چون گلو تنگ آورد بر ما جهان ** خاک خوردی کاشکی حلق و دهان
When the World squeezes our throats tightly, would that our gullets and mouths had eaten (only) earth!
این دهان خود خاک‌خواری آمدست ** لیک خاکی را که آن رنگین شدست 4705
This mouth, indeed, has (always) been an eater of earth; but an earth that has been coloured.
این کباب و این شراب و این شکر ** خاک رنگینست و نقشین ای پسر
This roast-meat and this wine and this sugar are (merely) coloured and painted earth, O son.
چونک خوردی و شد آن لحم و پوست ** رنگ لحمش داد و این هم خاک کوست
When you have eaten or drunk (them) and they have become flesh and skin, He gives them the colour of flesh, but they are still the earth of (His) street.
هم ز خاکی بخیه بر گل می‌زند ** جمله را هم باز خاکی می‌کند
’Tis from a bit of earth that He stitches the (body of) clay, and then makes the whole (fabric) a bit of earth again.
هندو و قفچاق و رومی و حبش ** جمله یک رنگ‌اند اندر گور خوش
Hindús and Qifcháq (Turks) and Greeks and Abyssinians— all have quite the same colour in the grave.
تا بدانی کان همه رنگ و نگار ** جمله روپوشست و مکر و مستعار 4710
So you may know that all those colours and pictures are entirely a mask and deceit and borrowed (ephemeral).
رنگ باقی صبغة الله است و بس ** غیر آن بر بسته دان هم‌چون جرس
The only lasting colour is the dye of Allah: know that all the rest are tied (stuck) on (superficially) like a bell.
رنگ صدق و رنگ تقوی و یقین ** تا ابد باقی بود بر عابدین
The colour of sincerity and the colour of piety and intuitive faith will endure in the (devout) worshippers for evermore;
رنگ شک و رنگ کفران و نفاق ** تا ابد باقی بود بر جان عاق
And the colour of doubt and the colour of ingratitude and hypocrisy will endure in the undutiful soul for evermore;