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
The eye is bandaged at the time if the Decree, so that the eye does not see the eye’s collyrium.
چشم بسته میشود وقت قضا ** تا نبیند چشم کحل چشم را
When the cunning of that Horseman has raised the dust, the dust keeps thee off from calling for aid.
مکر آن فارس چو انگیزید گرد ** آن غبارت ز استغاثت دور کرد
Go towards the Horseman, go not towards the dust; else the cunning of the Rider will beat upon thee.
سوی فارس رو مرو سوی غبار ** ورنه بر تو کوبد آن مکر سوار