For through being the neighbour of the seekers thou (thyself) wilt become a seeker, and from the shadows (protection) of the conquerors thou (thyself) wilt become a conqueror.
گر یکی موری سلیمانی بجست ** منگر اندر جستن او سست سست
If an ant has sought (to attain) the rank of Solomon, do not look languidly (contemptuously) on its quest.
هرچه داری تو ز مال و پیشه‌ای ** نه طلب بود اول و اندیشه‌ای
Everything that thou hast of wealth and (skill in) a handicraft (or profession)— was it not at first a quest and a thought?
حکایت آن شخص کی در عهد داود شب و روز دعا می‌کرد کی مرا روزی حلال ده بی رنج
Story of the person who in the time of David, on whom be peace, used to pray night and day, crying, “Give me a lawful livelihood without trouble (on my part).”
آن یکی در عهد داوود نبی ** نزد هر دانا و پیش هر غبی1450
In the time of the prophet David a certain man, beside every sage and before every simpleton,
این دعا می‌کرد دایم کای خدا ** ثروتی بی رنج روزی کن مرا
Used always to utter this prayer: “O God, bestow on me riches without trouble!
چون مرا تو آفریدی کاهلی ** زخم‌خواری سست‌جنبی منبلی
Since Thou hast created me a lazybones, a receiver of blows, a slow mover, a sluggard,
بر خران پشت‌ریش بی‌مراد ** بار اسپان و استران نتوان نهاد
One cannot place on sore-backed luckless asses the load carried by horses and mules.
کاهلم چون آفریدی ای ملی ** روزیم ده هم ز راه کاهلی
Inasmuch as Thou, O perfect One, hast created me lazy, do Thou accordingly give me the daily bread by the way of laziness.
کاهلم من سایه‌ی خسپم در وجود ** خفتم اندر سایه‌ی این فضل و جود1455
I am lazy and sleeping in the shade in (the world of) existence: I sleep in the shade of this Bounty and Munificence.
کاهلان و سایه‌خسپان را مگر ** روزیی بنوشته‌ای نوعی دگر
Surely for them that are lazy and sleeping in the shade Thou hast prescribed a livelihood in another fashion.