Stop up thy word-sweating water-skin, do not open the bag of thy reckless talk.
آنک بر نگذشت اجزاش از زمین ** پیش او معکوس و قلماشیست این
He whose (intellectual and spiritual) parts have not passed beyond the earth— this is absurd and reckless talk in his view.
لا تخالفهم حبیبی دارهم ** یا غریبا نازلا فی دارهم
Do not resist them, O my beloved; deal gently with them, O stranger lodging in their home.
اعط ما شائوا وراموا وارضهم ** یا ظعینا ساکنا فی‌ارضهم
Give (them) what they wish and desire, and satisfy them, O emigrant dwelling in their land.
تا رسیدن در شه و در ناز خوش ** رازیا با مرغزی می‌ساز خویش
Till (the hour of) coming to the king and to sweet delight, O man of Rayy be on good terms with the man of Merv.
موسیا در پیش فرعون زمن ** نرم باید گفت قولا لینا3815
O “Moses,” in presence of the Pharaoh of the time you must speak softly with mild words.
آب اگر در روغن جوشان کنی ** دیگدان و دیگ را ویران کنی
If you put water into boiling oil, you will destroy (both) the trivet and the kettle.
نرم گو لیکن مگو غیر صواب ** وسوسه مفروش در لین الخطاب
Speak softly, but do not speak aught except the truth: do not offer temptation in your mildness of address.
وقت عصر آمد سخن کوتاه کن ** ای که عصرت عصر را آگاه کن
The time of afternoon is come: cut short the discourse, O thou whose expression (of the hidden truth) makes (the people of) the age acquainted (with reality).
گو تو مر گل‌خواره را که قند به ** نرمی فاسد مکن طینش مده
Do thou tell the clay-eater that sugar is better: do not show injurious softness, do not give him clay.