1. Whites and blacks and good and evil,
How much contraries you contain, O world!

2. The throne and the floor and the events between them,
Good and evil, scarcity and abundance.

3. And the night and the morning and humankind with them
Sleepy, awake, and water and fire.

4. And the stars like flowers: this elevated star
Shining brightly, and this faded star.

5. They appear scattered on the horizon, united
In their orbit by a revolving sphere in the sky.

6. It is said that on the planet Mars there are
Built structures, gardens, and rivers.

7. And it is said that in the sea there are dunes and valleys
As on land there are waves and depths.

8. The flood overflowed when it was spreading
Until damages came from it.

9. How much do I see the like under the like celebrated
By it, to fulfill every need and goal?

10. If the flood has a measure to limit it,
Then our events have a measure for the flood.

11. What are musk and amber but viscous liquids
That differ? So how can musk and amber be opposed?

12. And how can humans distinguish
Between pebbles, rocks and gems when they are stones?

13. O world, is there a guide in you to guide me?
For I am doubtful and confused in you.

14. My worries divide into parts, and will be of no use.
No one with worries like mine has parts in you.

15. They toss him down and lift him in his movement
As if a whirlwind does not stop tossing him about.

16. The blind poet would gain insight in you
If religious opinions did not blind him about you.

17. He turned away his purpose from you
Free, though feet turned away from you limping.

18. His desire for eating meat satisfied him with
Simple loaves, and his clothing satisfied him with rags.

19. He lived in you in isolation, not taking
A wife, though some take wives.

20. And he did not cease to avoid selfishness in you
Until he was balanced in coming and going from you.

21. He went on his strange, noble principle but
He had no supporters for his principle among people.

22. And people's nature is pottery - it hurts him
When broken, and what is complete is no longer pottery after being broken.

23. O how the joking of dawn excelled in melody
But the dwellings did not applaud the joking of dawn!

24. And sadness, adhering by night, went on
Crying, so sights and hearings ignored it.

25. And an evil neighbor dwelt in the land, so he bothered me there,
And without him there were veils and curtains!

26. He never heeded my voice when it was raised
Or saw my flowing tears when they poured.

27. I said to him, "Guard my neighborhood and respect my status,
Or leave my dwellings, O neighbor!"

28. And leave off your evil thinking of me, and I will reward him
By slaughtering an emaciated sheep, which is generosity.

29. He said, "Slaughter it in God's name." I said to him,
"Leave me, O wicked man, I am no butcher."

30. And a denier of the resurrection, I said to him,
"Far from benefiting you is your denial on the day of resurrection."

31. What! Do you now deny a state that will transform
Into a state, when your creation has seen phases?

32. Blessed is God, this universe acknowledges
That its Maker is Merciful and Powerful.

33. By His wisdom spirits stand submissive
To Him, so is there a choice among the spirited?

34. The imams, the learned, died but no affliction
Struck their limbs, and they have traces in the universe.

35. They left knowledge as a memento of themselves,
And nothing benefits the questioners like a memento.

36. They filled books with news, and it was not long
Before they became news in books.