گر ز دلق و پوستین بگذشتمی ** کی چنین تخم ملامت کشتمی
If I had omitted (to look at) the cloak and sheepskin, how should I have sown such seeds of blame?
قفل کردن بر در حجره چه بود ** در میان صد خیالیی حسود
What was the (use of) putting a lock on the door of the chamber amidst a hundred envious persons addicted to false imagination?
دست در کرده درون آب جو ** هر یکی زیشان کلوخ خشک‌جو
Every one of them, having put his hand into the river-water, seeks (to find there) a dry sod.
پس کلوخ خشک در جو کی بود ** ماهیی با آب عاصی کی شود
How, then, should there be a dry sod in the river? How should a fish become disobedient to the sea?
بر من مسکین جفا دارند ظن ** که وفا را شرم می‌آید ز من 2140
They impute iniquity to poor me, before whom loyalty (itself) is ashamed.”
گر نبودی زحمت نامحرمی ** چند حرفی از وفا واگفتمی
Were it not for the trouble caused by a person unfamiliar (with my meaning), I would have spoken a few words concerning loyalty;
چون جهانی شبهت و اشکال‌جوست ** حرف می‌رانیم ما بیرون پوست
(But) since a world (multitude of people) is seeking (to raise) doubt and difficulty, we will let the discourse run beyond the skin.
گر تو خود را بشکنی مغزی شوی ** داستان مغز نغزی بشنوی
If you break your (material) self, you will become a kernel and will hear the tale of a goodly kernel.
جوز را در پوستها آوازهاست ** مغز و روغن را خود آوازی کجاست
The voices of walnuts are in their skins (shells): where, indeed, is any voice in the kernel and the oil?
دارد آوازی نه اندر خورد گوش ** هست آوازش نهان در گوش نوش 2145
It (the kernel) has a voice, (but one that is) not suited to the (bodily) ear: its voice is hidden in the ear of ecstasy.
گرنه خوش‌آوازی مغزی بود ** ژغژغ آواز قشری کی شنود
Were it not for the sweetness of a kernel's voice, who would listen to the rattling voice of a walnut-shell?
ژغژغ آن زان تحمل می‌کنی ** تا که خاموشانه بر مغزی زنی
You endure the rattling of it (only) in order that you may silently come into touch with a kernel.
چند گاهی بی‌لب و بی‌گوش شو ** وانگهان چون لب حریف نوش شو
Be without lip and without ear for a while, and then, like the lip, be the companion of honey.
چند گفتی نظم و نثر و راز فاش ** خواجه یک روز امتحان کن گنگ باش
How long have you been uttering poetry and prose and (proclaiming) mysteries! O master, try the experiment and, for one day, be dumb!
حکایت در تقریر این سخن کی چندین گاه گفت ذکر را آزمودیم مدتی صبر و خاموشی را بیازماییم
Story in confirmation of the saying, “We have tried speech and talk all this time: (now) for a while let us. try self-restraint and silence.”
چند پختی تلخ و تیز و شورگز ** این یکی بار امتحان شیرین بپز 2150
How long have you been cooking (things) sour and acid and (like the fruit of) the white tamarisk? For this one time make an experiment and cook sweets.
آن یکی را در قیامت ز انتباه ** در کف آید نامه‌ی عصیان سیاه
On waking at the Resurrection, there is put into the hands of a (wicked) man the scroll of his sins: (it will be) black,
سرسیه چون نامه‌های تعزیه ** پر معاصی متن نامه و حاشیه
Headed with black, as letters of mourning; the body and margin of the scroll completely filled with (his) sins—
جمله فسق و معصیت بد یک سری ** هم‌چو دارالحرب پر از کافری
The whole (of it) wickedness and sin from end to end, full of infidelity, like the land of war.
آنچنان نامه‌ی پلید پر وبال ** در یمین ناید درآید در شمال
Such a foul and noxious scroll does not come into the right hand; it comes into the left hand.
خود همین‌جا نامه‌ی خود را ببین ** دست چپ را شاید آن یا در یمین 2155
Here also (in this world) regard your scroll (the record of your actions), (and consider) whether it fits the left hand or the right.
موزه‌ی چپ کفش چپ هم در دکان ** آن چپ دانیش پیش از امتحان
In the (bootmaker's) shop, can you know before trying (them) on that the left boot or shoe belongs to the left (foot)?
چون نباشی راست می‌دان که چپی ** هست پیدا نعره‌ی شیر و کپی
When you are not “right,” know that you are “left”; the cries of a lion and an ape are distinct (from one another).
آنک گل را شاهد و خوش‌بو کند ** هر چپی را راست فضل او کند
He (God) who makes the rose lovely and sweet-scented—His bounty makes every “left” to be “right.”
هر شمالی را یمینی او دهد ** بحر را ماء معینی او دهد
He bestows “rightness” on every one belonging to the “left” He bestows a(fresh) running water on the (salt) sea.
گر چپی با حضرت او راست باش ** تا ببینی دست‌برد لطفهاش 2160
If you are “left,” be “right” (in perfect harmony) with His Lordship, that you may see His mercies prevail (over His wrath).