Hence it is not (in accordance with) wisdom that the forms of heaven and (those of) the people of the earth should be (created) for this only.
پس نقوش آسمان و اهل زمین ** نیست حکمت کان بود بهر همین
If there is no Wise (Creator), what is (the reason of) this orderly arrangement (the cosmos)? And if there is a Wise (Creator), how is His action devoid (of meaning)?
گر حکیمی نیست این ترتیب چیست ** ور حکیمی هست چون فعلش تهیست
No one makes pictures and colouring in a bath-house except for (some) purpose (either) right or wrong.3000
کس نسازد نقش گرمابه و خضاب ** جز پی قصد صواب و ناصواب
How Moses, on whom be peace, besought the Lord, saying, "Thou didst create creatures and destroy them," and how the answer came.
مطالبه کردن موسی علیه‌السلام حضرت را کی خلقت خلقا اهلکتهم و جواب آمدن
Moses said, “O Lord of the Reckoning, Thou didst create the form: how didst Thou destroy it again?”
گفت موسی ای خداوند حساب ** نقش کردی باز چون کردی خراب
Thou hast made the form, male and female, that gives unto the spirit increase (of joy); and then Thou dost ruin it: why?”
نر و ماده نقش کردی جان‌فزا ** وانگهان ویران کنی این را چرا
God said, “I know that this question of thine is not from disbelief and heedlessness and idle fancy;
گفت حق دانم که این پرسش ترا ** نیست از انکار و غفلت وز هوا
Else I should have corrected and chastised thee: I should have afflicted thee on account of this question.
ورنه تادیب و عتابت کردمی ** بهر این پرسش ترا آزردمی
But (I know that) thou wishest to discover in My actions the wisdom and hidden meaning of (phenomenal) duration,3005
لیک می‌خواهی که در افعال ما ** باز جویی حکمت و سر بقا
That thou mayst acquaint the vulgar therewith and by this means make every raw (ignorant) person to become cooked.
تا از آن واقف کنی مر عام را ** پخته گردانی بدین هر خام را
Thou hast become a questioner on purpose to disclose (this matter) to the vulgar, albeit thou art acquainted with it;
قاصدا سایل شدی در کاشفی ** بر عوام ار چه که تو زان واقفی