His heart became in hardness as the face of a rock: how should repentance cleave it for sowing?1645
دل به سختی همچو روی سنگ گشت ** چون شکافد توبه آن را بهر کشت
Where is one like Shu‘ayb, that by prayer he may make the mountain earth (fit) for sowing?
چون شعیبی کو که تا او را دعا ** بهر کشتن خاک سازد کوه را
Through the supplication and (firm) belief of that Friend (Abraham) the thing that was hard and impossible became possible.
از نیاز و اعتقاد آن خلیل ** گشت ممکن امر صعب و مستحیل
Or, (to give another example), through the Muqawqis' begging the Prophet a stony ground became a goodly cornfield.
یا به دریوزهی مقوقس از رسول ** سنگلاخی مزرعی شد با اصول
So, contrariwise, a man's disbelief turns gold into copper and peace into war.
همچنین بر عکس آن انکار مرد ** مس کند زر را و صلحی را نبرد
This falseness draws after it an evil transformation: it turns ground capable (of tillage) into stones and pebbles.1650
کهربای مسخ آمد این دغا ** خاک قابل را کند سنگ و حصا
Nor is it granted to every heart to fall down in prayer: the wages of (Divine) mercy are not the (allotted) portion of every hireling.
هر دلی را سجده هم دستور نیست ** مزد رحمت قسم هر مزدور نیست
Beware! Do not commit crime and sin in reliance on (the thought), “I will repent and come to (take) refuge (with God).”
هین بپشت آن مکن جرم و گناه ** که کنم توبه در آیم در پناه
For (true) repentance, there must needs be a glow (of inward feeling) and a flood (of tears): (such) lightning and clouds are the condition indispensable to repentance.
میبباید تاب و آبی توبه را ** شرط شد برق و سحابی توبه را
There must needs be fire and water (rain) for the fruit: clouds and lightning are necessary for this accomplishment.
آتش و آبی بباید میوه را ** واجب آید ابر و برق این شیوه را
Until there is the lightning of the heart and the rain-clouds of the two eyes, how shall the fire of (Divine) menace and wrath be allayed?1655
تا نباشد برق دل و ابر دو چشم ** کی نشیند آتش تهدید و خشم
How shall the herbage grow, (the herbage) of the delight of union (with God)? How shall the fountains of clear water gush forth?
کی بروید سبزهی ذوق وصال ** کی بجوشد چشمهها ز آب زلال
How shall the rose-beds tell their secret to the garden? How shall the violet make an engagement with the jasmine?
کی گلستان راز گوید با چمن ** کی بنفشه عهد بندد با سمن
How shall a plane-tree open its hands (spread its leaves) in prayer? How shall any tree toss its head in the air (of love-desire)?
کی چناری کف گشاید در دعا ** کی درختی سر فشاند در هوا
How shall the blossoms begin to shake out their sleeves full of largesse in the days of Spring?
کی شکوفه آستین پر نثار ** بر فشاندن گیرد ایام بهار
How shall the cheeks of the anemone flame like blood? How shall the rose bring gold out of its purse?1660
کی فروزد لاله را رخ همچو خون ** کی گل از کیسه بر آرد زر برون
How shall the nightingale come and smell the rose? How shall the dove say “coo, coo,” as one that seeks?
کی بیاید بلبل و گل بو کند ** کی چو طالب فاخته کوکو کند
How shall the stork utter with (all) its soul the cry lak, lak? What is (the meaning of) lak? (It means) “Thine is the kingdom, O Thou whose help is invoked.”
کی بگوید لکلک آن لک لک به جان ** لک چه باشد ملک تست ای مستعان
How shall the earth show forth the secrets of its inmost mind? How shall the garden become radiant without the sky?
کی نماید خاک اسرار ضمیر ** کی شود بیآسمان بستان منیر
Whence have they fetched those garments (fair qualities)? (They have derived) all of them from One who is Bounteous and Merciful.
از کجا آوردهاند آن حلهها ** من کریم من رحیم کلها
Those graces are the signs of a Witness: they are the footprints of a man devoted to (God's) service.1665
آن لطافتها نشان شاهدی است ** آن نشان پای مرد عابدی است
(None but) that person that has seen the King is gladdened by the sign; when one has not seen Him, there is no recognition.
آن شود شاد از نشان کاو دید شاه ** چون ندید او را نباشد انتباه
The spirit of that one who at the time of Am not I (your Lord)? saw his Lord and became beside himself and intoxicated—
روح آن کس کاو به هنگام أ لست ** دید رب خویش و شد بیخویش و مست
He (that spirit) knows the scent of the wine because he drank it (before); when he has not drunk it, how can he scent it?
او شناسد بوی می کاو می بخورد ** چون نخورد او می چه داند بوی کرد
For Wisdom is like a stray camel: like a go-between, it guides (those who find and recognise it) to (the presence of) kings.
ز انکه حکمت همچو ناقهی ضاله است ** همچو دلاله شهان را داله است