(But) until thou art drowning in the waves of an evil plight in which there is no help (to be obtained) from any refuge,
تا نمانی غرق موج زشتیی ** که نباشد از پناهی پشتیی
Thou wilt never call to mind the right ship (for thy voyage): thou wilt never look at thy shoon and sheepskin jacket.
یاد ناری از سفینه‌ی راستین ** ننگری رد چارق و در پوستین
When thou art left helpless in the overwhelming waters of destruction, then thou wilt incessantly make (the words) we have done wrong thy litany;1970
چونک درمانی به غرقاب فنا ** پس ظلمنا ورد سازی بر ولا
(But) the Devil will say, “Look ye at this half-baked (fool)! Cut off the head of this untimely bird (this cock that crows too late)!”
دیو گوید بنگرید این خام را ** سر برید این مرغ بی‌هنگام را
Far from the wisdom of Ayáz is this characteristic, (namely), that his prayer should be uttered without (being a real) prayer.
دور این خصلت ز فرهنگ ایاز ** که پدید آید نمازش بی‌نماز
He has been the cock of Heaven from of old: all his crowings are (taking place) at their (proper) time.
او خروس آسمان بوده ز پیش ** نعره‌های او همه در وقت خویش
On the meaning of this (Tradition), “Show unto us the things as they are (in reality)”; and on the meaning of this (saying), “If the covering were lifted, my certainty would not be increased”; and on his (the poet's) verse: “When thou regardest any one with a malign eye, thou art regarding him from the hoop (narrow circle) of thy (self-)existence.” (Hemistich): “The crooked ladder casts a crooked shadow.”
در معنی این کی ارنا الاشیاء کما هی و معنی این کی لو کشف الغطاء ما از ددت یقینا و قوله در هر که تو از دیده‌ی بد می‌نگری از چنبره‌ی وجود خود می‌نگری پایه‌ی کژ کژ افکند سایه
O cocks, learn crowing from him: he crows for God's sake, not for the sake of pence.
ای خروسان از وی آموزید بانگ ** بانگ بهر حق کند نه بهر دانگ
The false dawn comes and does not deceive him: the false dawn is the World with its good and evil.1975
صبح کاذب آید و نفریبدش ** صبح کاذب عالم و نیک و بدش
The worldly people had defective understandings, so that they deemed it to be the true dawn.
اهل دنیا عقل ناقص داشتند ** تا که صبح صادقش پنداشتند
The false dawn has waylaid (many) caravans which have set out in hope of the daybreak.
صبح کاذب کاروانها را زدست ** که به بوی روز بیرون آمدست