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
(But) in the act for which you have no inclination and desire, you make yourself a necessitarian, saying, “This is from God.”
و اندر آن کاری که میلت نیست ** و خواست خویش را جبری کنی کاین از خداست
The prophets are necessitarians in regard to the works of this world, (while) the infidels are necessitarians in regard to the works of the next world.
انبیا در کار دنیا جبری‌‌اند ** کافران در کار عقبی جبری‌‌اند
To the prophets the works of the next world are (a matter of) freewill; to the foolish the works of this world are (a matter of) freewill,
انبیا را کار عقبی اختیار ** جاهلان را کار دنیا اختیار
Because every bird flies to its own congener: it (follows) behind, and its spirit (goes) before, (leading it on).
ز آن که هر مرغی به سوی جنس خویش ** می‌‌پرد او در پس و جان پیش پیش
Inasmuch as the infidels were congeners of Sijjn (Hell), they were well-disposed to the prison (sijn) of this world.640
کافران چون جنس سجین آمدند ** سجن دنیا را خوش آیین آمدند