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.

علت ابلیس انا خیری بده ست ** وین مرض در نفس هر مخلوق هست‌‌

The fault of Iblís lay in thinking “I am better (than Adam),” and this disease is in the soul of every (human) creature.

گر چه خود را بس شکسته بیند او ** آب صافی دان و سرگین زیر جو

Though he regard himself as very broken (in spirit), know that it is (a case of) clear water (on the surface) and dung under the stream.