ای بسا بنیادها پنهان و فاش ** مضمر این سقف کرد و این فراش
Oh, how many structures hidden (from sight) and plain to see has He enclosed in this roof (heaven) and this carpet (earth)!
آدم اصطرلاب اوصاف علوست ** وصف آدم مظهر آیات اوست
Adam is the astrolabe of the attributes of (Divine) Sublimity: the nature of Adam is the theatre for His revelations.
هرچه در وی می‌نماید عکس اوست ** هم‌چو عکس ماه اندر آب جوست
Whatever appears in him (Adam) is the reflexion of Him, just as the moon is reflected in the water of the river.
بر صطرلابش نقوش عنکبوت ** بهر اوصاف ازل دارد ثبوت 3140
The figures (cut) on the “spider” (uppermost tablet) on his astrolabe are there for the sake of (typifying) the Eternal Attributes,
تا ز چرخ غیب وز خورشید روح ** عنکبوتش درس گوید از شروح
In order that its “spider” may give lessons in exposition of the sky of the Unseen and the sun of the Spirit.
عنکبوت و این صطرلاب رشاد ** بی‌منجم در کف عام اوفتاد
Without a (spiritual) astronomer (to explain their significance), the “spider” and this astrolabe which guides aright fall (uselessly) into the hands of the vulgar.
انبیا را داد حق تنجیم این ** غیب را چشمی بباید غیب‌بین
God bestowed (knowledge of) this (spiritual) astronomy on the prophets: for (the mysteries of) the Unseen an eye that observes the Unseen is necessary.
در چه دنیا فتادند این قرون ** عکس خود را دید هر یک چه درون
These (worldly) generations fell into the well of the present world: every one saw in the well his own reflexion.
از برون دان آنچ در چاهت نمود ** ورنه آن شیری که در چه شد فرود 3145
Know that what appears to you in the well is (really) from outside; else you are (like) the lion that plunged into the well (and was drowned).
برد خرگوشیش از ره کای فلان ** در تگ چاهست آن شیر ژیان
A hare led him astray, saying, “O such-and-such, this furious lion (thy rival) is at the bottom of the well.