Rumi's Masnavi - Since the Lord has disappointed you in regard to the means (of obtaining your desire), then why do not you become suspicious of the means?

Since the Lord has disappointed you in regard to the means (of obtaining your desire), then why do not you become suspicious of the means?

در سبب چون بی‌مرادت کرد رب ** پس چرا بدظن نگردی در سبب

Many a one has become an emperor by dint of toil, while (many) another has been made destitute by that (same) toil.

بس کسی از مکسبی خاقان شده ** دیگری زان مکسبه عریان شده

Many a one has been made (rich as) Qárún by marriage, and many a one has been made bankrupt by marriage.

بس کس از عقد زنان قارون شده ** بس کس از عقد زنان مدیون شده

The means, then, is turning about, like the tail of an ass: ’tis better not to rely upon it. 3690

پس سبب گردان چو دم خر بود ** تکیه بر وی کم کنی بهتر بود

And if you take the means, you should not take it boldly, for beneath it there are many hidden banes.

ور سبب گیری نگیری هم دلیر ** که بس آفت‌هاست پنهانش به زیر

This prudence and precaution is the gist of the saving clause, for this (Divine) decree (often) makes the ass appear to be a goat.

سر استثناست این حزم و حذر ** زانک خر را بز نماید این قدر

Although he whose eye it (the Divine decree) has bandaged is clever, (yet) because of his seeing double, in his eyes the ass is a goat.

آنک چشمش بست گرچه گربزست ** ز احولی اندر دو چشمش خربزست

Since God is the Turner of eyes, who (else) should turn the heart and the thoughts?

چون مقلب حق بود ابصار را ** که بگرداند دل و افکار را

(Hence) you deem a pit to be a pleasant house, you deem a trap to be a dainty bait. 3695

چاه را تو خانه‌ای بینی لطیف ** دام را تو دانه‌ای بینی ظریف

This is not sophistry (scepticism), it is God's turning: it shows where the realities are.

این تفسطط نیست تقلیب خداست ** می‌نماید که حقیقتها کجاست