تو حسودی کز فلان من کمترم ** میفزاید کمتری در اخترم
You are envious, saying, “I am inferior to so-and-so: he (by his superior position) is increasing my inferiority in fortune.”
خود حسد نقصان و عیبی دیگر است ** بلکه از جمله کمیها بدتر است805
(But) indeed envy is another defect and fault; nay, it is worse than all inferiorities.
آن بلیس از ننگ و عار کمتری ** خویش را افکند در صد ابتری
That Devil (Satan), through the shame and disgrace of inferiority (to Adam), cast himself into a hundred damnations.
از حسد میخواست تا بالا بود ** خود چه بالا بلکه خونپالا بود
Because of envy, he wished to be at the top. At the top, forsooth! Nay, (he wished) to be a blood-shedder.
آن ابو جهل از محمد ننگ داشت ** وز حسد خود را به بالا میفراشت
Abú Jahl was put to shame by Mohammed, and because of envy was raising himself to the top.
بو الحکم نامش بد و بو جهل شد ** ای بسا اهل از حسد نااهل شد
His name was Abu ’l-Hakam, and he became Abú Jahl: oh, many a worthy has become unworthy because of envy.
من ندیدم در جهان جست و جو ** هیچ اهلیت به از خوی نکو810
I have not seen in the world of search and seeking (trial and probation) any worthiness better than a good disposition.
انبیا را واسطه ز آن کرد حق ** تا پدید آید حسدها در قلق
God made the prophets the medium (between Him and His creatures) in order that feelings of envy should be displayed in the agitation (produced by something that rankles in the mind).
ز انکه کس را از خدا عاری نبود ** حاسد حق هیچ دیاری نبود
Inasmuch as no one was disgraced by (inferiority to) God, no one was (ever) envious of God;
آن کسی کش مثل خود پنداشتی ** ز آن سبب با او حسد برداشتی
(But) the person whom he deemed like himself—he would bear envy against him for that reason.