Rumi's Masnavi - 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).

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

All the others are sometimes open, sometimes shut; and never is the door of repentance but open.

آن همه گه باز باشد گه فراز ** وآن در توبه نباشد جز که باز

Come, seize the opportunity: the door is open: carry thy baggage thither at once in despite of the envious (Devil).

هین غنیمت دار در بازست زود ** رخت آنجا کش به کوری حسود

How Moses, on whom be peace, said to Pharaoh, "Accept one counsel from me and take four excellent qualities as recompense."

گفتن موسی علیه‌السلام فرعون را کی از من یک پند قبول کن و چهار فضیلت عوض بستان

Come, accept from me one thing and bring (it into practice), and then take from me four as recompense for that.”

هین ز من بپذیر یک چیز و بیار ** پس ز من بستان عوض آن را چهار

He replied, “O Moses, what is that one thing? Explain to me a little about that one thing.” 2510

گفت ای موسی کدامست آن یکی ** شرح کن با من از آن یک اندکی

“That one thing,” said he, “is that thou shouldst say publicly that there is no god but the Maker,

گفت آن یک که بگویی آشکار ** که خدایی نیست غیر کردگار

The Creator of the heavenly spheres and of the stars on high and of man and devil and genie and bird,

خالق افلاک و انجم بر علا ** مردم و دیو و پری و مرغ را

The Creator of sea and plain and mountain and desert: His sovereignty is without limit and He is without like.”

خالق دریا و دشت و کوه و تیه ** ملکت او بی‌حد و او بی‌شبیه

He (Pharaoh) said, “O Moses, what are those four things that thou wilt give me in recompense? Declare (what they are) and bring (them before me),

گفت ای موسی کدامست آن چهار ** که عوض بدهی مرا بر گو بیار

That perchance, by the favour of that goodly promise, the crucifixion (torment) of my unbelief may be assuaged. 2515

تا بود کز لطف آن وعده‌ی حسن ** سست گردد چارمیخ کفر من

Perchance the lock of my hundred maunds' weight of unbelief may be opened by those fair and desirable promises.

بوک زان خوش وعده‌های مغتنم ** برگشاید قفل کفر صد منم

Perchance, by the effect of the river of honey, this poison of hatred may be turned into honey in my body;

بوک از تاثیر جوی انگبین ** شهد گردد در تنم این زهر کین

Or by the reflexion of the river of that pure milk, (my) captive intelligence may be nourished for a moment;

یا ز عکس جوی آن پاکیزه شیر ** پرورش یابد دمی عقل اسیر

Or perchance, by the reflexion of those rivers of wine, I may be intoxicated and obtain a scent of the delight of (obedience to) the (Divine) command;

یا بود کز عکس آن جوهای خمر ** مست گردم بو برم از ذوق امر

Or perchance, by the favour of those rivers of water, my barren devastated body may gain refreshment— 2520

یا بود کز لطف آن جوهای آب ** تازگی یابد تن شوره‌ی خراب

Some verdure may appear on my barren soil, my thorn-brake may become the Garden of (everlasting) abode;

شوره‌ام را سبزه‌ای پیدا شود ** خارزارم جنت ماوی شود

Perchance, by the reflexion of Paradise and the four rivers, my spirit, through God's befriending (it), may become a seeker of the Friend,

بوک از عکس بهشت و چار جو ** جان شود از یاری حق یارجو

In the same fashion as from the reflexion of Hell I have become fire and am steeped in the wrath of God.

آنچنان که از عکس دوزخ گشته‌ام ** آتش و در قهر حق آغشته‌ام

At one moment, from the reflexion of the snake of Hell I have become (engaged in) dropping poison, like a snake, on those who shall dwell in Paradise;

گه ز عکس مار دوزخ هم‌چو مار ** گشته‌ام بر اهل جنت زهربار