زاده‌ی دنیا چو دنیا بی‌وفاست ** گرچه رو آرد به تو آن رو قفاست1650
The son of the world (the worldling) is faithless like the world: though he turn the face towards thee, that face is (really) the nape (back).
اهل آن عالم چو آن عالم ز بر ** تا ابد در عهد و پیمان مستمر
The people of that (other) world, like that world, on account of (their) probity continue for ever in (observance of their) covenant and promise.
خود دو پیغمبر به هم کی ضد شدند ** معجزات از همدگر کی بستدند
When, in sooth, did two prophets oppose each other? When did they wrest (their) evidential miracles (spiritual powers and privileges) from one another?
کی شود پژمرده میوه‌ی آن جهان ** شادی عقلی نگردد اندهان
How should the fruit of that world become stale? Intellectual joy does not turn into sorrows.
نفس بی‌عهدست زان رو کشتنیست ** او دنی و قبله‌گاه او دنیست
The fleshly soul is unplighted (bound by no covenant); for that reason it ought to be killed: it is base, and base is the spot to which its desires are directed.
نفسها را لایقست این انجمن ** مرده را درخور بود گور و کفن1655
This assembly (the world) is well-adapted for fleshly souls: the grave and shroud are suitable to the dead.
نفس اگر چه زیرکست و خرده‌دان ** قبله‌اش دنیاست او را مرده دان
Although the fleshly soul is sagacious and acute, its qibla (objective) is this world, (therefore) regard it as dead.
آب وحی حق بدین مرده رسید ** شد ز خاک مرده‌ای زنده پدید
(But when) the water of God's inspiration has reached this dead (soul), the living (soul) comes into view (rises) from the tomb of a corpse.
تا نیاید وحش تو غره مباش ** تو بدان گلگونه‌ی طال بقاش
Until inspiration comes, do not thou (meanwhile) be duped by that rouge (vanity) of “May his life be long!”
بانگ و صیتی جو که آن خامل نشد ** تاب خورشیدی که آن آفل نشد
Seek the applause and renown that does not die away, the splendour of the sun that does not sink.