The Thief and the Devil

A man swindled people out of their money by fraud, then, once caught, he cursed the Devil. On the road the Devil said to him: I have never seen such a fool. You and I are at peace, friend; so why raise your neck against me in war? It is a pity to be commanded by an ugly demon, for the hand of the recording angel will write your deeds down. Would you let your ignorance and shamelessness allow the pure ones to record your filth? Find a way and seek reconciliation; send an intercessor and offer your excuse. For once the cup is filled by the turning of time, no reprieve is granted, not even for a moment. And if you have no power to act, then like the helpless raise your hands in weeping. If your wrongdoing has gone past all measure, once you admit the evil is done, good has come to you. Step forward when you see the road to peace still open, for suddenly the gate of repentance may close. Do not walk under the burden of sin, my son, for the porter grows weary on the journey. You must hurry after the righteous, for whoever sought this happiness has found it. But you keep trailing the vile demon; I do not know how you will ever reach the good. The Prophet intercedes only for the one who walks the path of the Prophet's law. Walk the straight road so you reach your destination; you are not on the road, and that is why you fall behind. Like the ox at the oil press whose eyes are blindfolded: it runs until nightfall, and by night it stands right where it began. A man covered in mud set out for the mosque, marveling at his own wretched luck. Someone rebuked him: May your hands wither, do not tread the clean place with your filthy hem. A tenderness came into my heart at this, for the highest paradise is pure and joyful. In that place, the hope of the pure, what business has one smeared with the mud of sin? Paradise is won by the one who brings obedience; whoever wants payment must bring goods to trade. Do not delay; wash your hem clean of the dust of sin, for suddenly the stream may be dammed from above. Do not say the bird of fortune has flown from my snare, for you still hold the end of its thread in your hand. And if you are late, be swift and eager; coming late does no harm to the sincere. Death has not yet tied your hands from asking; raise your hands to the court of the Giver of justice. Do not sleep, you sinner sleeping so sweetly; rise, and shed some tears in apology for your sin. Since it must be so, let the honor of your tears be poured out upon this dust of the road. And if no tears remain to you, bring forward as intercessor someone whose honor is greater than yours. If in wrath God drives me from His door, I will bring the souls of the great as my intercessors.