لعب معکوسست و فرزین‌بند سخت ** حیله کم کن کار اقبالست و بخت
’Tis a topsy-turvy game and a terrible quandary; do not try (to escape by) cunning: ’tis (all) a matter of (Divine) favour and fortune.
بر حیال و حیله کم تن تار را ** که غنی ره کم دهد مکار را
Do not weave plots in vain imagination and cunning; for the Self-sufficient One does not give way to the contriver.
مکر کن در راه نیکو خدمتی ** تا نبوت یابی اندر امتی
Contrive, in the way of (by following the guidance of) one who serves (God) well, that you may gain the position of a prophet in a religious community.
مکر کن تا وا رهی از مکر خود ** مکر کن تا فرد گردی از جسد 470
Contrive that you may be delivered from your own contrivance; contrive that you may become detached from the body.
مکر کن تا کمترین بنده شوی ** در کمی رفتی خداونده شوی
Contrive that you may become the meanest slave (of God): if you enter into (the state of) meanness (self-abasement), you will become lordly.
روبهی و خدمت ای گرگ کهن ** هیچ بر قصد خداوندی مکن
Never, O old wolf, practise foxiness and perform service with the purpose of (gaining) lordship;
لیک چون پروانه در آتش بتاز ** کیسه‌ای زان بر مدوز و پاک باز
But rush into the fire like a moth: do not hoard up that (service), play for love!
زور را بگذار و زاری را بگیر ** رحم سوی زاری آید ای فقیر
Renounce power and adopt piteous supplication: (the Divine) mercy comes towards piteous supplication, O dervish.
The piteous supplication of one sorely distressed and athirst is real; the piteous (but) cold supplication of falsehood is proper to the miscreant.
گریه‌ی اخوان یوسف حیلتست ** که درونشان پر ز رشک و علتست
The weeping of Joseph's brethren is a trick, for their hearts are full of envy and infirmity.
حکایت آن اعرابی کی سگ او از گرسنگی می‌مرد و انبان او پر نان و بر سگ نوحه می‌کرد و شعر می‌گفت و می‌گریست و سر و رو می‌زد و دریغش می‌آمد لقمه‌ای از انبان به سگ دادن
Story of the Arab of the desert whose dog was dying of hunger, while his wallet was full of bread; he was lamenting over the dog and reciting poetry and sobbing and beating his head and face; and yet he grudged the dog a morsel from his wallet.
آن سگی می‌مرد و گریان آن عرب ** اشک می‌بارید و می‌گفت ای کرب
The dog was dying, and the Arab sobbing, shedding tears, and crying, “Oh, sorrow!”
سایلی بگذشت و گفت این گریه چیست ** نوحه و زاری تو از بهر کیست
A beggar passed by and asked, “What is this sobbing? For whom is thy mourning and lamentation?”
گفت در ملکم سگی بد نیک‌خو ** نک همی‌میرد میان راه او
He replied, “There was in my possession a dog of excellent disposition. Look, he is dying on the road.
روز صیادم بد و شب پاسبان ** تیزچشم و صیدگیر و دزدران 480
He hunted for me by day and kept watch by night; (he was) keen-eyed and (good at) catching the prey and driving off thieves.”
گفت رنجش چیست زخمی خورده است ** گفت جوع الکلب زارش کرده است
He (the beggar) asked, “What ails him? Has he been wounded?” The Arab replied, “Ravenous hunger has made him (so) lamentable.”
گفت صبری کن برین رنج و حرض ** صابران را فضل حق بخشد عوض
“Show some patience,” said he, “in (bearing) this pain and anguish: the grace of God bestows a recompense on those who are patient.”
بعد از آن گفتش کای سالار حر ** چیست اندر دستت این انبان پر
Afterwards he said to him, “O noble chief, what is this full wallet in your hand?”
گفت نان و زاد و لوت دوش من ** می‌کشانم بهر تقویت بدن
He replied, “My bread and provender and food left over from last night, (which) I am taking along (with me) to nourish my body.”
گفت چون ندهی بدان سگ نان و زاد ** گفت تا این حد ندارم مهر و داد 485
“Why don't you give (some) bread and provender to the dog?” he asked. He replied, “I have not love and liberality to this extent.
دست ناید بی‌درم در راه نان ** لیک هست آب دو دیده رایگان
Bread cannot be obtained (by a traveller) on the road without money, but water from the eyes costs nothing.”
گفت خاکت بر سر ای پر باد مشک ** که لب نان پیش تو بهتر ز اشک
He (the beggar) said, “Earth be on your head, O water-skin full of wind! for in your opinion a crust of bread is better than tears.”
اشک خونست و به غم آبی شده ** می‌نیرزد خاک خون بیهده
Tears are (originally) blood and have been turned by grief into water: idle tears have not the value of earth.
کل خود را خوار کرد او چون بلیس ** پاره‌ی این کل نباشد جز خسیس
He (the Arab) made the whole of himself despicable, like Iblís: a piece of this whole is naught but vile.
من غلام آنک نفروشد وجود ** جز بدان سلطان با افضال و جود 490
I am the (devoted) slave of him who will not sell his existence save to that bounteous and munificent Sovereign,
چون بگرید آسمان گریان شود ** چون بنالد چرخ یا رب خوان شود
(So that) when he weeps, heaven begins to weep, and when he moans (in supplication), the celestial sphere begins to cry, “O Lord!”