Be not (one of those described in the Verse) before and behind them (We will set) a barrier, so that thou canst not see the enemy, though the enemy is manifest.
بین ایدی خلفهم سدا مباش ** که نبینی خصم را وآن خصم فاش
The greed of hunting makes (one) oblivious of being a prey: he (the hunter) tries to win hearts (though) he has lost his own.
حرص صیادی ز صیدی مغفلست ** دلبریی می‌کند او بی‌دلست
Be not thou inferior to a bird in (thy) seeking: (even) a sparrow sees (what is) before and behind.
تو کم از مرغی مباش اندر نشید ** بین ایدی خلف عصفوری بدید
When it approaches the grain (bait), at that moment it turns its head and face several times to front and rear,
چون به نزد دانه آید پیش و پس ** چند گرداند سر و رو آن نفس
(As though to say), ‘Oh, I wonder whether there is a fowler in front of me or behind, so that for fear of him I should abstain from this food.’755
کای عجب پیش و پسم صیاد هست ** تا کشم از بیم او زین لقمه دست
Do thou see behind (thee) the story of (what happened to) the wicked; see before (thee) the death of (many a) friend and neighbour,
تو ببین پس قصه‌ی فجار را ** پیش بنگر مرگ یار و جار را
Whom He (God) destroyed without (using) any instrument: He is close to thee in every circumstance.
که هلاکت دادشان بی‌آلتی ** او قرین تست در هر حالتی
God inflicted torment (on them), and there is no mace or hand (employed): know, then, that God is one who deals justice (inflicts chastisement) without hands.
حق شکنجه کرد و گرز و دست نیست ** پس بدان بی‌دست حق داورکنیست
He who was saying, ‘If God exists, where is He?’ was confessing on the rack (of pain) that ’tis He (God).
آنک می‌گفتی اگر حق هست کو ** در شکنجه او مقر می‌شد که هو
He who was saying, ‘This is far-fetched and marvellous’ was shedding tears and crying, ‘O Thou who art nigh!’760
آنک می‌گفت این بعیدست و عجیب ** اشک می‌راند و همی گفت ای قریب
Since he has deemed it necessary to flee from the trap, (’tis strange that) the trap for thee is in fact stuck fast to thy (gaudy) feathers.
چون فرار از دام واجب دیده است ** دام تو خود بر پرت چفسیده است
I will tear out the pin of this ill-fated trap: I will not suffer bitter grief for the sake of (indulging) a desire.
بر کنم من میخ این منحوس دام ** از پی کامی نباشم طلخ‌کام
I have given thee this answer (which is) suitable to thy understanding: apprehend (its meaning) and do not avert thy face from seeking.
درخور عقل تو گفتم این جواب ** فهم کن وز جست و جو رو بر متاب
Snap this cord, which is greed and envy: remember (the text) on her neck a cord of palm-fibres.”
بسکل این حبلی که حرص است و حسد ** یاد کن فی جیدها حبل مسد
The reason why Khalíl (Abraham), on whom be peace, killed the crow, indicating (thereby) the subjugation of certain blameworthy and pernicious qualities in the disciple.
صفت کشتن خلیل علیه‌السلام زاغ را کی آن اشارت به قمع کدام صفت بود از صفات مذمومه‌ی مهلکه در مرید
There is no end and completion to this discourse. O Friend of God, why didst thou kill the crow?765
این سخن را نیست پایان و فراغ ** ای خلیل حق چرا کشتی تو زاغ
Because of the (Divine) command. What was the wisdom of the (Divine) command? A small part of the mysteries thereof must (now) be shown.
بهر فرمان حکمت فرمان چه بود ** اندکی ز اسرار آن باید نمود
The cawing and noisy cry of the black crow is ever asking for (long) life in this world.
کاغ کاغ و نعره‌ی زاغ سیاه ** دایما باشد به دنیا عمرخواه
Like Iblís, it (the crow) besought the holy and incomparable God for bodily life till the Resurrection.
هم‌چو ابلیس از خدای پاک فرد ** تا قیامت عمر تن درخواست کرد
He (Iblís) said, “Grant me a respite till the Day of Retribution.” Would that he had said, “We repent, O our Lord.”