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.”
گفت این دانش تو از کی یافتی ** که به دانش بیدری بر ساختی
He (God) said, “From whom didst thou gain this knowledge, so that by means of the knowledge thou didst construct a threshing-floor?”
گفت تمییزم تو دادی ای خدا ** گفت پس تمییز چون نبود مرا
He replied, “Thou, O God, gavest me discernment.” He (God) said, “Then how should I not have discernment?”
در خلایق روحهای پاک هست ** روحهای تیره‌ی گلناک هست3025
Amongst the created beings are pure spirits; there are (also) spirits dark and muddy.
این صدفها نیست در یک مرتبه ** در یکی درست و در دیگر شبه
These shells are not in one grade: in one (of them) is the pearl and in another the (worthless) bead.
واجبست اظهار این نیک و تباه ** هم‌چنانک اظهار گندمها ز کاه
It is necessary to make manifest (the difference between) this good and evil, just as (it is necessary) to make manifest (distinguish) the wheat from the straw.
بهر اظهارست این خلق جهان ** تا نماند گنج حکمتها نهان
(The creation of) these creatures of the world is for the purpose of manifestation, to the end that the treasure of (Divine) providences may not remain hidden.