ما بسيطُ الحياة إلّا وجيز

ما بسيطُ الحياة إلّا وجيز

ومنام الذي يخاف عزيز

ومنام الذي يخاف عزيز

The expanse of life is but brief,

Life is not simple, only brief,

and sleep is scarce for one who fears.

And the sleep of one who fears is dear.

فوّزَ المتقون حقا وفازوا

فوّزَ المتقون حقا وفازوا

وتخطّاك الفوز والتفويز

وتخطّاك الفوز والتفويز

The God-fearing have truly passed away and triumphed,

The pious have truly won and succeeded,

yet triumph and passing away have passed you by.

While you missed success and achievement.

وأحقّ النساك بالرفع حالا

وأحقّ النساك بالرفع حالا

من عداه لدى الورى تمييز

من عداه لدى الورى تمييز

And the ascetic most deserving of a higher station

The most deserving of ascension now

is he whom distinction among humankind has passed by.

Are those distinguished among people.

تنجز الوعد في السفاه ولكن

تنجز الوعد في السفاه ولكن

موعد الرشد ما له تنجيز

موعد الرشد ما له تنجيز

You fulfill your promise in folly, yet

You may fulfill a promise foolishly, but

the promise of right guidance has no fulfillment.

The appointment of wisdom has no realization.

وتعاف التقصيد في الزهد والرغب

وتعاف التقصيد في الزهد والرغب

ة فيها التقصيد والترجيزُ

ة فيها التقصيد والترجيزُ

And you shun composing odes on renunciation, while desire

Preaching abstinence yet craving wealth,

has both odes and rajaz verse devoted to it.

Such sermons are empty words.

كم تجهّزت للثّراء

كم تجهّزت للثّراء

ترجّيه كأن ليس للرى تجهيز

ترجّيه كأن ليس للرى تجهيز

How often you have readied yourself for wealth,

How much you prepared for riches,

hoping for it, as though no preparation were needed for [death?—text unclear].

Yearning for them as if the world had no end.

يضحكُ اللّه للمناجي إذا ما

يضحكُ اللّه للمناجي إذا ما

طال منه تحت الدياجي أزيزُ

طال منه تحت الدياجي أزيزُ

God laughs for the one communing with Him whenever

God laughs at one who prays overly long

his murmuring lingers beneath the dark of night.

Murmuring beneath the cover of night.

فتهَجّد واخش البيات فمن تض

فتهَجّد واخش البيات فمن تض

ييعه بزّ ملكه أبرويزُ

ييعه بزّ ملكه أبرويزُ

So keep prayerful night vigil and fear a night attack, for through neglect

So wake and fear the perils of night,

of it, Abarwiz was stripped of his kingdom.

Lest you lose your kingdom, O King.

خبثٌ ما به نسير إلى اللّه

خبثٌ ما به نسير إلى اللّه

ومطلوب عدلهِ إبريز

ومطلوب عدلهِ إبريز

What we bear on our journey to God is dross,

Evil with which we cannot draw near to God,

yet its required equivalent is pure gold.

His justice demands uprightness.

ربّ إخلادةٍ إلى اليأس فيها

ربّ إخلادةٍ إلى اليأس فيها

لمعاني عنائِها تبريز

لمعاني عنائِها تبريز

Many a surrender to despair holds

Many hopes lead to despair,

distinction for one who endures its hardship.

Their hidden meanings apparent.

خلطَةُ العالمين داءٌ دوِيٌّ

خلطَةُ العالمين داءٌ دوِيٌّ

واعتزالُ الأشكال حرزٌ حريزُ

واعتزالُ الأشكال حرزٌ حريزُ

Mingling with humankind is a grievous illness,

The mixing of two worlds is a lingering illness,

and withdrawal from one's peers is a secure refuge.

Withdrawing from forms a strong refuge.