آن پشیمانی و یا رب رفت از او ** شست بر آیینه زنگ پنج تو

آن پشیمانی و یا رب رفت از او ** شست بر آیینه زنگ پنج تو 3380

That repenting and (crying) “O Lord!” are gone from him: fivefold rust has settled on the mirror (of his heart).

آهنش را زنگها خوردن گرفت ** گوهرش را زنگ کم کردن گرفت‏

The coats of rust have began to eat his iron (mirror): the rust has begun to lessen its sheen.

چون نویسی کاغذ اسپید بر ** آن نبشته خوانده آید در نظر

When you write upon white paper, that writing may be read at sight.

چون نویسی بر سر بنوشته خط ** فهم ناید خواندنش گردد غلط

When you write script over that which has been (already) written, it is not understood: the reading of it will be erroneous;

کان سیاهی بر سیاهی اوفتاد ** هر دو خط شد کور و معنیی نداد

For that (second) blackness has fallen (been made) upon blackness; (hence) both scripts have become obscure and have given no meaning.

ور سوم باره نویسی بر سرش ** پس سیه کردی چو جان کافرش‏ 3385

And if you write a third time on the top of it, then you make it black as a soul full of wickedness.

پس چه چاره جز پناه چاره‏گر ** ناامیدی مس و اکسیرش نظر

What help is there, then, but (to take) refuge with (God) the Helper? Despair is copper, and the elixir for it is (God's) regard.

ناامیدیها به پیش او نهید ** تا ز درد بی‏دوا بیرون جهید

Lay your despairs before Him, that ye may escape from irremediable pain.

چون شعیب این نکته‏ها با او بگفت ** ز آن دم جان در دل او گل شکفت‏

When Shu‘ayb had told him these deep sayings, at that breath of the spirit roses blossomed in his heart.

جان او بشنید وحی آسمان ** گفت اگر بگرفت ما را کو نشان‏

His soul hearkened to the inspiration from Heaven; he said, (however), “If He hath punished me, where is the sign?”