Rumi's Masnavi - When I was being caught in (the toils of) sin, and drowning (therein) was clutching at straws–

When I was being caught in (the toils of) sin, and drowning (therein) was clutching at straws––

چون گرفتار گنه می‏آمدم ** غرقه دست اندر حشایش می‏زدم‏

(Whilst) there was coming from thee to sinners a threat and menace of punishment exceedingly severe–– 2465

از تو تهدید و وعیدی می‏رسید ** مجرمان را از عذاب بس شدید

(And) I was becoming agitated, and there was no help (for me), (since) there were chains made fast and a lock not (to be) opened:

مضطرب می‏گشتم و چاره نبود ** بند محکم بود و قفل ناگشود

Neither room for patience nor means of flight, neither hope of repenting nor opportunity for rebelling

نی مقام صبر و نه راه گریز ** نی امید توبه نه جای ستیز

I, like Hárút and Márút was crying in sorrow, ‘Alas!’ and saying, ‘O my Creator!’”

من چو هاروت و چو ماروت از حزن ** آه می‏کردم که ای خلاق من‏

Because of the dangers (of the Last Judgement) Hárút and Márút openly chose the pit of Babylon,

از خطر هاروت و ماروت آشکار ** چاه بابل را بکردند اختیار

So that they might suffer here (in this world) the punishment of the world to come; and they are cunning and intelligent and magician-like. 2470

تا عذاب آخرت اینجا کشند ** گربزند و عاقل و ساحروش‏اند

They acted well, and ‘twas fitly done: the pain of smoke is lighter than (that of) fire.

نیک کردند و بجای خویش بود ** سهلتر باشد ز آتش رنج دود

The pain of that (future) world is beyond description; light is the pain of this world beside it.

حد ندارد وصف رنج آن جهان ** سهل باشد رنج دنیا پیش آن‏

Oh, happy he that wages a holy war (of self-mortification), and puts a restraint upon the body and deals justice (against it),

ای خنک آن کاو جهادی می‏کند ** بر بدن زجری و دادی می‏کند