Maulana Rumi: If you dig a pit ...
He fell into the well (pit) which he had dug, because his iniquity (zulm) was coming (back) on his own head.The iniquity of evil-doers become (for them) a dark well: so have said all the wise.
The more iniquitous one is, the more frightful is his well:
(Divine) Justice has ordained worse for worse
O you, who from iniquity (zulm) are digging a well,
you are making a snare for yourself.
Do not weave around yourself, like the silkworm.
You are digging a well for yourself: dig with moderation.
Deem not the weak to be without a champion; recite from the Quran,
When the help of Allah shall come.
(Nicholson Translation)
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If you dig a pit for others to fall into,
you will fall into it yourself.
Don't weave yourself a silkworm's cocoon
and don't dig that pit so deep.
Don't think the weak have no protector
and say the words of the Qur'an,
"When the help of God shall come."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ay keh to az zolm châhi mi-koni
az barâ-ye khvish dâmi mi-koni
Gard khvod chon karam pileh bar matn
be-har khvod cheh mi-koni andâzeh kon
Mar za`ifân-râ to bi khasmi ma-dân
az Nabi 'dhâ jâ'a nasr Allâh khvân
-- Mathnawi I: 1311-1313
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra
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Courtesy Sunlight mailing list
posted by redwood at
4/04/2005 11:27:00 PM
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