Rumi's Masnavi - For man is like the water of the river: when it becomes turbid, thou canst not see its bottom.

For man is like the water of the river: when it becomes turbid, thou canst not see its bottom.

زانک مردم هست هم‌چون آب جو ** چون شود تیره نبینی قعر او

The bottom of the river is full of jewels and full of pearls: take heed, do not make (the water) turbid, for it is (originally) pure and free (from pollution).

قعر جو پر گوهرست و پر ز در ** هین مکن تیره که هست او صاف حر

The spirit of man resembles air: when it (air) is mixed with dust, it veils the sky,

جان مردم هست مانند هوا ** چون بگرد آمیخت شد پرده‌ی سما

And prevents (the eye) from seeing the sun; (but) when its dust is gone, it becomes pure and undefiled. 2485

مانع آید او ز دید آفتاب ** چونک گردش رفت شد صافی و ناب

Notwithstanding thy complete darkness, God was showing visions unto thee, that thou might’st wend the way of deliverance.

با کمال تیرگی حق واقعات ** می‌نمودت تا روی راه نجات

How Moses, on whom be peace, declared (by inspiration) from the Unseen the secret thoughts and visions of Pharaoh, in order that he might truly believe in the omniscience of God or (at least) hold that opinion.

باز گفتن موسی علیه‌السلام اسرار فرعون را و واقعات او را ظهر الغیب تابخبیری حق ایمان آورد یا گمان برد

From the dark iron (of thy nature) He, by His power, was showing forth the visions that should come to pass in the end,

ز آهن تیره بقدرت می‌نمود ** واقعاتی که در آخر خواست بود

In order that thou might’st lessen (refrain from) that injustice and wickedness: thou wert seeing those (visions) and becoming more wicked.

تا کنی کمتر تو آن ظلم و بدی ** آن همی‌دیدی و بتر می‌شدی

He was showing unto thee hideous forms in dream: thou wert shrinking back from them, and (in reality) they were thy (own) form;

نقشهای زشت خوابت می‌نمود ** می‌رمیدی زان و آن نقش تو بود

Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, et in speculum cacavit, [Like the Ethiopian (negro) who saw in the mirror that his face was ugly, and defecated upon the mirror,] 2490

هم‌چو آن زنگی که در آیینه دید ** روی خود را زشت و بر آیینه رید

Saying, ‘How ugly thou art! Thou art deserving only of this.’ (The mirror replies), ‘My ugliness belongs to thee, O vile blind one.

که چه زشتی لایق اینی و بس ** زشتیم آن تواست ای کور خس

Thou art putting this filth on thy ugly face: it is not on me, for I have splendour.’

این حدث بر روی زشتت می‌کنی ** نیست بر من زانک هستم روشنی

At one time thou wert seeing (in vision) thy raiment burnt; at another time thy mouth and eyes stitched up;

گاه می‌دیدی لباست سوخته ** گه دهان و چشم تو بر دوخته

Now a (rapacious) animal seeking thy blood; now thy head in the teeth of a wild beast;

گاه حیوان قاصد خونت شده ** گه سر خود را به دندان دده

Now (in thy dream thou wert) upside down in the midst of a latrine; now sunk in a fierce blood-dyed torrent; 2495

گه نگون اندر میان آبریز ** گه غریق سیل خون‌آمیز تیز

Now from this pure heaven came to thee a voice crying, ‘Thou art damned, thou art damned, damned’;

گه ندات آمد ازین چرخ نقی ** که شقیی و شقیی و شقی

Now from the mountains came to thee a voice, (saying) plainly, ‘Begone! Thou art one of the people of the left hand’;

گه ندات آمد صریحا از جبال ** که برو هستی ز اصحاب الشمال

Now from every inanimate thing was coming to thee a voice (which cried), ‘Pharaoh is fallen into Hell for evermore’;

گه ندا می‌آمدت از هر جماد ** تا ابد فرعون در دوزخ فتاد

(And thou sawest) worse things than these, which from shame I will not tell, lest thy perverted nature become hot (with anger).

زین بترها که نمی‌گویم ز شرم ** تا نگردد طبع معکوس تو گرم

I have told thee a little, O thou who wilt not accept (my warning): from a little thou mayst know that I am acquainted (with the whole). 2500

اندکی گفتم به تو ای ناپذیر ** ز اندکی دانی که هستم من خبیر

Thou wert making thyself blind and dead, that thou might’st not bethink thee of the dreams and visions.

خویشتن را کور می‌کردی و مات ** تا نیندیشی ز خواب و واقعات

How long wilt thou flee? Lo, it is come to thee in despite of thy guile-meditating perception.

چند بگریزی نک آمد پیش تو ** کوری ادراک مکراندیش تو

Explaining that the door of repentance is open.

بیان آنک در توبه بازست

Hark, do not act (so) henceforth, (but) take precaution, for through (God's) bounty the door of repentance is open.

هین مکن زین پس فراگیر احتراز ** که ز بخشایش در توبه‌ست باز

From the quarter of the West a door of repentance is open to mankind till the Resurrection.

توبه را از جانب مغرب دری ** باز باشد تا قیامت بر وری

Till the sun lifts up its head (rises) from the West, that door is open: do not avert thy face from it. 2505

تا ز مغرب بر زند سر آفتاب ** باز باشد آن در از وی رو متاب

By the mercy (of God) Paradise hath eight doors: one of those eight is the door of repentance, O son.

هست جنت را ز رحمت هشت در ** یک در توبه‌ست زان هشت ای پسر