You make promises and vows that henceforth your chosen course (of action) will be nothing but obedience (to God):
عهد و پیمان می‌‌کنی که بعد از این ** جز که طاعت نبودم کار گزین
Therefore it has become certain that illness gives to you conscience and wakefulness.
پس یقین گشت این که بیماری ترا ** می‌‌ببخشد هوش و بیداری ترا
Note, then, this principle, O thou that seekest the principle; every one who suffers pain has caught the scent (thereof):
پس بدان این اصل را ای اصل جو ** هر که را درد است او برده ست بو
The more wakeful any one is, the more full of suffering he is; the more aware (of God) he is, the paler he is in countenance.
هر که او بیدارتر پر دردتر ** هر که او آگاه‌‌تر رخ زردتر
If you are aware of His jabr (compulsion), where is your humility? Where is your feeling of (being loaded with) the chain of His jabbárí (almightiness)?630
گر ز جبرش آگهی زاریت کو ** بینش زنجیر جباریت کو
How should one make merry who is bound in chains? When does the captive in prison behave like the man who is free?
بسته در زنجیر چون شادی کند ** کی اسیر حبس آزادی کند
And if you consider that your foot is shackled (and that) the king's officers are sitting (as custodians) over you,
ور تو می‌‌بینی که پایت بسته‌‌اند ** بر تو سرهنگان شه بنشسته‌‌اند
Then do not act like an officer (tyrannously) towards the helpless, inasmuch as that is not the nature and habit of a helpless man.
پس تو سرهنگی مکن با عاجزان ** ز آن که نبود طبع و خوی عاجز آن
Since you do not feel His compulsion, do not say (that you are compelled); and if you feel it, where is the sign of your feeling?
چون تو جبر او نمی‌‌بینی مگو ** ور همی‌‌بینی نشان دید کو
In every act for which you have inclination, you are clearly conscious of your power (to perform it),635
در هر آن کاری که میل استت بدان ** قدرت خود را همی‌‌بینی عیان