چون جهانی شبهت و اشکال‌جوست ** حرف می‌رانیم ما بیرون پوست
(But) since a world (multitude of people) is seeking (to raise) doubt and difficulty, we will let the discourse run beyond the skin.
گر تو خود را بشکنی مغزی شوی ** داستان مغز نغزی بشنوی
If you break your (material) self, you will become a kernel and will hear the tale of a goodly kernel.
جوز را در پوستها آوازهاست ** مغز و روغن را خود آوازی کجاست
The voices of walnuts are in their skins (shells): where, indeed, is any voice in the kernel and the oil?
دارد آوازی نه اندر خورد گوش ** هست آوازش نهان در گوش نوش 2145
It (the kernel) has a voice, (but one that is) not suited to the (bodily) ear: its voice is hidden in the ear of ecstasy.
گرنه خوش‌آوازی مغزی بود ** ژغژغ آواز قشری کی شنود
Were it not for the sweetness of a kernel's voice, who would listen to the rattling voice of a walnut-shell?
ژغژغ آن زان تحمل می‌کنی ** تا که خاموشانه بر مغزی زنی
You endure the rattling of it (only) in order that you may silently come into touch with a kernel.
چند گاهی بی‌لب و بی‌گوش شو ** وانگهان چون لب حریف نوش شو
Be without lip and without ear for a while, and then, like the lip, be the companion of honey.
چند گفتی نظم و نثر و راز فاش ** خواجه یک روز امتحان کن گنگ باش
How long have you been uttering poetry and prose and (proclaiming) mysteries! O master, try the experiment and, for one day, be dumb!
حکایت در تقریر این سخن کی چندین گاه گفت ذکر را آزمودیم مدتی صبر و خاموشی را بیازماییم
Story in confirmation of the saying, “We have tried speech and talk all this time: (now) for a while let us. try self-restraint and silence.”
چند پختی تلخ و تیز و شورگز ** این یکی بار امتحان شیرین بپز 2150
How long have you been cooking (things) sour and acid and (like the fruit of) the white tamarisk? For this one time make an experiment and cook sweets.
آن یکی را در قیامت ز انتباه ** در کف آید نامه‌ی عصیان سیاه
On waking at the Resurrection, there is put into the hands of a (wicked) man the scroll of his sins: (it will be) black,