Rumi's Masnavi - (But) when he persists (in sin) and makes a practice of evil, and puts dust in the eye of meditation,

(But) when he persists (in sin) and makes a practice of evil, and puts dust in the eye of meditation,

چون کند اصرار و بد پیشه کند ** خاک اندر چشم اندیشه کند

He thinks of penitence no more: that sin becomes so sweet to his heart that (in the end) he comes to be without the Faith (he turns infidel).

توبه نندیشد دگر شیرین شود ** بر دلش آن جرم تا بی‏دین شود

That repenting and (crying) “O Lord!” are gone from him: fivefold rust has settled on the mirror (of his heart). 3380

آن پشیمانی و یا رب رفت از او ** شست بر آیینه زنگ پنج تو

The coats of rust have began to eat his iron (mirror): the rust has begun to lessen its sheen.

آهنش را زنگها خوردن گرفت ** گوهرش را زنگ کم کردن گرفت‏

When you write upon white paper, that writing may be read at sight.

چون نویسی کاغذ اسپید بر ** آن نبشته خوانده آید در نظر

When you write script over that which has been (already) written, it is not understood: the reading of it will be erroneous;

چون نویسی بر سر بنوشته خط ** فهم ناید خواندنش گردد غلط

For that (second) blackness has fallen (been made) upon blackness; (hence) both scripts have become obscure and have given no meaning.

کان سیاهی بر سیاهی اوفتاد ** هر دو خط شد کور و معنیی نداد

And if you write a third time on the top of it, then you make it black as a soul full of wickedness. 3385

ور سوم باره نویسی بر سرش ** پس سیه کردی چو جان کافرش‏

What help is there, then, but (to take) refuge with (God) the Helper? Despair is copper, and the elixir for it is (God's) regard.

پس چه چاره جز پناه چاره‏گر ** ناامیدی مس و اکسیرش نظر

Lay your despairs before Him, that ye may escape from irremediable pain.

ناامیدیها به پیش او نهید ** تا ز درد بی‏دوا بیرون جهید