گر بنالیدی و مستغفر شدی ** نور رفته از کرم ظاهر شدی
If he had moaned and asked pardon (of God), the departed light would have appeared (again) through (God's) kindness;
لیک استغفار هم در دست نیست ** ذوق توبه نقل هر سر مست نیست
But (the power of) asking pardon, also, is not in (our) hands: the savour of repentance is not the dessert of every inebriate.
زشتی اعمال و شومی جحود ** راه توبه بر دل او بسته بود
The wickedness of (his) actions and the disastrousness of (his) denial (of the Truth) had barred the way of repentance to his heart.
دل به سختی همچو روی سنگ گشت ** چون شکافد توبه آن را بهر کشت1645
His heart became in hardness as the face of a rock: how should repentance cleave it for sowing?
چون شعیبی کو که تا او را دعا ** بهر کشتن خاک سازد کوه را
Where is one like Shu‘ayb, that by prayer he may make the mountain earth (fit) for sowing?
از نیاز و اعتقاد آن خلیل ** گشت ممکن امر صعب و مستحیل
Through the supplication and (firm) belief of that Friend (Abraham) the thing that was hard and impossible became possible.
یا به دریوزهی مقوقس از رسول ** سنگلاخی مزرعی شد با اصول
Or, (to give another example), through the Muqawqis' begging the Prophet a stony ground became a goodly cornfield.
همچنین بر عکس آن انکار مرد ** مس کند زر را و صلحی را نبرد
So, contrariwise, a man's disbelief turns gold into copper and peace into war.
کهربای مسخ آمد این دغا ** خاک قابل را کند سنگ و حصا1650
This falseness draws after it an evil transformation: it turns ground capable (of tillage) into stones and pebbles.
هر دلی را سجده هم دستور نیست ** مزد رحمت قسم هر مزدور نیست
Nor is it granted to every heart to fall down in prayer: the wages of (Divine) mercy are not the (allotted) portion of every hireling.
هین بپشت آن مکن جرم و گناه ** که کنم توبه در آیم در پناه
Beware! Do not commit crime and sin in reliance on (the thought), “I will repent and come to (take) refuge (with God).”
میبباید تاب و آبی توبه را ** شرط شد برق و سحابی توبه را
For (true) repentance, there must needs be a glow (of inward feeling) and a flood (of tears): (such) lightning and clouds are the condition indispensable to repentance.
آتش و آبی بباید میوه را ** واجب آید ابر و برق این شیوه را
There must needs be fire and water (rain) for the fruit: clouds and lightning are necessary for this accomplishment.
تا نباشد برق دل و ابر دو چشم ** کی نشیند آتش تهدید و خشم1655
Until there is the lightning of the heart and the rain-clouds of the two eyes, how shall the fire of (Divine) menace and wrath be allayed?
کی بروید سبزهی ذوق وصال ** کی بجوشد چشمهها ز آب زلال
How shall the herbage grow, (the herbage) of the delight of union (with God)? How shall the fountains of clear water gush forth?
کی گلستان راز گوید با چمن ** کی بنفشه عهد بندد با سمن
How shall the rose-beds tell their secret to the garden? How shall the violet make an engagement with the jasmine?
کی چناری کف گشاید در دعا ** کی درختی سر فشاند در هوا
How shall a plane-tree open its hands (spread its leaves) in prayer? How shall any tree toss its head in the air (of love-desire)?
کی شکوفه آستین پر نثار ** بر فشاندن گیرد ایام بهار
How shall the blossoms begin to shake out their sleeves full of largesse in the days of Spring?
کی فروزد لاله را رخ همچو خون ** کی گل از کیسه بر آرد زر برون1660
How shall the cheeks of the anemone flame like blood? How shall the rose bring gold out of its purse?
کی بیاید بلبل و گل بو کند ** کی چو طالب فاخته کوکو کند
How shall the nightingale come and smell the rose? How shall the dove say “coo, coo,” as one that seeks?
کی بگوید لکلک آن لک لک به جان ** لک چه باشد ملک تست ای مستعان
How shall the stork utter with (all) its soul the cry lak, lak? What is (the meaning of) lak? (It means) “Thine is the kingdom, O Thou whose help is invoked.”
کی نماید خاک اسرار ضمیر ** کی شود بیآسمان بستان منیر
How shall the earth show forth the secrets of its inmost mind? How shall the garden become radiant without the sky?
از کجا آوردهاند آن حلهها ** من کریم من رحیم کلها
Whence have they fetched those garments (fair qualities)? (They have derived) all of them from One who is Bounteous and Merciful.
آن لطافتها نشان شاهدی است ** آن نشان پای مرد عابدی است1665
Those graces are the signs of a Witness: they are the footprints of a man devoted to (God's) service.
آن شود شاد از نشان کاو دید شاه ** چون ندید او را نباشد انتباه
(None but) that person that has seen the King is gladdened by the sign; when one has not seen Him, there is no recognition.