Rumi's Masnavi - Or had ye no hope of returning? Did the promise of (meeting Me) to-day seem vain to you?”

Or had ye no hope of returning? Did the promise of (meeting Me) to-day seem vain to you?” 3175

یا امید باز گشتنتان نبود ** وعده‌‌ی امروز باطلتان نمود

Dost thou (O reader) disbelieve in the promise of being His guest? Then from the kitchen (of His bounty) thou wilt get (only) dust and ashes.

وعده‌‌ی مهمانی‌‌اش را منکری ** پس ز مطبخ خاک و خاکستر بری‌‌

And if thou art not disbelieving, how with such empty hands art thou setting foot in the Court of that Friend?

ور نه‌‌ای منکر چنین دست تهی ** در در آن دوست چون پا می‌‌نهی‌‌

Refrain thyself a little from sleep and food: bring the gift for thy meeting with Him.

اندکی صرفه بکن از خواب و خور ** ارمغان بهر ملاقاتش ببر

Become scant of sleep (like them that) were slumbering (but a small part of the night); in the hours of dawn be of (those who) were asking pardon of God.

شو قلیل النوم مما یهجعون ** باش در اسحار از یستغفرون‌‌

Stir a little, like the embryo, in order that thou mayst be given the senses which behold the Light, 3180

اندکی جنبش بکن همچون جنین ** تا ببخشندت حواس نور بین‌‌

And mayst go forth from this womb-like world and mayst go from the earth into a wide expanse.

وز جهان چون رحم بیرون روی ** از زمین در عرصه‌‌ی واسع شوی‌‌

Know that the saying, “God's earth is wide,” refers to an exceedingly sublime expanse belonging to the prophets.

آن که ارض الله واسع گفته‌‌اند ** عرصه‌‌ای دان کانبیا در رفته‌‌اند

The heart is not oppressed by that spacious expanse: there the fresh boughs of the palm-tree do not become dry.

دل نگردد تنگ ز آن عرصه‌‌ی فراخ ** نخل تر آن جا نگردد خشک شاخ‌‌

At present thou art bearing (the burden of) thy senses: thou art becoming weary and exhausted and (ready to fall) headlong.

حاملی تو مر حواست را کنون ** کند و مانده می‌‌شوی و سر نگون‌‌