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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.
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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.
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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.
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فهم کردن حاذقان نصارا مکر وزیر را
- How the sagacious among the Christians perceived the guile of the vizier.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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ظاهر نقره گر اسپید است و نو ** دست و جامه می سیه گردد ازو
- If the surface of silver is white and new, (yet) the hands and dress are blackened by it.
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آتش ار چه سرخ روی است از شرر ** تو ز فعل او سیه کاری نگر 450
- Although fire is red-faced (bright and glorious) with sparks, look at the black behaviour (displayed) in its action.
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برق اگر نوری نماید در نظر ** لیک هست از خاصیت دزد بصر
- If the lightning appears luminous to the eye, (yet) from its distinctive property it is the robber of sight (it strikes men blind).
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هر که جز آگاه و صاحب ذوق بود ** گفت او در گردن او طوق بود
- (As for) any (Christian) who was not wary and possessed of discernment, the words of him (the vizier) were (as) a collar on his neck.