هر کسی کاو از حسد بینی کند ** خویشتن بی‌‌گوش و بی‌‌بینی کند

Any one who from envy mutilates his nose makes himself without ear and without nose (unable to apprehend spiritual things).

بینی آن باشد که او بویی برد ** بوی او را جانب کویی برد 440

The nose is that which catches a scent, and which the scent leads towards an abode (of spiritual truth).

هر که بویش نیست بی‌‌بینی بود ** بوی آن بوی است کان دینی بود

Whoever hath no scent is without a nose; the scent (referred to) is that scent which is religious.

چون که بویی برد و شکر آن نکرد ** کفر نعمت آمد و بینیش خورد

When he has caught a scent and given no thanks for it, (that) ingratitude comes and devours his nose (deprives him of the organ of spiritual perception).

شکر کن مر شاکران را بنده باش ** پیش ایشان مرده شو پاینده باش‌‌

Give thanks (to God) and be a slave to those who give thanks: be in their presence (as one) dead, be steadfast.

چون وزیر از ره زنی مایه مساز ** خلق را تو بر میاور از نماز

Do not, like the vizier, make brigandage your stock-in-trade; do not turn the people away from the ritual prayer.

ناصح دین گشته آن کافر وزیر ** کرده او از مکر در لوزینه سیر 445

The miscreant vizier had become (in appearance) a true religious counsellor, (but) he had craftily put garlic in the walnut cake.

فهم کردن حاذقان نصارا مکر وزیر را

How the sagacious among the Christians perceived the guile of the vizier.

هر که صاحب ذوق بود از گفت او ** لذتی می‌‌دید و تلخی جفت او

Whoever was possessed of (spiritual) discernment was feeling a sweet savour in his words and, joined therewith, bitterness.

نکته‌‌ها می‌‌گفت او آمیخته ** در جلاب قند زهری ریخته‌‌

He (the vizier) was saying fine things mixed (with foul): he had poured some poison into the sugared julep.

ظاهرش می‌‌گفت در ره چیست شو ** وز اثر می‌‌گفت جان را سست شو

The outward sense of it was saying, “Be diligent in the Way,” but in effect it was saying to the soul, “Be slack.”