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مرد دنیا مفلس است و ترسناک ** هیچ او را نیست از دزدانش باک
- The worldly man is destitute and terrified: he possesses nothing, (yet) he has dread of thieves.
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او برهنه آمد و عریان رود ** وز غم دزدش جگر خون می‌شود
- Bare he came and naked he goes, and (all the while) his heart is bleeding with anxiety on account of the thief
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وقت مرگش که بود صد نوحه بیش ** خنده آید جانش را زین ترس خویش
- At the hour of death when a hundred lamentations are (being made) beside him, his spirit begins to laugh at its own fear.
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آن زمان داند غنی کش نیست زر ** هم ذکی داند که او بد بی‌هنر 2635
- At that moment the rich man knows that he has no gold; the keen-witted man, too, knows that he is devoid of talent.
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چون کنار کودکی پر از سفال ** کو بر آن لرزان بود چون رب مال
- (’Tis) like (as when) a child's lap (is) filled with potsherds, for he (the child) is trembling for them, like the owner of riches.
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گر ستانی پاره‌ای گریان شود ** پاره گر بازش دهی خندان شود
- If you take a piece away, he begins to weep; and if you give the piece back to him, he begins to laugh.
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چون نباشد طفل را دانش دثار ** گریه و خنده‌ش ندارد اعتبار
- Since the child is not endued with knowledge, his weeping and laughter have no importance.
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محتشم چون عاریت را ملک دید ** پس بر آن مال دروغین می‌طپید
- Inasmuch as the magnate regarded that which is (only) a loan as (his) property, he was quivering (with anxiety) for that false wealth.
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خواب می‌بیند که او را هست مال ** ترسد از دزدی که برباید جوال 2640
- He dreams that he has wealth and is afraid of the thief who may carry off his sack (of gold).
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چون ز خوابش بر جهاند گوش‌کش ** پس ز ترس خویش تسخر آیدش
- When Death pulls his ear and makes him start up from slumber, then he falls to mocking at his fears.