داس بگرفت و مر آن را می‌برید ** پس ندا از غیب در گوشش رسید
He took the sickle and was cutting that (crop); then a voice from the Unseen reached his ear,
که چرا کشتی کنی و پروری ** چون کمالی یافت آن را می‌بری
Crying, “Why dost thou sow and tend some seed-corn and (now) art cutting it when it has attained to perfection?”
گفت یا رب زان کنم ویران و پست ** که درینجا دانه هست و کاه هست3020
He replied, “O Lord, I destroy and lay it low because straw is here and (also) grain.
دانه لایق نیست درانبار کاه ** کاه در انبار گندم هم تباه
The grain is not suitable (to be stored) in the straw-barn; the straw likewise is bad (for putting) in the corn-barn.
نیست حکمت این دو را آمیختن ** فرق واجب می‌کند در بیختن
’Tis not wisdom to mix these twain: it (wisdom) makes necessary the separation (of them) in winnowing.”
گفت این دانش تو از کی یافتی ** که به دانش بیدری بر ساختی
He (God) said, “From whom didst thou gain this knowledge, so that by means of the knowledge thou didst construct a threshing-floor?”
گفت تمییزم تو دادی ای خدا ** گفت پس تمییز چون نبود مرا
He replied, “Thou, O God, gavest me discernment.” He (God) said, “Then how should I not have discernment?”
در خلایق روحهای پاک هست ** روحهای تیره‌ی گلناک هست3025
Amongst the created beings are pure spirits; there are (also) spirits dark and muddy.
این صدفها نیست در یک مرتبه ** در یکی درست و در دیگر شبه
These shells are not in one grade: in one (of them) is the pearl and in another the (worthless) bead.
واجبست اظهار این نیک و تباه ** هم‌چنانک اظهار گندمها ز کاه
It is necessary to make manifest (the difference between) this good and evil, just as (it is necessary) to make manifest (distinguish) the wheat from the straw.