حیله می‌کردند کزدم‌نیش چند ** که برند از روزی درویش چند475
Several (noxious) men who stung like scorpions were contriving that they might cut off part of the daily bread of some poor folk.
شب همه شب می‌سگالیدند مکر ** روی در رو کرده چندین عمرو و بکر
During the night, the whole night, they were devising a plot; many a ‘Amr and Bakr had put their faces together.
خفیه می‌گفتند سرها آن بدان ** تا نباید که خدا در یابد آن
Those wicked men were speaking their inmost thoughts in secret, lest God should discover it.
با گل انداینده اسگالید گل ** دست کاری می‌کند پنهان ز دل
Did the clay devise (evil) against the Plasterer? Is the hand doing any work that is hidden from the heart?
گفت الا یعلم هواک من خلق ** ان فی نجواک صدقا ام ملق
He (God) hath said, “Doth not He who created (thee) know thy desire, (doth not He know) whether in thy secret conversation there is sincerity or cajolery?”
گفت یغفل عن ظعین قد غدا ** من یعاین این مثواه غدا480
He hath said, "Shall He be forgetful of a traveller who has set out at morn, One who sees plainly where shall be his lodging to-morrow?"
اینما قد هبطا او صعدا ** قد تولاه و احصی عددا
Wheresoever he has descended or mounted, He hath taken charge of it and reckoned (it) up by number.
گوش را اکنون ز غفلت پاک کن ** استماع هجر آن غمناک کن
Now purge your ear of forgetfulness and listen to the separation (forlorn plight) of the sorrowful one.
آن زکاتی دان که غمگین را دهی ** گوش را چون پیش دستانش نهی
Know that when you set your ear to his tale, that is the alms which you give to the sad;
بشنوی غمهای رنجوران دل ** فاقه‌ی جان شریف از آب و گل
(For) you will hear the sorrows of the heart-sick—the starvation of the noble spirit by the water and clay (of the body).