معنی جف القلم کی آن بود ** که جفاها با وفا یکسان بود
How should the meaning of ‘the Pen has dried’ be (this), that acts of perfidy and acts of faithfulness are alike?
بل جفا را هم جفا جف القلم ** وآن وفا را هم وفا جف القلم
Nay, perfidy (in return) for acts of perfidy: the Pen has dried (on that); and faithfulness (in return) for those acts of faithfulness: the Pen has dried (on that).
عفو باشد لیک کو فر امید ** که بود بنده ز تقوی روسپید
(True), there may be pardon (for the sinner), but where (for him) is the glorious hope that through piety the servant of God may be (spiritually) illumined?
دزد را گر عفو باشد جان برد ** کی وزیر و خازن مخزن شود
If a robber be pardoned, he saves his life, (but) how should he become a vizier and keeper of the treasury?
ای امین الدین ربانی بیا ** کز امانت رست هر تاج و لوا 3155
Come, O godly Amínu’ddín, for every tiara and ensign has grown from trustworthiness (amánat).
پور سلطان گر برو خاین شود ** آن سرش از تن بدان باین شود
If the Sultan's son become a traitor to him, on that account his head will be severed from his body;
وز غلامی هندوی آرد وفا ** دولت او را می‌زند طال بقا
And if a Hindú slave show faithfulness, sovereignty will applaud him (and cry), ‘Long may he live!’
چه غلام ار بر دری سگ باوفاست ** در دل سالار او را صد رضاست
What of a slave? If a dog is faithful (in keeping watch) at a door, there are a hundred feelings of satisfaction with him in the heart of the master (of the house).
زین چو سگ را بوسه بر پوزش دهد ** گر بود شیری چه پیروزش کند
Since, because of this (faithfulness), he kisses the mouth of a dog, if he (the faithful one) be a lion, how triumphant he will make him!
جز مگر دزدی که خدمتها کند ** صدق او بیخ جفا را بر کند 3160
(Robbers get nothing but pardon), except, to be sure, the robber who performs acts of service (to God) and whose sincerity uproots his (former) perfidy,