There is none ever, (be he) defiled or (be he) recovered (from foul disease), but his fortune is on his neck
حرص تو در کار بد چون آتشست ** اخگر از رنگ خوش آتش خوشست
Your greed for evil-doing is like fire: the live coal (the evil deed) is (made) pleasing by the fire’s pleasing hue.
آن سیاهی فحم در آتش نهان ** چونک آتش شد سیاهی شد عیان
The blackness of the coal is hidden in the fire: when the fire is gone, the blackness becomes evident.
اخگر از حرص تو شد فحم سیاه ** حرص چون شد ماند آن فحم تباه
By your greed the black coal is made live: when the greed is gone, that vicious coal remains.
آن زمان آن فحم اخگر می‌نمود ** آن نه حسن کار نار حرص بود1125
At that (former) time the coal appeared to be live; that was not (owing to) the goodness of (your) action: it was (owing to) the fire of greed.
حرص کارت را بیاراییده بود ** حرص رفت و ماند کار تو کبود
Greed had embellished your action: greed departed, and your action was left in squalor
غوله‌ای را که بر آرایید غول ** پخته پندارد کسی که هست گول
(Only) one who is foolish will think ripe (and sweet) the ghawla which the ghouls deck out (describe as being attractive).
آزمایش چون نماید جان او ** کند گردد ز آزمون دندان او
When his soul makes trial (of it), its teeth are blunted by the experiment.
از هوس آن دام دانه می‌نمود ** عکس غول حرص و آن خود خام بود
From vain desire, the reflexion (distorting influence) of the ghoul, (which is) greed, was causing the trap to appear a (delicious) berry, though in truth it was unripe.
حرص اندر کار دین و خیر جو ** چون نماند حرص باشد نغزرو1130
Seek greed (seek to be eager) in the practice of religion and in good works: they are (still) beautiful, (even) when the greed (eagerness) remains not.