For he is never content with any state (of things), neither with poverty nor with a life of plenty
فهو لا یرضی بحال ابدا ** لا بضیق لا بعیش رغدا
May Man be killed! How ungrateful he is!Whenever he obtains guidance, he spurns it.
قتل الانسان ما اکفره ** کلما نال هدی انکره
The carnal soul is of this sort, hence it ought to be killed : that Exalted One hath said, “Kill yourselves.”
نفس زین سانست زان شد کشتنی ** اقتلوا انفسکم گفت آن سنی
It is a triagonal thorn: however you may place it, it will pierce, and how will you escape from its stab?375
خار سه سویست هر چون کش نهی ** در خلد وز زخم او تو کی جهی
Set the thorn on fire with renunciation of sensual passion, and cling to the righteous friend.
آتش ترک هوا در خار زن ** دست اندر یار نیکوکار زن
When the people of Saba carried (their ingratitude) beyond bounds, saying, “In our opinion, pestilence is better than the zephyr,”
چون ز حد بردند اصحاب سبا ** که بپیش ما وبا به از صبا
Their counselors began to admonish (them) and restrain (them) from impiety and ingratitude;
ناصحانشان در نصیحت آمدند ** از فسوق و کفر مانع میشدند
(But) they sought to take the lives of their counselors, and sowed the seed of impiety and unthankfulness.
قصد خون ناصحان میداشتند ** تخم فسق و کافری میکاشتند
When the (Divine) decree comes to pass, this (whole) world becomes cramped (so that there is no escape); by the (Divine) decree sweetmeat becomes anguish to the mouth.380
چون قضا آید شود تنگ این جهان ** از قضا حلوا شود رنج دهان
He ( the Prophet) said, “When the Decree comes, the (widest) expanse is narrow; when the Decree comes, the eyes are veiled.”
گفت اذا جاء القضا ضاق الفضا ** تحجب الابصار اذ جاء القضا