از کتاب و اوستاد و فکر و ذکر ** از معانی وز علوم خوب و بکر
From book and teacher and reflexion and (committing to) memory, and from concepts, and from excellent and virgin (hitherto unstudied) sciences.
عقل تو افزون شود بر دیگران ** لیک تو باشی ز حفظ آن گران
(By this means) your intelligence becomes superior to (that of) others; but through preserving (retaining in your mind) that (knowledge) you are heavily burdened.
لوح حافظ باشی اندر دور و گشت ** لوح محفوظ اوست کو زین در گذشت
You, (occupied) in wandering and going about (in search of knowledge), are a preserving (recording) tablet; the preserved tablet is he that has passed beyond this.
عقل دیگر بخشش یزدان بود ** چشمه‌ی آن در میان جان بود
The other intelligence is the gift of God: its fountain is in the midst of the soul.
چون ز سینه آب دانش جوش کرد ** نه شود گنده نه دیرینه نه زرد1965
When the water of (God-given) knowledge gushes from the breast, it does not become fetid or old or yellow (impure);
ور ره نبعش بود بسته چه غم ** کو همی‌جوشد ز خانه دم به دم
And if its way of issue (to outside) be stopped, what harm? for it gushes continually from the house (of the heart).
عقل تحصیلی مثال جویها ** کان رود در خانه‌ای از کویها
The acquired intelligence is like the conduits which run into a house from the streets:
راه آبش بسته شد شد بی‌نوا ** از درون خویشتن جو چشمه را
(If) its (the house’s) water-way is blocked, it is without any supply (of water) Seek the fountain from within yourself!
قصه‌ی آنک کسی به کسی مشورت می‌کرد گفتش مشورت با دیگری کن کی من عدوی توم
Story that some one was consulting another, who said, "Consult some one else, for I am your enemy."
مشورت می‌کرد شخصی با کسی ** کز تردد وا ردهد وز محبسی
A certain person was consulting some one, that he might be delivered from perplexity and from a quandary.
گفت ای خوش‌نام غیر من بجو ** ماجرای مشورت با او بگو1970
“O man of good name,” he replied, “seek another, not me, and explain to him the matter for consultation.
من عدوم مر ترا با من مپیچ ** نبود از رای عدو پیروز هیچ
I am an enemy to you: do not attach yourself to me; one is never successful (never wins success) from the counsel of an enemy.
رو کسی جو که ترا او هست دوست ** دوست بهر دوست لاشک خیرجوست
Go, seek one who is a friend to you: undoubtedly a friend seeks (what is) good for his friend.
من عدوم چاره نبود کز منی ** کژ روم با تو نمایم دشمنی
I am an enemy: it is inevitable that from egoism I should go crookedly (play false) and show enmity towards you.
حارسی از گرگ جستن شرط نیست ** جستن از غیر محل ناجستنیست
Tis not a (just) condition to demand of a wolf (that he should perform) the task of a watchman (shepherd): to demand (anything) from the wrong place is a negation of the demand.
من ترا بی‌هیچ شکی دشمنم ** من ترا کی ره نمایم ره زنم1975
Without any doubt I am an enemy to you: how should I show you the way? I am a highwayman.
هر که باشد همنشین دوستان ** هست در گلخن میان بوستان
Whoever is sitting with friends is amidst a flower-garden (though he be) in a bath-furnace.
هر که با دشمن نشیند در زمن ** هست او در بوستان در گولخن
Whoever in the world sits with an enemy, he is in a bath-furnace (though he be) in a flower-garden.
دوست را مازار از ما و منت ** تا نگردد دوست خصم و دشمنت
Vex not your friend by egoism, lest your friend become your adversary and enemy.
خیر کن با خلق بهر ایزدت ** یا برای راحت جان خودت
Do good unto the people for your God's sake or for the peace of your own soul,
تا هماره دوست بینی در نظر ** در دلت ناید ز کین ناخوش صور1980
That you may always see (them) friendly in your sight, and that ugly ideas arising from hatred may not come into your heart.