Witness and oath and shrinking (from the oath)—till (at last) the insolent demon goes into the bottle (prison).
از گواه و از یمین و از نکول ** تا به شیشه در رود دیو فضول
(The Law is) like the balance whereby the two adversaries are surely united in contentment, (whether) in jest or earnest.
مثل میزانی که خشنودی دو ضد ** جمع می‌آید یقین در هزل و جد
Know for sure that the Law is like the measure and scales by means of which the litigants are saved from wrangling and enmity.
شرع چون کیله و ترازو دان یقین ** که بدو خصمان رهند از جنگ و کین
If there be no pair of scales, how shall the litigant escape from disputing when he suspects fraud and deceit?1215
گر ترازو نبود آن خصم از جدال ** کی رهد از وهم حیف و احتیال
(If), then, there is all this jealousy and litigation and injustice in respect of this foul faithless carcase,
پس درین مردار زشت بی‌وفا ** این همه رشکست و خصمست و جفا
How, then, must it be when genies and men become envious in respect of that fortune and felicity (hereafter)?
پس در اقبال و دولت چون بود ** چون شود جنی و انسی در حسد
Truly those devils are envious of old: never for a moment do they cease from waylaying;
آن شیاطین خود حسود کهنه‌اند ** یک زمان از ره‌زنی خالی نه‌اند
And the sons of Adam who have sown (the seed of) disobedience—they too have become devils from enviousness.
وآن بنی آدم که عصیان کشته‌اند ** از حسودی نیز شیطان گشته‌اند
Read in the Qur’án how by Divine transformation the devils of mankind have become homogeneous with the Devil.1220
از نبی برخوان که شیطانان انس ** گشته‌اند از مسخ حق با دیو جنس
When the Devil fails to tempt (any one), he seeks aid from these human (devils).
دیو چون عاجز شود در افتتان ** استعانت جوید او زین انسیان
Saying, ‘Ye are my friends: (perform) an act of friendship towards me; ye are on my side: (perform) an act of partiality.’
که شما یارید با ما یاریی ** جانب مایید جانب داریی
If they waylay any one in the world, both kinds of devils come off rejoicing;
گر کسی را ره زنند اندر جهان ** هر دو گون شیطان بر آید شادمان
And if any one has saved his soul and become eminent in religion, those two jealous (parties) keep up lamentation.
ور کسی جان برد و شد در دین بلند ** نوحه می‌دارند آن دو رشک‌مند
Both gnash their teeth in envy at any one upon whom the (spiritual) Teacher has bestowed wisdom.”1225
هر دو می‌خایند دندان حسد ** بر کسی که داد ادیب او را خرد
How the king asked the man who claimed to be a prophet, saying, “The person who is a true Messenger (of God) and becomes established (as such)—what has he to give to any one, or what gifts will people obtain by consorting with him and serving him, except the counsel which he utters with his tongue?”
پرسیدن آن پادشاه از آن مدعی نبوت کی آنک رسول راستین باشد و ثابت شود با او چه باشد کی کسی را بخشد یا به صحبت و خدمت او چه بخشش یابند غیر نصیحت به زبان کی می‌گوید
The king questioned him, saying, “After all, what is inspiration, or what has he got who is a prophet?”
شاه پرسیدش که باری وحی چیست ** یا چه حاصل دارد آن کس کو نبیست
He replied, “What is there indeed that he has not got, or what fortune is left whereunto he has not attained?
گفت خود آن چیست کش حاصل نشد ** یا چه دولت ماند کو واصل نشد
I will suppose (for argument's sake) that this prophetic inspiration is not a treasurer (of Divine Revelations); still, it is not inferior to the inspiration in the heart of the bee.
گیرم این وحی نبی گنجور نیست ** هم کم از وحی دل زنبور نیست
Since (the words) God hath inspired the bee have come (in the Qur’án), the dwelling-place of its (the bee's) inspiration has been filled with sweets.
چونک او حی الرب الی النحل آمدست ** خانه‌ی وحیش پر از حلوا شدست
Through the light of the inspiration of God the Almighty and Glorious, it filled the world with wax and honey.1230
او به نور وحی حق عزوجل ** کرد عالم را پر از شمع و عسل
This one who is (the object of) We have honored the sons of Adam (and) is ever going upward––how should his inspiration be inferior to (that of) the bee?"
این که کرمناست و بالا می‌رود ** وحیش از زنبور کمتر کی بود
Have not you read (the words) We have given thee Kawthar? Why, then, are you dry and why have you remained thirsty?
نه تو اعطیناک کوثر خوانده‌ای ** پس چرا خشکی و تشنه مانده‌ای
Or perchance you are (like) Pharaoh, and for you Kawthar, like the Nile, has turned to blood and (become) impure, O sick man.
یا مگر فرعونی و کوثر چو نیل ** بر تو خون گشتست و ناخوش ای علیل
Repent, renounce every enemy (of God) who hath not the water of Kawthar in his cup.
توبه کن بیزار شو از هر عدو ** کو ندارد آب کوثر در کدو
Whomsoever you see flushed (with joy) by Kawthar, he hath the nature of Mohammed: consort with him,1235
هر کرا دیدی ز کوثر سرخ‌رو ** او محمدخوست با او گیر خو
That at the Reckoning you may become (one of those who) love for God's sake; for with him are apples from the tree of Ahmad (Mohammed).
تا احب لله آیی در حساب ** کز درخت احمدی با اوست سیب