Rumi's Masnavi - Take the new and surrender the old, for every “this year” of thine is superior to three “last years.”

تازه می‌گیر و کهن را می‌سپار ** که هر امسالت فزونست از سه پار
Take the new and surrender the old, for every “this year” of thine is superior to three “last years.”

گر نباشی نخل‌وار ایثار کن ** کهنه بر کهنه نه و انبار کن 810
If thou wilt not be lavish (of thyself) like the date-palm, (then) pile old rags on old rags and make a heap,

آنک نو دید او خریدار تو نیست ** صید حقست او گرفتار تو نیست
He that hath seen the new is not thy customer: he is God's prey, he is not thy captive.

هر کجا باشند جوق مرغ کور ** بر تو جمع آیند ای سیلاب شور
(But) wherever is a flock of blind birds, they will gather around thee, O brackish flood-water,

تا فزاید کوری از شورابها ** زانک آب شور افزاید عمی
That (their) blindness may be increased by (thy) brackish waters; for brackish water increases blindness.

اهل دنیا زان سبب اعمی‌دل‌اند ** شارب شورابه‌ی آب و گل‌اند 815
Hence the worldly are blind of heart: they are drinkers of the brackish water of clay.

شور می‌ده کور می‌خر در جهان ** چون نداری آب حیوان در نهان
Continue to give brackish water and buy (the favour of) the blind in the world, since thou hast not the Water of Life within thee.

با چنین حالت بقا خواهی و یاد ** هم‌چو زنگی در سیه‌رویی تو شاد
In such a (despicable) state (as has been described) thou wouldst fain live and be remembered: in blackness of face (shame and opprobrium), like a negro, thou art rejoicing.

در سیاهی زنگی زان آسوده است ** کو ز زاد و اصل زنگی بوده است
The negro in (his) blackness is pleased (with himself), for he has (always) been a negro by birth and nature;

آنک روزی شاهد و خوش‌رو بود ** گر سیه‌گردد تدارک‌جو بود
(But) he that (even) for a day is beloved and beautiful, if he become black, will seek to repair (the misfortune).

مرغ پرنده چو ماند در زمین ** باشد اندر غصه و درد و حنین 820
When the bird that can fly remains (helpless) on the earth, it is in anguish and grief and lamentation;

مرغ خانه بر زمین خوش می‌رود ** دانه‌چین و شاد و شاطر می‌دود
(But) the domestic fowl walks complacently on the earth: it runs about picking grain and happy and bold,

زآنک او از اصل بی‌پرواز بود ** وآن دگر پرنده و پرواز بود
Because by nature it was (always) without (the power of) flight, while the other (bird) was (naturally) a flier and open-winged.

قال النبی علیه‌السلام ارحموا ثلاثا عزیز قوم ذل و غنی قوم افتقر و عالما یلعب به الجهال
The Prophet, on whom be peace, said, “Pity three (classes of men): the mighty man of a people who is abased, and the rich man of a people who is impoverished, and a learned man whom the ignorant make sport of.”

گفت پیغامبر که رحم آرید بر ** جان من کان غنیا فافتقر
The Prophet said, “Take pity on the soul of him who was rich and then became poor,

والذی کان عزیزا فاحتقر ** او صفیا عالما بین المضر
And on him who was mighty and became despised, or on one (who is) virtuous and learned (dwelling) amongst the (people of) Mudar.”

گفت پیغامبر که با این سه گروه ** رحم آرید ار ز سنگید و ز کوه 825
The Prophet said, “Show pity to these three classes (of men), (even) if ye are of (the hardness of) rock and mountain:

آنک او بعد از رئیسی خوار شد ** وآن توانگر هم که بی‌دینار شد
(Namely), him who was made lowly after having been a chief, and the rich man, too, who became impecunious,

وآن سوم آن عالمی که اندر جهان ** مبتلی گردد میان ابلهان
And, thirdly, the learned man who in this world becomes afflicted (by living amongst) the foolish;

زانک از عزت به خواری آمدن ** هم‌چو قطع عضو باشد از بدن
For to come (fall) from high to low estate is like the amputation of a limb from the body.”

عضو گردد مرده کز تن وا برید ** نو بریده جنبد اما نی مدید
The limb that is cut off from the body becomes dead: (when) newly cut off, it moves, but not for long.

هر که از جام الست او خورد پار ** هستش امسال آفت رنج و خمار 830
(Similarly) he who drank of the cup of Alast last year, this year he suffers the pain and headache (in consequence of having drunk),

وآنک چون سگ ز اصل کهدانی بود ** کی مرورا حرص سلطانی بود
While he who, like a dog, is by nature attached to the kennel —how should he have the desire for (spiritual) sovereignty?

توبه او جوید که کردست او گناه ** آه او گوید که گم کردست راه
(Only) he that has sinned seeks to repent; (only) he that has lost the (right) way cries “Alas!”

قصه‌ی محبوس شدن آن آهوبچه در آخر خران و طعنه‌ی آن خران ببر آن غریب گاه به جنگ و گاه به تسخر و مبتلی گشتن او به کاه خشک کی غذای او نیست و این صفت بنده‌ی خاص خداست میان اهل دنیا و اهل هوا و شهوت کی الاسلام بدا غریبا و سیعود غریبا فطوبی للغرباء صدق رسول الله
Story of the young gazelle being confined in the donkey-stable, and how the donkey assailed the stranger, now with hostility and now with mockery, and how it was afflicted by (having to eat) dry straw which is not its (proper) food. And this is a description of the chosen servant of God amongst worldlings and those addicted to passion and sensuality; for “Islam (was) strange (when it first) appeared, and will become strange again, and blessed are the strangers.” The Messenger of Allah spake the truth.