Original content

English translation

Know for certain: the text of revelation is the Holy Spirit, And the analogy of the partial intellect is beneath this.

The intellect came from the Soul with perception and glory; How can the Spirit ever come under its gaze?

Yet the Soul makes an impression upon the intellect, And from that impression the intellect contrives its plans.

If the Spirit has struck in you a truth like Noah, Where is the sea, and the ark, and where is Noah's flood?

The intellect mistakes the impression for the Soul — but The sun's light is far indeed from the sun's disk.

Therefore a wayfarer became content with a disk, Until from its light he was cast toward the disk itself.

For this light that is in the lower realm Is not constant — day and night it sets.

But one who has his abode and place within the disk Is drowned in that light perpetually.

Neither cloud obstructs him, nor sunset, He is freed from the chest-beating anguish of separation.

Such a person's origin is from the celestial spheres, Or he was transformed, even if he was of earth.

For an earthly one cannot endure the power Of its rays striking upon him forever.

If the sun's warmth strikes earth perpetually, It burns it so that no fruit comes of it.

The fish's work is permanently in water; Where can the serpent be a companion to it?

Yet on the shore where serpents of many crafts dwell, They perform the acts of fish in this sea.

If their cunning drives people to madness, Yet the sea itself disgraces them with its revulsion.

And in this sea there are fish of great skill, Who turn the serpent into a fish through their sorcery.

The fish of the depths of the sea of Majesty — The sea has taught them lawful sorcery.

Many an impossibility became possible through their radiance, The ill-omened went there and became auspicious.

If I speak of this until the Resurrection, A hundred Resurrections would pass and this remain unfinished.