حالها موقوف عزم و رای او ** زنده از نفخ مسیح‌آسای او
“States” are dependent on his decision and judgement; (they are) vivified by his Messiah-like breath.
عاشق حالی نه عاشق بر منی ** بر امید حال بر من می‌تنی
“Thou art in love with thy ‘state,’ thou art not in love with me; thou art attached to me in the hope of (experiencing) the ‘state.’”
آنک یک دم کم دمی کامل بود ** نیست معبود خلیل آفل بود
He that at one moment is deficient and at another moment perfect is not He that was worshipped by Khalíl (Abraham): he is one that sinks;
وانک آفل باشد و گه آن و این ** نیست دلبر لا احب افلین 1430
And he that is liable to sink and is now that and (now) this is not the (true) beloved: “I love not them that sink.”
آنک او گاهی خوش و گه ناخوشست ** یک زمانی آب و یک دم آتشست
He that is now pleasing and now unpleasing, at one time water and at one moment fire,
برج مه باشد ولیکن ماه نه ** نقش بت باشد ولی آگاه نه
May be the mansion of the Moon, but he is not the Moon; he may be the picture of the Adored One, but he is not conscious.
هست صوفی صفاجو ابن وقت ** وقت را همچون پدر بگرفته سخت
The Súfí that seeks purity is ‘the son of the time’: he has clasped the ‘time’ tightly as (though it were) his father.
هست صافی غرق عشق ذوالجلال ** ابن کس نه فارغ از اوقات و حال
The pure one (sáfí) is plunged in love of the Glorious (God); he is not the son of any one, (he is) free from ‘times’ and ‘states’—
غرقه‌ی نوری که او لم یولدست ** لم یلد لم یولد آن ایزدست 1435
Plunged in the Light which is unbegotten: (the description) He neither begetteth nor is He begotten belongs to God (alone).
رو چنین عشقی بجو گر زنده‌ای ** ورنه وقت مختلف را بنده‌ای
Go, seek a love like this, if thou art (spiritually) alive; otherwise, thou art a slave to the changing “time.”
منگر اندر نقش زشت و خوب خویش ** بنگر اندر عشق و در مطلوب خویش
Do not regard thy ugly or beauteous form; regard Love and the object of thy search.
منگر آنک تو حقیری یا ضعیف ** بنگر اندر همت خود ای شریف
Do not regard the fact that thou art despicable or infirm; look upon thy aspiration, O noble one.
تو به هر حالی که باشی می‌طلب ** آب می‌جو دایما ای خشک‌لب
In whatsoever state thou be, keep searching; O thou with dry lip, always be seeking the water,
کان لب خشکت گواهی می‌دهد ** کو بخر بر سر منبع رسد 1440
For that dry lip of thine gives evidence that at last it will reach the springhead.
خشکی لب هست پیغامی ز آب ** که بمات آرد یقین این اضطراب
Dryness of lip is a message from the water (to say) that this agitation (anxious search) will certainly bring thee to the water,
کین طلب‌کاری مبارک جنبشیست ** این طلب در راه حق مانع کشیست
For this seeking is a blessed motion; this search is a killer of obstacles on the Way to God.
این طلب مفتاح مطلوبات تست ** این سپاه و نصرت رایات تست
This search is the key to the things sought by thee; this (search) is thy army and the victory of thy banners.
این طلب همچون خروسی در صیاح ** می‌زند نعره که می‌آید صباح
This search is like a cock crowing and proclaiming that the dawn is at hand.
گرچه آلت نیستت تو می‌طلب ** نیست آلت حاجت اندر راه رب 1445
Although thou hast no equipment, do thou be ever seeking: equipment is not necessary on the Way of the Lord.
هر که را بینی طلب‌کار ای پسر ** یار او شو پیش او انداز سر
Whomsoever thou seest engaged in search, O son, become his friend and cast thy head before him,
کز جوار طالبان طالب شوی ** وز ظلال غالبان غالب شوی
For through being the neighbour of the seekers thou (thyself) wilt become a seeker, and from the shadows (protection) of the conquerors thou (thyself) wilt become a conqueror.
گر یکی موری سلیمانی بجست ** منگر اندر جستن او سست سست
If an ant has sought (to attain) the rank of Solomon, do not look languidly (contemptuously) on its quest.
هرچه داری تو ز مال و پیشه‌ای ** نه طلب بود اول و اندیشه‌ای
Everything that thou hast of wealth and (skill in) a handicraft (or profession)— was it not at first a quest and a thought?
حکایت آن شخص کی در عهد داود شب و روز دعا می‌کرد کی مرا روزی حلال ده بی رنج
Story of the person who in the time of David, on whom be peace, used to pray night and day, crying, “Give me a lawful livelihood without trouble (on my part).”
آن یکی در عهد داوود نبی ** نزد هر دانا و پیش هر غبی 1450
In the time of the prophet David a certain man, beside every sage and before every simpleton,
این دعا می‌کرد دایم کای خدا ** ثروتی بی رنج روزی کن مرا
Used always to utter this prayer: “O God, bestow on me riches without trouble!