آن دو سه تار عنایت هم‌چو کوه ** سد شد چون فر سیما در وجوه 3875
Those two or three hair-threads of (Divine) favour form a barrier (strong) as a mountain (against evil), like majesty of aspect in the faces (of potentates).
خشت را مگذار ای نیکوسرشت ** لیک هم آمن مخسپ از دیو زشت
Do not neglect (to lay) the bricks, O man of goodly nature; but at the same time do not sleep (as though you were) safe from the wicked Devil.
رو دو تا مو زان کرم با دست آر ** وانگهان آمن بخسپ و غم مدار
Go and get two hairs of that (Divine) grace, and then sleep safe (sound) and have no anxiety.
نوم عالم از عبادت به بود ** آنچنان علمی که مستنبه بود
The sleep of the wise (‘álim) is better than worship (performed by the ignorant), (if it be) such a wisdom (‘ilm) as brings (spiritual) awakening.
آن سکون سابح اندر آشنا ** به ز جهد اعجمی با دست و پا
The quiet of the (expert) swimmer in swimming is better than the exertion (violent movements) with hands and feet of one who is unable (to swim).
اعجمی زد دست و پا و غرق شد ** می‌رود سباح ساکن چون عمد 3880
He that cannot swim throws out his hands and feet (desperately) and drowns, (while) the (practised) swimmer moves quietly (with a steadiness) like (that of) pillars.
علم دریاییست بی‌حد و کنار ** طالب علمست غواص بحار
Knowledge (‘ilm) is an ocean without bound or shore: the seeker of knowledge is (like) the diver in (those) seas.
گر هزاران سال باشد عمر او ** او نگردد سیر خود از جست و جو
Though his life be a thousand years, never will he become weary of seeking,
کان رسول حق بگفت اندر بیان ** اینک منهومان هما لا یشبعان
For the Messenger of God said in explanation (thereof) this (saying)—“There are two greedy ones who are never satisfied.”
در تفسیر این خبر کی مصطفی صلوات‌الله علیه فرمود منهومان لا یشبعان طالب الدنیا و طالب العلم کی این علم غیر علم دنیا باید تا دو قسم باشد اما علم دنیا هم دنیا باشد الی آخره و اگر هم‌چنین شود کی طالب الدنیا و طالب الدنیا تکرار بود نه تقسیم مع تقریره
Commentary on the Tradition that Mustafá (Mohammed)—the blessings of God be upon him!—said, “There are two greedy ones who will never be satisfied: the seeker of the present world and the seeker of knowledge.” This “knowledge” must be different from “knowledge of the present world,” in order that there may be the two (separate) classes (mentioned in the Tradition); but “knowledge of the present world” is just the same (in effect) as “the present world,” etc.; and if it (the double phrase used above) be equivalent to “the seeker of the present world and the seeker of the present world,” that would be repetition, not division (into two categories). With the exposition thereof.
طالب الدنیا و توفیراتها ** طالب العلم و تدبیراتها
(The two classes mentioned are) the seeker of the present world and its abundant opportunities for acquisition, and the seeker of knowledge and the considerations proper to it.