گرم‌تر شد مرد زان منعش که کرد ** گرم‌تر گردد همی از منع مرد
The man became more eager in consequence of the refusal which he (Moses) made to him: a man always becomes more eager from being refused (what he craves).
گفت ای موسی چو نور تو بتافت ** هر چه چیزی بود چیزی از تو یافت
He said, “O Moses, since thy light has shone forth, whatever was a thing has gained (its) thinginess from thee.
مر مرا محروم کردن زین مراد ** لایق لطفت نباشد ای جواد
’Tis not worthy of thy bounty, O generous one, to disappoint me of this object of desire.
این زمان قایم مقام حق توی ** یاس باشد گر مرا مانع شوی3275
At this time thou art the vicegerent of God: it will be despair (for me) if thou prevent me.”
گفت موسی یا رب این مرد سلیم ** سخره کردستش مگر دیو رجیم
Moses said, “O Lord, surely the stoned (accursed) Devil has subdued this simple man.
گر بیاموزم زیان‌کارش بود ** ور نیاموزم دلش بد می‌شود
If I teach him, it will be harmful to him; and if I do not teach him, he will become faint-hearted.”
گفت ای موسی بیاموزش که ما ** رد نکردیم از کرم هرگز دعا
He (God) said, “Teach him, O Moses, for We in our loving-kindness never have rejected (any one's) prayer.”
گفت یا رب او پشیمانی خورد ** دست خاید جامه‌ها را بر درد
He (Moses) said, “O Lord, he will feel repentance and gnaw his hands and rend his garments.
نیست قدرت هر کسی را سازوار ** عجز بهتر مایه‌ی پرهیزکار3280
Power is not suitable to every one: weakness is the best stock-in-trade for the devout.”
فقر ازین رو فخر آمد جاودان ** که به تقوی ماند دست نارسان
For this reason poverty is everlasting glory, since the hand that cannot reach (to objects of desire) is left with fear of God (and nothing else).
زان غنا و زان غنی مردود شد ** که ز قدرت صبرها بدرود شد
Riches and the rich are spurned (by God) because acts of self-denial are relinquished by power.
آدمی را عجز و فقر آمد امان ** از بلای نفس پر حرص و غمان
Weakness and poverty are security for a man against the tribulation of the covetous and anxious (fleshly) soul.
آن غم آمد ز آرزوهای فضول ** که بدان خو کرده است آن صید غول
That anxiety arises from the wanton desires to which that (man who falls a) prey to the ghoul has become habituated.
آرزوی گل بود گل‌خواره را ** گلشکر نگوارد آن بیچاره را3285
The eater of clay has a desire for clay: rose-flavoured sugar is indigestible for that wretched man.
وحی آمدن از حق تعالی به موسی کی بیاموزش چیزی کی استدعا کند یا بعضی از آن
How Revelation came from God most High to Moses that he should teach him the thing demanded by him, or part of it.
گفت یزدان تو بده بایست او ** برگشا در اختیار آن دست او
God said, “Do thou grant his need: let him have a free hand to choose (good or evil).”
اختیار آمد عبادت را نمک ** ورنه می‌گردد بناخواه این فلک
Choice (free-will) is the salt of devotion; otherwise (there would be no merit): this celestial sphere revolves involuntarily;
گردش او را نه اجر و نه عقاب ** که اختیار آمد هنر وقت حساب
(Hence) its revolution has neither reward nor punishment, for free-will is (accounted) a merit at the time of the Reckoning.
جمله عالم خود مسبح آمدند ** نیست آن تسبیح جبری مزدمند
All created beings indeed are glorifiers (of God), (but) that compulsory glorification is not wage-earning.
تیغ در دستش نه از عجزش بکن ** تا که غازی گردد او یا راه‌زن3290
“Put a sword in his hand, pull him away from weakness (incapacity to choose), so that he may become (either) a holy warrior or a brigand,
زانک کرمنا شد آدم ز اختیار ** نیم زنبور عسل شد نیم مار
Because We have honoured Man by (the gift of) free-will: half (of him) is honeybee, half is snake.”
مومنان کان عسل زنبوروار ** کافران خود کان زهری همچو مار
The true believers are a store of honey, like the bee; the infidels, in sooth, are a store of poison, like the snake,
زانک مومن خورد بگزیده نبات ** تا چو نحلی گشت ریق او حیات
Because the true believer ate choice herbs, so that, like a bee, his spittle became (a means of giving) life;
باز کافر خورد شربت از صدید ** هم ز قوتش زهر شد در وی پدید
(While), again, the infidel drank sherbet of filthy water: accordingly from his nourishment poison appeared in him.
اهل الهام خدا عین الحیات ** اهل تسویل هوا سم الممات3295
Those inspired by God are the fountain of life; those allured by the enticements of sensuality are the poison of death.
در جهان این مدح و شاباش و زهی ** ز اختیارست و حفاظ آگهی
In the world this praise and “well done!” and “bravo!” are (bestowed) in virtue of free-will and watchful attention.