آن زمان آن فحم اخگر می‌نمود ** آن نه حسن کار نار حرص بود

آن زمان آن فحم اخگر می‌نمود ** آن نه حسن کار نار حرص بود 1125

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 نغزرو 1130

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.

خیرها نغزند نه از عکس غیر ** تاب حرص ار رفت ماند تاب خیر

Good works are beautiful (in themselves), not through the re flexion of any other thing: if the glow of greed is gone, the glow of good remains;

تاب حرص از کار دنیا چون برفت ** فحم باشد مانده از اخگر بتفت

(But) when the glow of greed is gone from worldly work, of the red-hot coal (only) the black ashes are left.

کودکان را حرص می‌آرد غرار ** تا شوند از ذوق دل دامن‌سوار

Folly excites greed (for amusement) in children, so that from gleefulness of heart they ride a cock-horse

چون ز کودک رفت آن حرص بدش ** بر دگر اطفال خنده آیدش

When that evil greed of his is gone from the child, he begins to laugh at the other children,