ناتراشیده همی‌‌باید جذوع ** تا دروگر اصل سازد یا فروع‌‌

Trunks of trees must be unhewn in order that the woodcutter may fashion the stem or the branches (and thus exercise his craft).

خواجه‌‌ی اشکسته بند آن جا رود ** که در آن جا پای اشکسته بود

The doctor who sets broken bones goes to the place where the person with the fractured leg is.

کی شود چون نیست رنجور نزار ** آن جمال صنعت طب آشکار

How shall the excellence of the art of medicine be made manifest when there is no emaciated invalid?

خواری و دونی مسها بر ملا ** گر نباشد کی نماید کیمیا

How shall the (power of the) Elixir be shown if the vileness and baseness of coppers is not notorious?

نقصها آیینه‌‌ی وصف کمال ** و آن حقارت آینه‌‌ی عز و جلال‌‌ 3210

Defects are the mirror of the quality of perfection, and that vileness is the mirror of power and glory,

ز آن که ضد را ضد کند پیدا یقین ** ز آن که با سرکه پدید است انگبین‌‌

Because (every) contrary is certainly made evident by its contrary; because honey is perceived (to be sweet by contrast) with vinegar.

هر که نقص خویش را دید و شناخت ** اندر استکمال خود ده اسبه تاخت‌‌

Whoever has seen and recognised his own deficiency has galloped with ten horses (made rapid progress) in perfecting himself.

ز آن نمی‌‌پرد به سوی ذو الجلال ** کاو گمانی می‌‌برد خود را کمال‌‌

The reason why he (any one) is not flying towards the Lord of glory is that he supposes himself to be perfect.

علتی بدتر ز پندار کمال ** نیست اندر جان تو ای ذو دلال‌‌

There is no worse malady in your soul, O haughty one, than the conceit of perfection.

از دل و از دیده‌‌ات بس خون رود ** تا ز تو این معجبی بیرون رود 3215

Much blood must flow from your heart and eye, that self-complacency may go out of you.