هر که یوسف دید جان کردش فدی ** هر که گرگش دید برگشت از هدی
Whosoever deems it (death) to be (lovely as) Joseph gives up his soul in ransom for it; whosoever deems it to be (like) the wolf turns back from (the path of) right guidance.
مرگ هر یک ای پسر همرنگ اوست ** پیش دشمن دشمن و بر دوست دوست
Every one's death is of the same quality as himself, my lad: to the enemy (of God) an enemy, and to the friend (of God) a friend.
پیش ترک آیینه را خوش رنگیست ** پیش زنگی آینه هم زنگیست3440
In the eyes of the Turcoman the mirror hath a fair colour; similarly in the eyes of the Ethiopian the mirror is (dark as) an Ethiopian.
آنک می‌ترسی ز مرگ اندر فرار ** آن ز خود ترسانی ای جان هوش دار
Your fear of death in fleeing (from it) is (really) your fear of yourself. Take heed, O (dear) soul!
روی زشت تست نه رخسار مرگ ** جان تو همچون درخت و مرگ برگ
’Tis your (own) ugly face, not the visage of Death: your spirit is like the tree, and death (is like) the leaf.
از تو رستست ار نکویست ار بدست ** ناخوش و خوش هر ضمیرت از خودست
It has grown from you, whether it is good or evil: every hidden thought of yours, foul or fair, is (born) from yourself.
گر بخاری خسته‌ای خود کشته‌ای ** ور حریر و قزدری خود رشته‌ای
If you are wounded by a thorn, you yourself have sown; and if you are (clad) in satin and silk, you yourself have spun.
دانک نبود فعل همرنگ جزا ** هیچ خدمت نیست همرنگ عطا3445
Know that the act is not of the same complexion as the requital: the service is nowise of the same complexion as the payment given (in return for it).
مزد مزدوران نمی‌ماند بکار ** کان عرض وین جوهرست و پایدار
The labourers' wage does not resemble the work, inasmuch as the latter is the accident, while the former is the substance and permanent.
آن همه سختی و زورست و عرق ** وین همه سیمست و زرست و طبق
The former is wholly hardship and effort and sweat, while the latter is wholly silver and gold and trays (of food).