گر بجا آید دلش رستید از آن ** ور نه نومیدید و ساعد را گزان
If his heart comes back (is reconciled), ye are saved from that (Divine punishment); otherwise ye are despairing and biting your fore-arms (in remorse).
چون شنیدند این وعید منکدر ** چشم بنهادند و آن را منتظر
When they heard this dark threat, they cast down their eyes and waited for it (to be fulfilled).
روز اول روی خود دیدند زرد ** می‌‌زدند از ناامیدی آه سرد2535
On the first day they saw their faces yellow: from despair they were sighing heavily.
سرخ شد روی همه روز دوم ** نوبت اومید و توبه گشت گم
On the second day the faces of all became red: the time for hope and repentance was (irretrievably) lost.
شد سیه روز سوم روی همه ** حکم صالح راست شد بی‌‌ملحمه
On the third day all their faces became black: the prediction of Sálih came true without (possibility of) dispute.
چون همه در ناامیدی سر زدند ** همچو مرغان در دو زانو آمدند
When they all gave themselves up to despair, they fell on their knees, like (crouching) birds.
در نبی آورد جبریل امین ** شرح این زانو زدن را جاثمین
Gabriel, the trusted (angel), brought in the Qur’án the description of this kneeling, (which is described by the word) játhimín.
زانو آن دم زن که تعلیمت کنند ** وز چنین زانو زدن بیمت کنند2540
Do thou kneel at the time when they (the saints) are teaching thee and bidding thee dread such a kneeling as this.
منتظر گشتند زخم قهر را ** قهر آمد نیست کرد آن شهر را
They (the people of Thamúd) were waiting for the stroke of vengeance: the vengeance came and annihilated that town.
صالح از خکوت بسوی شهر رفت ** شهر دید اندر میان دود و نفت
Sálih went from his solitude to the town: he beheld the town amidst (wrapt in) smoke and naphtha.
ناله از اجزای ایشان می‌‌شنید ** نوحه پیدا نوحه گویان ناپدید
He heard (the sound of) wailing from their limbs: the lamentation was plain (to hear), those who uttered it (were) invisible.
ز استخوانهاشان شنید او ناله‌‌ها ** اشک ریز از جانشان چون ژاله‌‌ها
He heard wailings from their bones: their spirits shedding tears, like hailstones.
صالح آن بشنید و گریه ساز کرد ** نوحه بر نوحه گران آغاز کرد2545
Sálih heard that and set to weeping: he began to lament for them that made lamentation.
گفت ای قومی به باطل زیسته ** وز شما من پیش حق بگریسته
He said, “O people that lived in vanity, and on account of you I wept before God!
حق بگفته صبر کن بر جورشان ** پندشان ده بس نماند از دورشان
God said (to me), ‘Have patience with their iniquity: give them counsel, not much remains of their (allotted) period.’
من بگفته پند شد بند از جفا ** شیر پند از مهر جوشد وز صفا
I said, ‘Counsel is barred by ill-treatment: the milk of counsel gushes forth from love and joy.
بس که کردید از جفا بر جای من ** شیر پند افسرد در رگهای من
Much ill-treatment have ye bestowed on me, (so that) the milk of counsel is curdled in my veins.’
حق مرا گفته ترا لطفی دهم ** بر سر آن زخمها مرهم نهم2550
God said to me, ‘I will give thee a boon, I will lay a plaster on those wounds (of thine).’
صاف کرده حق دلم را چون سما ** روفته از خاطرم جور شما
God made my heart clear as the sky, He swept your oppression out of my mind.
در نصیحت من شده بار دگر ** گفته امثال و سخنها چون شکر
I went (back) once more to admonition, I spake parables and words (sweet) as sugar,
شیر تازه از شکر انگیخته ** شیر و شهدی با سخن آمیخته
I produced fresh milk from the sugar, I mingled milk and honey with my words.
در شما چون زهر گشته آن سخن ** ز آن که زهرستان بدید از بیخ و بن
In you those words became like poison, because ye were filled with poison from the root and foundation.
چون شوم غمگین که غم شد سر نگون ** غم شما بودید ای قوم حرون2555
How should I be grieved that grief is overthrown? Ye were grief (to me), O obstinate people.
هیچ کس بر مرگ غم نوحه کند ** ریش سر چون شد کسی مو بر کند
Does any one lament the death of grief? Does any one tear out his hair when the sore on his head is removed?”
رو به خود کرد و بگفت ای نوحه‌‌گر ** نوحه‌‌ات را می‌‌نیرزد آن نفر
(Then) he turned to himself and said, “O mourner, those folk are not worth thy mourning.”
Their hands are perverse, their feet perverse, their eyes perverse, their love perverse, their peace perverse, their anger perverse.”
از پی تقلید و معقولات نقل ** پا نهاده بر جمال پیر عقل
For the sake of blind conformity and (for the sake of following) traditional ideas, they set their feet (trampled) on the camels of Reason, this venerable Guide.
پیر خر نی جمله گشته پیر خر ** از ریای چشم و گوش همدگر
They were not eager for a guide (pír-khar): they all had become (like) an old donkey (pír khar) from paying hypocritical observance to each other's eyes and ears.
از بهشت آورد یزدان بردگان ** تا نمایدشان سقر پروردگان
God brought the (devout) worshippers from Paradise that He might show unto them the nurslings of Hell-fire.
در معنی آن که مرج البحرين يلتقیان بينهما برزخ لا يبغیان
On the meaning of “He let the two seas go to meet one another: between them is a barrier which they do not seek (to cross).”
اهل نار و خلد را بین هم دکان ** در میانشان برزخ لا یبغیان2570
Behold the people of (destined for) the Fire and those of Paradise dwelling in the same shop, (yet) between them is a barrier which they do not seek to cross.
اهل نار و اهل نور آمیخته ** در میانشان کوه قاف انگیخته
He hath mixed the people of the Fire and the people of the Light: between them He hath reared the mountain of Qáf.
همچو در کان خاک و زر کرد اختلاط ** در میانشان صد بیابان و رباط
He hath mixed (them) like earth and gold in the mine: between them are a hundred deserts and caravanserays.
همچنان که عقد در در و شبه ** مختلط چون میهمان یک شبه
(They are) mixed even as pearls and jet beads in the necklace, (soon to be parted) like guests of a single night.
بحر را نیمیش شیرین چون شکر ** طعم شیرین رنگ روشن چون قمر
One half of the sea is sweet like sugar: the taste sweet, the colour bright as the moon.
نیم دیگر تلخ همچون زهر مار ** طمع تلخ و رنگ مظلم قیروار2575
The other half is bitter as snake's venom: the taste bitter and the colour dark as pitch.
هر دو بر هم می‌‌زنند از تحت و اوج ** بر مثال آب دریا موج موج
Both (halves) dash against one another, from beneath and from the top, wave on wave like the water of the sea.
صورت بر هم زدن از جسم تنگ ** اختلاط جانها در صلح و جنگ
The appearance of collision, (arising) from the narrow body, is (due to) the spirits' being intermingled in peace or war.
موجهای صلح بر هم می‌‌زند ** کینه‌‌ها از سینه‌‌ها بر می‌‌کند
The waves of peace dash against each other and root up hatreds from (men's) breasts.
موجهای جنگ بر شکل دگر ** مهرها را می‌‌کند زیر و زبر
In other form do the waves of war turn (men's) loves upside down (confound and destroy them).
مهر تلخان را به شیرین می‌‌کشد ** ز آن که اصل مهرها باشد رشد2580
Love is drawing the bitter ones to the sweet, because the foundation of (all) loves is righteousness.
قهر شیرین را به تلخی می‌‌برد ** تلخ با شیرین کجا اندر خورد
Wrath is carrying away the sweet one to bitterness: how should the bitter sort with (be suited to) the sweet?
تلخ و شیرین زین نظر ناید پدید ** از دریچه‌‌ی عاقبت دانند دید
The bitter and the sweet are not visible to this (ocular) sight, (but) they can be seen through the window of the latter end.