بهر گوشی می‌زنی دف گوش کو ** هوش باید تا بداند هوش کو
Thou art beating thy tambourine for the sake of an ear: where is the ear? Intelligence is needed in order to know (thy purpose): where is the intelligence?”
گفت گفتی بشنو از چاکر جواب ** تا نمانی در تحیر و اضطراب
He replied, “You have said (your say): (now) hear the answer from your (humble) servant, that you may not remain in bewilderment and confusion.
گرچه هست این دم بر تو نیم‌شب ** نزد من نزدیک شد صبح طرب
Although in your opinion this moment is midnight, in my view the dawn of delight is near at hand.
هر شکستی پیش من پیروز شد ** جمله شبها پیش چشمم روز شد
In my sight every defeat has been turned to victory, in my eyes all nights have been turned to day.
پیش تو خونست آب رود نیل ** نزد من خون نیست آبست ای نبیل 855
To you the water of the river Nile seems blood; to me it is not blood, ’tis water, O noble one.
در حق تو آهنست آن و رخام ** پیش داود نبی مومست و رام
In regard to you, that (object) is iron or marble, (but) to the prophet David it is (soft as) wax and tractable.
پیش تو که بس گرانست و جماد ** مطربست او پیش داود اوستاد
To you the mountain is exceedingly heavy (solid) and inanimate, (but) to David it is a master-musician.
پیش تو آن سنگ‌ریزه ساکتست ** پیش احمد او فصیح و قانتست
To you the gravel is silent; to Ahmad (Mohammed) it is eloquent and making supplication (to God).
پیش تو استون مسجد مرده‌ایست ** پیش احمد عاشقی دل برده‌ایست
To you the pillar of the mosque is a dead thing; to Ahmad it is (like) a lover who has lost his heart.
جمله اجزای جهان پیش عوام ** مرده و پیش خدا دانا و رام 860
To the vulgar all the particles of the world seem dead, but before God they are possessed of knowledge and submissive (to His commands).