the Light of God is (as) the sea, and the sense as a dew-drop.

لیک پیدا نیست آن راکب بر او ** جز به آثار و به گفتار نکو

But that which rides on it (on the sense) is not manifested save by good effects and words.

نور حسی کاو غلیظ است و گران ** هست پنهان در سواد دیده‏گان‏

The sensuous light, which is gross and heavy, is hidden in the black of the eyes.

چون که نور حس نمی‏بینی ز چشم ** چون ببینی نور آن دینی ز چشم‏

Inasmuch as you are not seeing the light of sense with (your) eye, how should you see the light of that religious one (the saint) with (your) eye?

نور حس با این غلیظی مختفی است ** چون خفی نبود ضیایی کان صفی است‏

The light of sense is hidden notwithstanding this grossness: how (then) should not that radiance be hidden which is pure (and subtle)?

این جهان چون خس به دست باد غیب ** عاجزی پیش گرفت و داد غیب‏ 1300

This world, like straws in the hand (control) of the wind (which is) the (world) unseen, is a helpless object before the power and sway of the Unseen

گه بلندش می‏کند گاهیش پست ** گه درستش می‏کند گاهی شکست‏

It (this control) makes it now lofty, now low; makes it now sound (and whole), now broken;

گه یمینش می‏برد گاهی یسار ** گه گلستانش کند گاهیش خار

Now carries it to the right, now to the left; now makes it roses, now thorns.

دست پنهان و قلم بین خط گزار ** اسب در جولان و ناپیدا سوار

See (how) the Hand (is) hidden, while the pen is writing; the horse careering, while the Rider is invisible.

تیر پران بین و ناپیدا کمان ** جانها پیدا و پنهان جان جان‏

See the arrow flying, and the Bow not in sight; the (individual) souls manifest, and the Soul of souls hidden.

تیر را مشکن که این تیر شهی است ** تیر پرتابی ز شصت آگهی است‏ 1305

Do not break the arrow, for it is the arrow of a King; it is not shot at long range (at random), it is from the thumb-stall of One who knows (how to hit the target).

ما رمیت إذ رمیت گفت حق ** کار حق بر کارها دارد سبق‏

God said, “Thou didst not throw when thou threwest”: the action of God has precedence over (our) actions.

خشم خود بشکن تو مشکن تیر را ** چشم خشمت خون شمارد شیر را

Break your own anger, do not break the arrow: the eye of your anger reckons milk (to be) blood.

بوسه ده بر تیر و پیش شاه بر ** تیر خون آلود از خون تو تر

Give the arrow a kiss and bring it to the King—the blood-stained arrow, wet with your blood.

آن چه پیدا عاجز و بسته و زبون ** و آن چه ناپیدا چنان تند و حرون‏

That which is seen is helpless and confined and feeble; and that which is unseen is so fierce and uncontrollable.

ما شکاریم این چنین دامی کراست ** گوی چوگانیم چوگانی کجاست‏ 1310

We are the (hunted) prey: to whom belongs such a (fearful) snare? We are the ball (for the blows) of the polo-bat—and where is the Batsman?

می‏درد می‏دوزد این خیاط کو ** می‏دمد می‏سوزد این نفاط کو

He tears, He sews: where is this Tailor? He blows, He burns: where is this Fire-kindler?

ساعتی کافر کند صدیق را ** ساعتی زاهد کند زندیق را

At one hour He makes the true saint an unbeliever; at another hour He makes the (impious) deist an (orthodox) ascetic;

ز انکه مخلص در خطر باشد ز دام ** تا ز خود خالص نگردد او تمام‏

For the mukhlis (sincere worshipper) is in danger of the snare until he becomes entirely purged of self,

ز انکه در راهست و ره زن بی‏حد است ** آن رهد کاو در امان ایزد است‏

Because he is (still) on the Way, and the brigands are numberless: (only) he escapes who is under God's safeguard.

آینه‏ی خالص نگشت او مخلص است ** مرغ را نگرفته است او مقنص است‏ 1315

(If) he has not become (selfless, like) a pure mirror, he is (no more than) mukhlis: (if) he has not caught the bird, he is (still) hunting;

چون که مخلص گشت مخلص باز رست ** در مقام امن رفت و برد دست‏

(But) when the mukhlis has become mukhlas, he is delivered: he has reached the place of safety and has won the victory.