The knot that is (fastened) tight on our throat is that thou shouldst know whether thou art vile or fortunate.
عقده‌ای که آن بر گلوی ماست سخت ** که بدانی که خسی یا نیک‌بخت
Solve this problem, if thou art a man: spend thy breath (life) on this, if thou hast the breath (spirit) of Adam (within thee).
حل این اشکال کن گر آدمی ** خرج این کن دم اگر آدم‌دمی
Suppose thou knowest the definitions of (all) substances and accidents, (how shall it profit thee?): know the (true) definition of thyself, for this is indispensable.
حد اعیان و عرض دانسته گیر ** حد خود را دان که نبود زین گزیر
When thou knowest the definition of thyself, flee from this definition, that thou mayst attain to Him who hath no definition, O sifter of dust.565
چون بدانی حد خود زین حدگریز ** تا به بی‌حد در رسی ای خاک‌بیز
(Thy) life has gone (to waste) in (the consideration of logical) predicate and subject: (thy) life, devoid of (spiritual) insight, has gone in (study of) what has been received by hearsay.
عمر در محمول و در موضوع رفت ** بی‌بصیرت عمر در مسموع رفت
Every proof (that is) without (a spiritual) result and effect is vain: consider the (final) result of thyself!
هر دلیلی بی‌نتیجه و بی‌اثر ** باطل آمد در نتیجه‌ی خود نگر
Thou hast never perceived a Maker except by means of a thing made: thou art content with a syllogism.
جز به مصنوعی ندیدی صانعی ** بر قیاس اقترانی قانعی
The philosopher multiplies links (consisting) of (logical) proofs; on the other hand, the elect (the mystic) is contrary to him (in this respect).
می‌فزاید در وسایط فلسفی ** از دلایل باز برعکسش صفی
The latter flees from the proof and from the veil (between himself and God): he has sunk his head in his bosom for the sake of (contemplating) the Object of the proof.570
این گریزد از دلیل و از حجاب ** از پی مدلول سر برده به جیب
If to him (the philosopher) the smoke is a proof of the fire, to us (mystics) ’tis sweet (to be) in the fire without the smoke,
گر دخان او را دلیل آتشست ** بی‌دخان ما را در آن آتش خوشست