They, the light of that Sun, turn back again, like the stars, from these (bodily) walls.
باز می‌گردند چون استارها ** نور آن خورشید ازین دیوارها
(When) the Sunbeam has gone home, every wall is left dark and black.
پرتو خورشید شد وا جایگاه ** ماند هر دیوار تاریک و سیاه
That which made thee amazed at the faces of the fair is the Light of the Sun (reflected) from the three-coloured glass.
آنک کرد او در رخ خوبانت دنگ ** نور خورشیدست از شیشه‌ی سه رنگ
The glasses of diverse hue cause that Light to seem coloured like this to us.
شیشه‌های رنگ رنگ آن نور را ** می‌نمایند این چنین رنگین بما
When the many-coloured glasses are no more, then the colourless Light makes thee amazed.990
چون نماند شیشه‌های رنگ‌رنگ ** نور بی‌رنگت کند آنگاه دنگ
Make it thy habit to behold the Light without the glass, in order that when the glass is shattered there may not be blindness (in thee).
خوی کن بی‌شیشه دیدن نور را ** تا چو شیشه بشکند نبود عمی
Thou art content with knowledge learned (from others): thou hast lit thine eye at another's lamp.
قانعی با دانش آموخته ** در چراغ غیر چشم افروخته
He takes away his lamp, that thou mayst know thou art a borrower, not a giver.
او چراغ خویش برباید که تا ** تو بدانی مستعیری نی‌فتا
If thou hast rendered thanks (to God for what thou hast received) and made the utmost exertion (in doing so), be not grieved (at its loss), for He will give (thee) a hundred such (gifts) in return;
گر تو کردی شکر و سعی مجتهد ** غم مخور که صد چنان بازت دهد
But if thou hast not rendered thanks, weep (tears of) blood now, for that (spiritual) excellence has become quit of (has abandoned) the ungrateful.995
ور نکردی شکر اکنون خون گری ** که شدست آن حسن از کافر بری
He (God) causeth the works of the unbelieving people to be lost; He maketh the state of the believing people to prosper.
امة الکفران اضل اعمالهم ** امة الایمان اصلح بالهم
From the ungrateful man (his) excellence and knowledge disappear, so that never again does he see a trace of them.
گم شد از بی‌شکر خوبی و هنر ** که دگر هرگز نبیند زان اثر
(His feelings of) affinity and non-affinity and gratitude and affection vanish in such wise that he cannot remember them;
خویشی و بی‌خویشی و سکر وداد ** رفت زان سان که نیاردشان به یاد
For, O ingrates, (the words) He causeth their works to be lost are (signify) the flight of (every) object of desire from every one who has obtained his desire (in this world),
که اضل اعمالهم ای کافران ** جستن کامست از هر کام‌ران
Excepting the thankful and faithful who are attended by fortune.1000
جز ز اهل شکر و اصحاب وفا ** که مریشان راست دولت در قفا
How should the past fortune bestow strength (on its possessors)? ’Tis the future fortune that bestows a special virtue.
دولت رفته کجا قوت دهد ** دولت آینده خاصیت دهد
In (obedience to the Divine command) “Lend,” make a loan (to God) from this (worldly) fortune, that thou mayst see a hundred fortunes before thy face.
قرض ده زین دولت اندر اقرضوا ** تا که صد دولت ببینی پیش رو
Diminish a little for thine own sake this (eating and) drinking, that thou mayst find in front (of thee) the basin of Kawthar.
اندکی زین شرب کم کن بهر خویش ** تا که حوض کوثری یابی به پیش
He who poured a draught on the earth of faithfulness, how should the prey, fortune, be able to flee from him?
جرعه بر خاک وفا آنکس که ریخت ** کی تواند صید دولت زو گریخت
He (God) gladdens their hearts, for He maketh their state to prosper: He restoreth their (worldly) entertainment after they have perished.1005
خوش کند دلشان که اصلح بالهم ** رد من بعد التوی انزالهم
(He says), “O Death, O Turcoman who plunderest the village, give back whatsoever thou hast taken from these thankful ones.”
ای اجل وی ترک غارت‌ساز ده ** هر چه بردی زین شکوران باز ده
He (Death) gives it back; (but) they will not receive it, for they have been endowed with the goods of spiritual life.
وا دهد ایشان بنپذیرند آن ** زانک منعم گشته‌اند از رخت جان
(They say), “We are Súfís and have cast off our (bodily) mantles: we will not take (them) back after we have gambled (them) away.
صوفییم و خرقه‌ها انداختیم ** باز نستانیم چون در باختیم
We have seen the recompense (from God)—(and) how (can there be) a (worldly) recompense then (after that)? Want and desire and object are gone from us.
ما عوض دیدیم آنگه چون عوض ** رفت از ما حاجت و حرص و غرض
We have emerged from a briny and destroying water, we have attained to the pure wine (of Paradise) and the fountain of Kawthar.1010
ز آب شور و مهلکی بیرون شدیم ** بر رحیق و چشمه‌ی کوثر زدیم