مرتضی را گفت روزی یک عنود ** کو ز تعظیم خدا آگه نبود

One day a contumacious man, who was ignorant of the reverence due to God, said to Murtazá (‘Alí),

بر سر بامی و قصری بس بلند ** حفظ حق را واقفی ای هوشمند

On the top of an exceedingly high terrace or pavilion, “Art thou conscious of God's protection, O intelligent man?”

گفت آری او حفیظست و غنی ** هستی ما را ز طفلی و منی 355

“Yes,” he replied; “He is the Protector and the Self-sufficient for (preserving) my existence from (the time of) infancy and conception.”

گفت خود را اندر افکن هین ز بام ** اعتمادی کن بحفظ حق تمام

He (the Jew) said, “Come, cast thyself down from the roof, put an entire confidence in the protection of God,

تا یقین گرددمرا ایقان تو ** و اعتقاد خوب با برهان تو

So that thy sure faith and thy goodly proven conviction may become evident to me.”

پس امیرش گفت خامش کن برو ** تا نگردد جانت زین جرات گرو

Then the Prince said to him, “Be silent, go, lest for this boldness thy soul be pawned (given over to perdition).”

کی رسد مر بنده را که با خدا ** آزمایش پیش آرد ز ابتلا

How is it right for a servant (of God) to venture on an experiment with God by making trial (of Him)?

بنده را کی زهره باشد کز فضول ** امتحان حق کند ای گیج گول 360

How should a servant (of God) have the stomach vaingloriously to put Him to the test, O mad fool?

آن خدا را می‌رسد کو امتحان ** پیش آرد هر دمی با بندگان

To God (alone) belongs that (right), who brings forward a test for His servants at every moment,

تا به ما ما را نماید آشکار ** که چه داریم از عقیده در سرار

In order that He may show us plainly to ourselves (and reveal) what beliefs we hold in secret.

هیچ آدم گفت حق را که ترا ** امتحان کردم درین جرم و خطا

Did Adam ever say to God, “I made trial of Thee in (committing) this sin and trespass,

تا ببینم غایت حلمت شها ** اه کرا باشد مجال این کرا

That I might see the utmost limit of Thy clemency, O King?” Ah, who would be capable of (seeing) this, who?

عقل تو از بس که آمد خیره‌سر ** هست عذرت از گناه تو بتر 365

Forasmuch as your understanding is confused, your excuse is worse than your crime.

آنک او افراشت سقف آسمان ** تو چه دانی کردن او را امتحان

How can you make trial of Him who raised aloft the vault of heaven?

ای ندانسته تو شر و خیر را ** امتحان خود را کن آنگه غیر را

O you that have not known good and evil, (first) make trial of yourself, and then of others.

امتحان خود چو کردی ای فلان ** فارغ آیی ز امتحان دیگران

When you have made trial of yourself, O such-and-such, you will be unconcerned with making trial of others.

چون بدانستی که شکردانه‌ای ** پس بدانی کاهل شکرخانه‌ای

When you have come to know that you are a grain of sugar, then you will know that you belong to the sugar-house.

پس بدان بی‌امتحانی که اله ** شکری نفرستدت ناجایگاه 370

Know, then, without making any trial, that (if) you are sugar, God will not send you to the wrong place.

این بدان بی‌امتحان از علم شاه ** چون سری نفرستدت در پایگاه

Without making trial, know this of the King's (God's) knowledge: when you are a (spiritual) chief, He will not send you (down) to the vestibule.

هیچ عاقل افکند در ثمین ** در میان مستراحی پر چمین

Does any intelligent man let a precious pearl fall into the midst of a privy full of ordure?

زانک گندم را حکیم آگهی ** هیچ نفرستد به انبار کهی

Inasmuch as a sagacious and attentive man will nowise send wheat to a straw-barn,

شیخ را که پیشوا و رهبرست ** گر مریدی امتحان کرد او خرست

If a novice has made trial of the Shaykh who is the (spiritual) leader and guide, he is an ass.

امتحانش گر کنی در راه دین ** هم تو گردی ممتحن ای بی‌یقین 375

If you make trial of him in the way of religion, you will be tried (by tribulation), O man without faith.

جرات و جهلت شود عریان و فاش ** او برهنه کی شود زان افتتاش

Your audacity and ignorance will become naked and exposed to view: how should he be made naked by that scrutiny?

گر بیاید ذره سنجد کوه را ** بر درد زان که ترازوش ای فتی

If the mote come and weigh the mountain, its scales will be shattered by the mountain, O youth;