زانک مردم هست هم‌چون آب جو ** چون شود تیره نبینی قعر او
For man is like the water of the river: when it becomes turbid, thou canst not see its bottom.
قعر جو پر گوهرست و پر ز در ** هین مکن تیره که هست او صاف حر
The bottom of the river is full of jewels and full of pearls: take heed, do not make (the water) turbid, for it is (originally) pure and free (from pollution).
جان مردم هست مانند هوا ** چون بگرد آمیخت شد پرده‌ی سما
The spirit of man resembles air: when it (air) is mixed with dust, it veils the sky,
مانع آید او ز دید آفتاب ** چونک گردش رفت شد صافی و ناب2485
And prevents (the eye) from seeing the sun; (but) when its dust is gone, it becomes pure and undefiled.
با کمال تیرگی حق واقعات ** می‌نمودت تا روی راه نجات
Notwithstanding thy complete darkness, God was showing visions unto thee, that thou might’st wend the way of deliverance.
باز گفتن موسی علیه‌السلام اسرار فرعون را و واقعات او را ظهر الغیب تابخبیری حق ایمان آورد یا گمان برد
How Moses, on whom be peace, declared (by inspiration) from the Unseen the secret thoughts and visions of Pharaoh, in order that he might truly believe in the omniscience of God or (at least) hold that opinion.
ز آهن تیره بقدرت می‌نمود ** واقعاتی که در آخر خواست بود
From the dark iron (of thy nature) He, by His power, was showing forth the visions that should come to pass in the end,
تا کنی کمتر تو آن ظلم و بدی ** آن همی‌دیدی و بتر می‌شدی
In order that thou might’st lessen (refrain from) that injustice and wickedness: thou wert seeing those (visions) and becoming more wicked.
نقشهای زشت خوابت می‌نمود ** می‌رمیدی زان و آن نقش تو بود
He was showing unto thee hideous forms in dream: thou wert shrinking back from them, and (in reality) they were thy (own) form;
هم‌چو آن زنگی که در آیینه دید ** روی خود را زشت و بر آیینه رید2490
Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,]
که چه زشتی لایق اینی و بس ** زشتیم آن تواست ای کور خس
Saying, ‘How ugly thou art! Thou art deserving only of this.’ (The mirror replies), ‘My ugliness belongs to thee, O vile blind one.
این حدث بر روی زشتت می‌کنی ** نیست بر من زانک هستم روشنی
Thou art putting this filth on thy ugly face: it is not on me, for I have splendour.’
گاه می‌دیدی لباست سوخته ** گه دهان و چشم تو بر دوخته
At one time thou wert seeing (in vision) thy raiment burnt; at another time thy mouth and eyes stitched up;
گاه حیوان قاصد خونت شده ** گه سر خود را به دندان دده
Now a (rapacious) animal seeking thy blood; now thy head in the teeth of a wild beast;