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زر به از جانست پیش ابلهان ** زر نثار جان بود نزد شهان
- To fools gold seems better than the soul; in the opinion of (spiritual) kings gold is to be scattered on the soul (as an offering).
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می شتابیدند تفت از حرص زر ** عقلشان میگفت نه آهستهتر
- In greed of gold they (the officers) were hastening rapidly (to the chamber), (though) their reason was saying, “No; not so fast.”
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حرس تازد بیهده سوی سراب ** عقل گوید نیک بین کان نیست آب
- Greed runs in vain towards the mirage, (though) reason says, "Look carefully: it is not water."
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حرص غالب بود و زر چون جان شده ** نعره‌ی عقل آن زمان پنهان شده
- Greed was predominant (in them), and gold had become (dear to them) as their souls: at that moment the cry of reason was unheard.
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گشته صدتو حرص و غوغاهای او ** گشته پنهان حکمت و ایمای او 2060
- Greed and its clamours had become hundredfold; wisdom and its suggestions had vanished,
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تا که در چاه غرور اندر فتد ** آنگه از حکمت ملامت بشنود
- To the end that he (the greedy man) may fall into the pit of delusion, and then hearken to the reproaches of Wisdom.
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چون ز بند دام باد او شکست ** نفس لوامه برو یابید دست
- When his wind (idle self-conceit) is broken by imprisonment in the trap,the rebuking soul gets the upper hand over him.
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تا به دیوار بلا ناید سرش ** نشنود پند دل آن گوش کرش
- Until his head comes against the wall of affliction, his deaf ear will not listen to the counsel of his heart.
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کودکان را حرص گوزینه و شکر ** از نصیحتها کند دو گوش کر
- Greed for walnut-cake and sugar makes the ears of children deaf to admonitions;
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چونک دردت دنبلش آغاز شد ** در نصیحت هر دو گوشش باز شد 2065
- (Only) when the pain of his abscess begins do his (the child's) ears become open to good advice.