زآنک نیم علم آمد این سال ** هر برونی را نباشد آن مجال

For this questioning is the half of knowledge, and this ability (to ask questions) does not belong to every outsider.”

هم سال از علم خیزد هم جواب ** هم‌چنانک خار و گل از خاک و آب

Both question and answer arise from knowledge, just as the thorn and the rose from earth and water.

هم ضلال از علم خیزد هم هدی ** هم‌چنانک تلخ و شیرین از ندا 3010

Both perdition and salvation arise from knowledge, just as bitter and sweet (fruit) from moisture.

ز آشنایی خیزد این بغض و ولا ** وز غذای خویش بود سقم و قوی

This hatred and love arise from acquaintance, and from wholesome food (arise both) sickness and (bodily) powers.

مستفید اعجمی شد آن کلیم ** تا عجمیان را کند زین سر علیم

That Kalím (Moses) became (like) an ignorant enquirer in order that he might make the ignorant acquainted with this mystery.

ما هم از وی اعجمی سازیم خویش ** پاسخش آریم چون بیگانه پیش

Let us too feign ourselves to be ignorant thereof and elicit the answer to it (to the question) as (if we were) strangers (seeking information).

خرفروشان خصم یکدیگر شدند ** تا کلید قفل آن عقد آمدند

(Similarly) the ass-sellers became rivals to one another in order that they might open the way to the contract (of sale).

پس بفرمودش خدا ای ذولباب ** چون بپرسیدی بیا بشنو جواب 3015

Then God spake unto him, saying, “O thou who possessest the most excellent (understanding), since thou hast asked (the question), come, hear the answer.

موسیا تخمی بکار اندر زمین ** تا تو خود هم وا دهی انصاف این

O Moses, sow some seed in the earth, that thou thyself mayst render justice to this (question).”

چونک موسی کشت و شد کشتش تمام ** خوشه‌هااش یافت خوبی و نظام

When Moses had sown and the seed-corn was complete (in growth) and its ears had gained beauty and symmetry,