Jesus on the Hardest Thing to Bear
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 4, section 4 of 137: How they asked Jesus, saying, "O Spirit of God, what is the hardest thing to bear of all the hard things in existence?" (سال کردن از عیسی علیه‌السلام کی در وجود از همه‌ی صعبها صعب‌تر چیست). Below, each of its 14 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How they asked Jesus, on whom be peace, saying, “O Spirit of God, what is the hardest thing to bear of all the hard things in existence?” سال کردن از عیسی علیه‌السلام کی در وجود از همه‌ی صعبها صعب‌تر چیست
گفت عیسی را یکی هشیار سر
چیست در هستی ز جمله صعب‌تر
A sober-minded man said to Jesus, “What is the hardest to bear of all things in existence?”
گفتش ای جان صعب‌تر خشم خدا
که از آن دوزخ همی لرزد چو ما
He replied, “O (my dear) soul, the hardest is God’s anger, on account of which Hell is trembling as we (are).”
گفت ازین خشم خدا چه بود امان
گفت ترک خشم خویش اندر زمان
He said, “What is the security against this anger of God?” Jesus said, “To abandon thine own anger at once.”
پس عوان که معدن این خشم گشت
خشم زشتش از سبع هم در گذشت
Therefore, as the policeman became this anger’s mine (source), his ugly anger surpassed even (that of) a wild beast.
چه امیدستش به رحمت جز مگر
باز گردد زان صفت آن بی‌هنر
What hope is there for him of (Divine) mercy, unless perchance that graceless man should turn back from that (vile) quality?
گرچه عالم را ازیشان چاره نیست
این سخن اندر ضلال افکندنیست
Although the world cannot do without them, this statement is a (means of) casting (those who hear it) into error.
چاره نبود هم جهان را از چمین
لیک نبود آن چمین ماء معین
The world cannot do without urine either, but that urine is not clear running water.
Special Offers
← Previous sectionMasnavi Book 4 contentsNext section →
More Rumi: the Song of the Reed (Book 1 proem), real Rumi quotes in Persian and the Persian poetry quiz.
Take this lesson further
Serious about Persian? Get all 30 of our Persian learning books for $199.99 (55% less than buying them one by one).
Free Persian Starter Kit (PDF)
The Persian alphabet chart and the 101 most common Persian words with pronunciation, in one printable PDF. You also get a one-time 15% code for any of our books.
We will email you new lessons and book news from Learn Persian Online. Unsubscribe any time.Love Persian poetry? Learn to read it: free Starter Pack
Get the 14-page printable Starter Pack (all 32 letters, a 7-day reading plan, 100 core words and 20 survival phrases) and a short 5-email course. Free.
by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
Reza is an experienced Persian instructor who has been tutoring students since 2008. He is the founder of Learn Persian Online, a tutoring company that has helped many students learn Persian, this beautiful language. He works with students individually and in group settings, he tutors both live and online Persian courses. Reza provides an individualized custom learning plan and the personalized attention that makes a difference in how people view Persian learning process.
What people say about "Jesus on the Hardest Thing to Bear"?
No one replied yet.