سر شکسته نیست این سر را مبند ** یک دو روزک جهد کن باقی بخند
Your head is not broken: do not bandage this head. Exert yourself (in doing good works) for one or two little days (i.e. during this brief life), and laugh unto everlasting!
بد محالی جست کاو دنیا بجست ** نیک حالی جست کاو عقبی بجست
An evil resort sought he that sought this world; a good state sought he that sought the world to come.
مکرها در کسب دنیا بارد است ** مکرها در ترک دنیا وارد است980
Plots for gaining (the things of) this world are worthless, (but) plots for renouncing this world are inspired (by God).
مکر آن باشد که زندان حفره کرد ** آن که حفره بست آن مکری ست سرد
The (right) plot is that he (the prisoner) digs a hole in his prison (in order to escape); if he blocks up the hole, that is a foolish plot.
این جهان زندان و ما زندانیان ** حفره کن زندان و خود را وارهان
This world is the prison, and we are the prisoners: dig a hole in the prison and let yourself out!
چیست دنیا از خدا غافل بدن ** نی قماش و نقره و میزان و زن
What is this world? To be forgetful of God; it is not merchandise and silver and weighing-scales and women.
مال را کز بهر دین باشی حمول ** نعم مال صالح خواندش رسول
As regards the wealth that you carry for religion's sake, “How good is righteous wealth (for the righteous man)!” as the Prophet recited.
آب در کشتی هلاک کشتی است ** آب اندر زیر کشتی پشتی است985
Water in the boat is the ruin of the boat, (but) water underneath the boat is a support.
چون که مال و ملک را از دل براند ** ز آن سلیمان خویش جز مسکین نخواند
Since he cast out from his heart (the desire for) wealth and possessions, on that account Solomon did not call himself (by any name) but “poor.”
کوزه‌‌ی سر بسته اندر آب زفت ** از دل پر باد فوق آب رفت
The stoppered jar, (though) in rough water, floated on the water because of its wind-filled (empty) heart.