His heart (conscience) says to him, “Build a house, O uncle!” He says, “How shall I find room in the house? Tell (me that).”
گویدش دل خانه‌ای ساز ای عمو ** گوید او در خانه کی گنجم بگو
In the hour of pain the bones of your greed shrink together and diminish in compass,
استخوان حرص تو در وقت درد ** درهم آید خرد گردد در نورد
And you say penitently, “I will build a house: it will be a resting-place (refuge) for me in winter”;
گویی از توبه بسازم خانه‌ای ** در زمستان باشدم استانه‌ای
(But) when the pain is gone and your greed has grown stout, the desire for the house departs from you, just as (in the case of) the dog.
چون بشد درد و شدت آن حرص زفت ** همچو سگ سودای خانه از تو رفت
Thanksgiving for the bounty is sweeter than the bounty (itself): how should he that is addicted to thanksgiving go towards (direct his attention to) the bounty?2895
شکر نعمت خوشتر از نعمت بود ** شکرباره کی سوی نعمت رود
Thanksgiving is the soul of the bounty, and the bounty is as the husk, because thanksgiving brings you to the abode of the Beloved.
شکر جان نعمت و نعمت چو پوست ** ز آنک شکر آرد ترا تا کوی دوست
Bounty produces heedlessness, and thanksgiving alertness: hunt after bounty with the snare of thanksgiving to the King.
نعمت آرد غفلت و شکر انتباه ** صید نعمت کن بدام شکر شاه
The bounty of thanksgiving will make you contented and princely, so that you will bestow a hundred bounties on the poor.
نعمت شکرت کند پرچشم و میر ** تا کنی صد نعمت ایثار فقیر
You will eat your fill of the viands and dessert of God, so that hunger and begging will depart from you.
سیر نوشی از طعام و نقل حق ** تا رود از تو شکم‌خواری و دق
How the unbelievers stopped the prophets, on whom be peace, from giving admonition and brought forward Necessitarian arguments.
منع کردن انبیا را از نصیحت کردن و حجت آوردن جبریانه
The people (of Sabá) said, “O admonishers, what ye have said is enough, if there be any one in this village.2900
قوم گفتند ای نصوحان بس بود ** اینچ گفتید ار درین ده کس بود
God hath set a lock upon our hearts; none can prevail against the Creator.
قفل بر دلهای ما بنهاد حق ** کس نداند برد بر خالق سبق
That Artist made the picture of us to be this: this will not be altered by talking.
نقش ما این کرد آن تصویرگر ** این نخواهد شد بگفت و گو دگر
A hundred years you may tell the pebble to become a ruby, a hundred years you may tell the old to become new;
سنگ را صد سال گویی لعل شو ** کهنه را صد سال گویی باش نو
You may tell earth to assume the qualities of water, you may tell water to become honey or milk—
خاک را گویی صفات آب گیر ** آب را گویی عسل شو یا که شیر
(’Tis all in vain): He is the Creator of the heavens and the heavenly ones, the Creator of water and earth and earthly beings.2905
خالق افلاک او و افلاکیان ** خالق آب و تراب و خاکیان
To heaven He gave its circling motion and its purity; to (the mixed) water and earth its dark appearance and its (power of) growth.
آسمان را داد دوران و صفا ** آب و گل را تیره رویی و نما
How can heaven choose turbidity? How can (the mixed) earth and water buy purity?
کی تواند آسمان دردی گزید ** کی تواند آب و گل صفوت خرید
To every one He hath allotted a certain course: how should a mountain by any effort become as a straw?”
قسمتی کردست هر یک را رهی ** کی کهی گردد بجهدی چون کهی
The answer of the prophets, on whom be peace, to the Necessitarians.
جواب انبیا علیهم السلام مر جبریان را
The prophets said, “Yes: He hath created some qualities from which it is impossible to withdraw one's self,
انبیا گفتند کاری آفرید ** وصفهایی که نتان زان سر کشید
And He hath (also) created qualities (which are only) accidental, so that a hated person becomes acceptable.2910
و آفرید او وصفهای عارضی ** که کسی مبغوض می‌گردد رضی
If you bid a stone become gold, ’tis futile; (but) if you bid copper become gold, the way (of transmuting it) exists.
سنگ را گویی که زر شو بیهده‌ست ** مس را گویی که زر شو راه هست