Sobriety exists (arises) from recollection of what is past: past and future are to thee a curtain (separating thee) from God.
هست هشیاری ز یاد ما مضی ** ماضی و مستقبلت پرده‌‌ی خدا
Cast fire on them both: how long, because of these twain, wilt thou be full of knots (joints) like a reed?
آتش اندر زن به هر دو تا به کی ** پر گره باشی از این هر دو چو نی
Whilst the reed is knotted, it is not a sharer of secrets: it is not the companion of the (flute-player's) lip and voice.
تا گره با نی بود هم راز نیست ** همنشین آن لب و آواز نیست
When thou art (engaged) in going about (seeking God) thou art indeed wrapped in (thy) going about: when thou hast come home, thou art still with thyself (self-conscious).
چون به طوفی خود به طوفی مرتدی ** چون به خانه آمدی هم با خودی
O thou whose knowledge is without knowledge of the Giver of knowledge, thy repentance is worse than thy sin.2205
ای خبرهات از خبر ده بی‌‌خبر ** توبه‌‌ی تو از گناه تو بتر
O thou that seekest to repent of a state that is past, say, when wilt thou repent of this repentance?
ای تو از حال گذشته توبه جو ** کی کنی توبه از این توبه بگو
At one time thou turnest to the (low) sound of the treble, at another thou dost kiss (art in love with) weeping and wailing.”
گاه بانگ زیر را قبله کنی ** گاه گریه‌‌ی زار را قبله زنی
When Fárúq (‘Umar) became a reflector of mysteries, the old man's heart was awakened from within.
چون که فاروق آینه‌‌ی اسرار شد ** جان پیر از اندرون بیدار شد
He became without weeping or laughter, like the soul: his (animal) soul departed and the other soul came to life.
همچو جان بی‌‌گریه و بی‌‌خنده شد ** جانش رفت و جان دیگر زنده شد
In that hour such a bewilderment arose within him that he went forth from earth and heaven—2210
حیرتی آمد درونش آن زمان ** که برون شد از زمین و آسمان