Deal equitably (answer fairly): is a scroll (a register of actions) full of injustice and wickedness and unbelief and enmity fit (to be placed) in the right hand?2205
نامه‌ی پر ظلم و فسق و کفر و کین ** لایقست انصاف ده اندر یمین
If you ask an infidel, “By whom were this heaven and these creatures and this world created?”
گر بپرسی گبر را کین آسمان ** آفریده‌ی کیست وین خلق و جهان
He will reply that they were created by the Lord to whose Lordship the Creation bears witness.
گوید او کین آفریده‌ی آن خداست ** که آفرینش بر خدایی‌اش گواست
Do his unbelief and great wickedness and wrong-doing fit (properly agree with) such a confession by him?
کفر و فسق و استم بسیار او ** هست لایق با چنین اقرار او
Do those infamous deeds and that vicious conduct go fitly with such a true confession?
هست لایق با چنین اقرار راست ** آن فضیحتها و آن کردار کاست
His actions have given the lie to his words, so that he has become fit for (deserving of) the awful torment.2210
فعل او کرده دروغ آن قول را ** تا شد او لایق عذاب هول را
On the Day of Resurrection every hidden thing will be made manifest: every sinner will be ignominiously exposed by himself.
روز محشر هر نهان پیدا شود ** هم ز خود هر مجرمی رسوا شود
His hands and feet will give evidence and declare his iniquity in the presence of Him whose help is sought.
دست و پا بدهد گواهی با بیان ** بر فساد او به پیش مستعان
His hand will say, “I have stolen such and such”; his lip will say, “I have asked such and such questions”;
دست گوید من چنین دزدیده‌ام ** لب بگوید من چنین پرسیده‌ام
His foot will say, “I have gone to (enjoy) things desired”; his pudendum will say, “I have committed fornication.” [His foot will say, “I have gone to (enjoy) things desired”; his private parts will say, “I have committed fornication.”]
پای گوید من شدستم تا منی ** فرج گوید من بکردستم زنی
His eye will say, “I have cast amorous glances at things forbidden”; his ear will say, “I have gathered evil words.”2215
Therefore he is a lie from head to foot, for even his own members give him the lie,
پس دروغ آمد ز سر تا پای خویش ** که دروغش کرد هم اعضای خویش
Just as, in (the case of) the specious prayers (performed by the ascetic), their fine appearance was proved to be false testimonio testiculi. [Just as, in (the case of) the specious prayers (performed by the ascetic), their fine appearance was proved to be false by the testimony of the (soiled) testicles.]
آنچنان که در نماز با فروغ ** از گواهی خصیه شد زرقش دروغ
Act, then, in such wise that the action itself, without (your) tongue (uttering a word), will be (equivalent to) saying “I testify” and (to making) the most explicit declaration,
پس چنان کن فعل که آن خود بی‌زبان ** باشد اشهد گفتن و عین بیان
So that your whole body, limb by limb, O son, will have said “I testify” as regards both good and ill.
تا همه تن عضو عضوت ای پسر ** گفته باشد اشهد اندر نفع و ضر
The slave's walking behind his master is a testimony (equivalent to saying), “I am subject to authority and this man is my lord.”2220
رفتن بنده پی خواجه گواست ** که منم محکوم و این مولای ماست
If you have blackened the scroll (record) of your life, repent of the deeds you did formerly.
گر سیه کردی تو نامه‌ی عمر خویش ** توبه کن زانها که کردستی تو پیش
Though your life has (almost) passed, this (present) moment is its root: water it with repentance if it lacks moisture.
عمر اگر بگذشت بیخش این دمست ** آب توبه‌ش ده اگر او بی‌نمست
Give the Living Water to the root of your life, in order that the tree of your life may become verdant.
بیخ عمرت را بده آب حیات ** تا درخت عمر گردد با نبات
By this (Water) all past (sins) are made good: by this (Water) last year's poison is made (sweet) as sugar.
God hath changed your evil deeds (to good), in order that what has preceded may become wholly (acts of) piety.2225
سیاتت را مبدل کرد حق ** تا همه طاعت شود آن ما سبق
O master, cleave bravely to a repentance (like that) of Nasúh: strive earnestly both with body and spirit.
خواجه بر توبه‌ی نصوحی خوش به تن ** کوششی کن هم به جان و هم به تن
Hear from me the description of this repentance of Nasúh: (if) you have believed (in it before), (yet now) believe afresh.
شرح این توبه‌ی نصوح از من شنو ** بگرویدستی و لیک از نو گرو
Story explaining the repentance of Nasúh. As milk that flows from the teat never returns to the teat, so he who has repented like Nasúh will never think of that sin in the way of desire; nay, his loathing will increase continually, and that loathing is a proof that he has experienced the delight of being accepted (as a sincere penitent), and that the old lust has ceased to give delight, and that the former (delight) has established itself in the place of the latter, as it has been said (in verse): “Nothing breaks off (one) love except another love: why don't you take a friend (who is) fairer than he?” And when his (the penitent's) heart desires to sin again, it is a sign that he has not experienced the delight of acceptance, and that the delight of acceptance has not superseded the delight of sin, and that he has not (yet) become (like the righteous of whom God saith), “We will surely dispose him to ease,” but that the (sinful) delight (spoken) of (in the text), “We will surely dispose him to hardship,” is still remaining in him.
حکایت در بیان توبه‌ی نصوح کی چنانک شیر از پستان بیرون آید باز در پستان نرود آنک توبه نصوحی کرد هرگز از آن گناه یاد نکند به طریق رغبت بلک هر دم نفرتش افزون باشد و آن نفرت دلیل آن بود کی لذت قبول یافت آن شهوت اول بی‌لذت شد این به جای آن نشست نبرد عشق را جز عشق دیگر چرا یاری نجویی زو نکوتر وانک دلش باز بدان گناه رغبت می‌کند علامت آنست کی لذت قبول نیافته است و لذت قبول به جای آن لذت گناه ننشسته است سنیسره للیسری نشده است لذت و نیسره للعسری باقیست بر وی
There was aforetime a man named Nasúh: he earned his livelihood by shampooing women.
بود مردی پیش ازین نامش نصوح ** بد ز دلاکی زن او را فتوح
His face resembled a female countenance: he was disguising his manliness.
بود روی او چو رخسار زنان ** مردی خود را همی‌کرد او نهان