ما هم از وی اعجمی سازیم خویش ** پاسخش آریم چون بیگانه پیش
Let us too feign ourselves to be ignorant thereof and elicit the answer to it (to the question) as (if we were) strangers (seeking information).
خرفروشان خصم یکدیگر شدند ** تا کلید قفل آن عقد آمدند
(Similarly) the ass-sellers became rivals to one another in order that they might open the way to the contract (of sale).
پس بفرمودش خدا ای ذولباب ** چون بپرسیدی بیا بشنو جواب3015
Then God spake unto him, saying, “O thou who possessest the most excellent (understanding), since thou hast asked (the question), come, hear the answer.
موسیا تخمی بکار اندر زمین ** تا تو خود هم وا دهی انصاف این
O Moses, sow some seed in the earth, that thou thyself mayst render justice to this (question).”
چونک موسی کشت و شد کشتش تمام ** خوشه‌هااش یافت خوبی و نظام
When Moses had sown and the seed-corn was complete (in growth) and its ears had gained beauty and symmetry,
داس بگرفت و مر آن را می‌برید ** پس ندا از غیب در گوشش رسید
He took the sickle and was cutting that (crop); then a voice from the Unseen reached his ear,
که چرا کشتی کنی و پروری ** چون کمالی یافت آن را می‌بری
Crying, “Why dost thou sow and tend some seed-corn and (now) art cutting it when it has attained to perfection?”
گفت یا رب زان کنم ویران و پست ** که درینجا دانه هست و کاه هست3020
He replied, “O Lord, I destroy and lay it low because straw is here and (also) grain.
دانه لایق نیست درانبار کاه ** کاه در انبار گندم هم تباه
The grain is not suitable (to be stored) in the straw-barn; the straw likewise is bad (for putting) in the corn-barn.
نیست حکمت این دو را آمیختن ** فرق واجب می‌کند در بیختن
’Tis not wisdom to mix these twain: it (wisdom) makes necessary the separation (of them) in winnowing.”