عشق حق و سر شاهدبازیش ** بود مایه‌ی جمله پرده‌سازیش
God's love and the mystery of His dallying with His favourite were the origin of all His veil-making (creation of phenomena).
پس از آن لولاک گفت اندر لقا ** در شب معراج شاهدباز ما
(’Twas) on that account, then, (that) in meeting (the Prophet) on the night of the Ascension our (Lord who is) fond of dalliance said, ‘But for thee (I would not have created the heavens).’
این قضا بر نیک و بد حاکم بود ** بر قضا شاهد نه حاکم می‌شود 2885
This (Divine) Destiny rules (everything) good and evil: does not the Witness become the ruler of Destiny?
شد اسیر آن قضا میر قضا ** شاد باش ای چشم‌تیز مرتضی
The bondsman of Destiny became the Commander of Destiny: hail to thee, O keen-sighted one who art pleasing (to God)!
عارف از معروف بس درخواست کرد ** کای رقیب ما تو اندر گرم و سرد
The knower made many a petition to the Known, saying, ‘O Thou who watchest over us in heat and cold,
ای مشیر ما تو اندر خیر و شر ** از اشارتهات دل‌مان بی‌خبر
O Thou who givest us intimations in weal and woe, (though) our hearts are unaware of Thy intimations,
ای یرانا لانراه روز و شب ** چشم‌بند ما شده دید سبب
O (Lord) who daily and nightly seest us and whom we see not, (our) regarding the secondary cause (instead of the Causer) has muffled our eyes.
چشم من از چشم‌ها بگزیده شد ** تا که در شب آفتابم دیده شد 2890
My eye has been chosen above (all other) eyes, so that the (Divine) Sun was beheld by me in the night (of material existence).
لطف معروف تو بود آن ای بهی ** پس کمال البر فی اتمامه
That was (through) Thy well-known grace, O Beauteous One; and (as the proverb says), ‘The perfection of kindness consists in making it complete.’
یا رب اتمم نورنا فی الساهره ** وانجنا من مفضحات قاهره
O Lord, make our light complete in the plain of Resurrection and deliver us from shameful and overwhelming indignities!
یار شب را روز مهجوری مده ** جان قربت‌دیده را دوری مده
Do not let Thy night-companion be banished (from Thy presence) in the daytime, do not inflict farness (separation) on the soul that has experienced nearness (union).
بعد تو مرگیست با درد و نکال ** خاصه بعدی که بود بعد الوصال
Absence from Thee is a grievous and tormenting death, especially the absence that comes after enjoyment of Thy favour.
آنک دیدستت مکن نادیده‌اش ** آب زن بر سبزه‌ی بالیده‌اش 2895
Do not put him that hath seen Thee in the position of one that hath not seen (Thee): sprinkle water on his verdure that has sprung up.
من نکردم لا ابالی در روش ** تو مکن هم لاابالی در خلش
I have not acted recklessly (heedlessly) while faring (on Thy Way): do not Thou either act recklessly (ruthlessly) in pricking (inflicting pain upon me).
هین مران از روی خود او را بعید ** آنک او یک‌باره آن روی تو دید
Oh, do not drive far from Thy face him who once beheld Thy face!
دید روی جز تو شد غل گلو ** کل شیء ما سوی الله باطل
To behold the face of any one but Thee is (like the torture of) an iron collar for the throat: everything except God is vain.
باطل‌اند و می‌نمایندم رشد ** زانک باطل باطلان را می‌کشد
They are vain, but they show me the right way because vanity attracts (only) the vain.
ذره ذره کاندرین ارض و سماست ** جنس خود را هر یکی چون کهرباست 2900
Each one of the atoms on atoms which exist in this earth and heaven is like amber (a magnet) for its congener.
معده نان را می‌کشد تا مستقر ** می‌کشد مر آب را تف جگر
The belly attracts bread to its resting-place; the heat of the liver attracts water.
The eye is an attractor of beautiful persons from these (different) quarters of the town; the brain (nose) is seeking (to attract) scents from the rose-garden,
زانک حس چشم آمد رنگ کش ** مغز و بینی می‌کشد بوهای خوش
Because the sense peculiar to the eye is an attractor of colour, while the brain and nose attract sweet perfumes.
زین کششها ای خدای رازدان ** تو به جذب لطف خودمان ده امان
O Lord who knowest the secret, do Thou preserve us from these attractions by the attraction of Thy grace!
غالبی بر جاذبان ای مشتری ** شاید ار درماندگان را وا خری 2905
Thou, O Purchaser, art dominant over (all) attractors: it would be fitting if Thou redeem the helpless.”
رو به شه آورد چون تشنه به ابر ** آنک بود اندر شب قدر آن بدر
He turned his face to the King as a thirsty man to a cloud— he who on the Night of Power was the Full-moon's own.
چون لسان وجان او بود آن او ** آن او با او بود گستاخ‌گو
Since his tongue and his spirit were His (the King's), (he was not afraid, for) he who is His may converse with Him boldly.