Rumi's Masnavi - When it (the seed) does not grow during two or three years, how can you do aught but put your hand (to your head) in supplication and prayer?

When it (the seed) does not grow during two or three years, how can you do aught but put your hand (to your head) in supplication and prayer?

چون دو سه سال آن نروید چون کنی ** جز که در لابه و دعا کف در زنی

You will beat your hand on your head in the presence of God: (your) hand and head bear witness to His giving sustenance;

دست بر سر می‌زنی پیش اله ** دست و سر بر دادن رزقش گواه

So that you may know that He is the Source of the source of (all) sustenance, and that the seeker of sustenance may seek only Him. 1495

تا بدانی اصل اصل رزق اوست ** تا همو را جوید آنک رزق‌جوست

Seek sustenance from Him, do not seek it from Zayd and ‘Amr: seek intoxication from Him, do not seek it from beng and wine.

رزق از وی جو مجو از زید و عمرو ** مستی از وی جو مجو از بنگ و خمر

Desire wealth from Him, not from treasure and possessions: desire aid from Him, not from paternal and maternal uncles.

توانگری زو خو نه از گنج و مال ** نصرت از وی خواه نه از عم و خال

At the last you will be left without (all) these things: hark, unto whom will you call then?

عاقبت زینها بخواهی ماندن ** هین کرا خواهی در آن دم خواندن

Call unto Him now, and leave (all) the rest, that you may inherit the kingdom of the world.

این دم او را خوان و باقی را بمان ** تا تو باشی وارث ملک جهان

When comes (the Day on which) a man shall flee from his brother and on such a Day the son will flee from his father, 1500

چون یفر المرء آید من اخیه ** یهرب المولود یوما من ابیه

In that hour every friend will become your foe, because (in the world) he was your idol and one who hindered (you) from (following) the (right) Way.

زان شود هر دوست آن ساعت عدو ** که بت تو بود و از ره مانع او

You were averting your face from the Painter of the face, since you were gaining heart's delight from a (mere) picture.

روی از نقاش رو می‌تافتی ** چون ز نقشی انس دل می‌یافتی

If at this (present) time your friends become hostile to you and turn aside from you and quarrel (with you),

این دم ار یارانت با تو ضد شوند ** وز تو برگردند و در خصمی روند

Take heed and say, “Lo, my fortune is triumphant: that which would have happened to-morrow (at the Last Judgement) has happened to-day.

هین بگو نک روز من پیروز شد ** آنچ فردا خواست شد امروز شد

The people of this caravanseray (the world) have become my enemies, in order that the Resurrection might be made clearly visible to me beforehand, 1505

ضد من گشتند اهل این سرا ** تا قیامت عین شد پیشین مرا

Ere I should lose my time and associate with them to the end of my life.

پیش از آنک روزگار خود برم ** عمر با ایشان به پایان آورم

I had bought defective goods: thanks (to God) that I have become aware of their defectiveness in time,

کاله‌ی معیوب بخریده بدم ** شکر کز عیبش بگه واقف شدم

Ere the stock-in-trade should go out of my hands and finally come forth (be exposed) as defective.

پیش از آن کز دست سرمایه شدی ** عاقبت معیوب بیرون آمدی

My wealth was (all but) gone, my life was (all but) gone, O man of noble lineage: I had (all but) given away my wealth and life for damaged goods.

مال رفته عمر رفته ای نسیب ** ماه و جان داده پی کاله‌ی معیب

I sold my merchandise, I received base gold: I was going home in great jubilation. 1510

رخت دادم زر قلبی بستدم ** شاد شادان سوی خانه می‌شدم

Thanks (to God) that this gold was shown to be base now, before too much of my life had passed.

شکر کین زر قلب پیدا شد کنون ** پیش از آنک عمر بگذشتی فزون

The base coin would have remained (as a shackle) on my neck for ever: to waste my life (thus) would have been an iniquity.

قلب ماندی تا ابد در گردنم ** حیف بودی عمر ضایع کردنم

Since its (the coin's) baseness has been revealed earlier (in good time), I will step back from it very quickly.”

چون بگه‌تر قلبی او رو نمود ** پای خود زو وا کشم من زود زود

When your friend displays enmity (and when) the itch of his hatred and jealousy shoots forth (manifests itself),

یار تو چون دشمنی پیدا کند ** گر حقد و رشک او بیرون زند

Do not bewail his aversion, do not make yourself (do not let yourself behave as) a fool and ignoramus; 1515

تو از آن اعراض او افغان مکن ** خویشتن را ابله و نادان مکن

Nay, thank God and give bread (alms), (in gratitude) that you have not become old (and rotten) in his sack,

بلک شکر حق کن و نان بخش کن ** که نگشتی در جوال او کهن

(But) have quickly come out of his sack to seek the true Eternal Friend,

از جوالش زود بیرون آمدی ** تا بجویی یار صدق سرمدی