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گفت هیهی این دعا دیگر مکن ** بر مکن تو خویش را از بیخ و بن
- Said the Prophet, “Hey! do not offer this prayer again: do not dig yourself up from root and base.
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تو چه طاقت داری ای مور نژند ** که نهد بر تو چنان کوه بلند
- What strength have you, O wretched ant, to endure that He should lay on you such a lofty mountain?”
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گفت توبه کردم ای سلطان که من ** از سر جلدی نه لافم هیچ فن
- He answered, “O Sultan, I repent (and vow) that in no wise will I (henceforth) brag recklessly.
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این جهان تیه است و تو موسی و ما ** از گنه در تیه مانده مبتلا
- This world is the Desert (of the Israelites), and thou art Moses, and we because of (our) sin remain in the Desert in tribulation.
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سالها ره میرویم و در اخیر ** همچنان در منزل اول اسیر 2485
- We are wayfaring for years, and at the end we are still held captive in the first stage (of the journey).
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گر دل موسی ز ما راضی بدی ** تیه را راه و کران پیدا شدی
- If the heart of Moses were pleased with us, there would be shown (to us) the way through the Desert and the (farthest) border (thereof);
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ور به کل بیزار بودی او ز ما ** کی رسیدی خوانمان هیچ از سما
- And if he were wholly disgusted with us, how by any means would trays of food come to us from heaven?
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کی ز سنگی چشمهها جوشان شدی ** در بیابانمان امان جان شدی
- How would springs gush from a rock, (and how) would there be security for our lives in the desert?
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بل به جای خوان خود آتش آمدی ** اندر این منزل لهب بر ما زدی
- Nay, truly, fire would come instead of trays: flames would beat upon us in this abode.
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چون دو دل شد موسی اندر کار ما ** گاه خصم ماست گاهی یار ما 2490
- Forasmuch as Moses has become of two minds concerning us, he is sometimes our enemy and sometimes our friend.
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خشمش آتش میزند در رخت ما ** حلم او رد میکند تیر بلا
- His anger sets fire to our goods; his clemency averts the arrow of affliction.
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کی بود که حلم گردد خشم نیز ** نیست این نادر ز لطفت ای عزیز
- When (how) may it be that anger shall again become clemency? This is not extraordinary (as proceeding) from thy grace, O venerable one.
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مدح حاضر وحشت است از بهر این ** نام موسی میبرم قاصد چنین
- To praise any one present is (a cause of) embarrassment; on this account I am purposely using the name of Moses, like this.
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ور نه موسی کی روا دارد که من ** پیش تو یاد آورم از هیچ تن
- Otherwise, how should Moses deem it right that I make mention of anybody before thee?
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عهد ما بشکست صد بار و هزار ** عهد تو چون کوه ثابت برقرار 2495
- Our covenant hath been broken hundreds and thousands of times; Thy covenant, like a mountain, stands firm and stable.
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عهد ما کاه و به هر بادی زبون ** عهد تو کوه و ز صد که هم فزون
- Our covenant is straw and subject to every wind (of passion); Thy covenant is a mountain, and even more than a hundred mountains.
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حق آن قوت که بر تلوین ما ** رحمتی کن ای امیر لونها
- By the truth of that power (which is Thine), have some mercy upon our mutability, O Ruler of (all) mutations!
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خویش را دیدیم و رسوایی خویش ** امتحان ما مکن ای شاه بیش
- We have seen ourselves (as we really are) and our shame. Put us not to further trial, O King,
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تا فضیحتهای دیگر را نهان ** کرده باشی ای کریم مستعان
- So that (by sparing us) Thou wilt have concealed other disgraces, O Bounteous One whose help we implore!
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بیحدی تو در جمال و در کمال ** در کژی ما بیحدیم و در ضلال 2500
- Thou art infinite in beauty and perfection; we are infinite in wrongness and error.
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بیحدی خویش بگمار ای کریم ** بر کژی بیحد مشتی لئیم
- Direct Thy infinity, O Bounteous One, upon the infinite wrongness of a handful of vile wretches (such as we are).
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هین که از تقطیع ما یک تار ماند ** مصر بودیم و یکی دیوار ماند
- Oh, come, for of our cloth-piece (only) a single thread remains we were a city, and (only) a single wall remains.
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البقیه البقیه ای خدیو ** تا نگردد شاد کلی جان دیو
- (Save) the remnant, (save) the remnant, O Sovereign, that the soul of the Devil may not rejoice entirely––
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بهر ما نه بهر آن لطف نخست ** که تو کردی گمرهان را باز جست
- Not for our sakes, (but) for the sake of the primal grace through which Thou didst seek out them that had lost the way.
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چون نمودی قدرتت بنمای رحم ** ای نهاده رحمها در لحم و شحم 2505
- As Thou hast shown Thy power, (so now) show Thy mercy, O Thou who hast implanted feelings of mercy in flesh and fat.