ای که در معنی ز شب خامش‌تری ** گفت خود را چند جویی مشتری 3190
O you who really are more silent than Night, how long will you seek a purchaser for your words?
سر بجنبانند پیشت بهر تو ** رفت در سودای ایشان دهر تو
They (your hearers) nod their heads in your presence for (the purpose of assenting to) you: your time is wasted in the passionate desire of (attracting) them.
تو مرا گویی حسد اندر مپیچ ** چه حسد آرد کسی از فوت هیچ
You say to me, ‘Don't indulge in envy,’ (but) how should any one feel envy in consequence of losing naught?
هست تعلیم خسان ای چشم‌شوخ ** هم‌چو نقش خرد کردن بر کلوخ
O impudent man, instruction given to the worthless is like drawing a little design on a clod of earth.
خویش را تعلیم کن عشق و نظر ** که آن بود چون نقش فی جرم الحجر
Instruct thyself in love (of God) and (spiritual) insight; for that is like a design (engraved) on a solid mass of stone.
نفس تو با تست شاگرد وفا ** غیر فانی شد کجا جویی کجا 3195
Your own self is the (only) pupil that is (really) faithful to you: (all) the others perish: where will you seek them, where?
تا کنی مر غیر را حبر و سنی ** خویش را بدخو و خالی می‌کنی
In order that you may make others erudite and eminent, you are making yourself evil-natured and empty (of true knowledge).
متصل چون شد دلت با آن عدن ** هین بگو مهراس از خالی شدن
(But) when your heart is united with that Eden (of Reality), hark, speak on, and be not afraid of becoming empty.
امر قل زین آمدش کای راستین ** کم نخواهد شد بگو دریاست این
Hence the (Divine) command, ‘Speak!’ came to him (the Prophet), saying, ‘O righteous one, it will not fail: this is an (infinite) ocean.’
انصتوا یعنی که آبت را بلاغ ** هین تلف کم کن که لب‌خشکست باغ
(God said), ‘Be ye silent,’ that is, ‘do not waste your water in idle talk, for the orchard is dry-lipped (thirsty).’