ای زن ار طماع می‌‌بینی مرا ** زین تحری زنانه برتر آ

O wife, if thou deemest me very covetous, rise above this womanish care (for worldly things).

این طمع را ماند و رحمت بود ** کو طمع آن جا که آن نعمت بود

This (state of mine) resembles cupidity and (in reality) it is a (Divine) mercy: where that (spiritual) blessing is, where is cupidity?

امتحان کن فقر را روزی دو تو ** تا به فقر اندر غنا بینی دو تو

Make trial of poverty for a day or two, that thou mayst see (find) in poverty double riches.

صبر کن با فقر و بگذار این ملال ** ز آن که در فقر است عز ذو الجلال‌‌

Have patience with poverty and abandon this disgust, because in poverty there is the majesty of the Lord of glory.

سرکه مفروش و هزاران جان ببین ** از قناعت غرق بحر انگبین‌‌ 2375

Do not look sour, and (thou wilt) see thousands of souls plunged, through contentment, in an ocean of honey.

صد هزاران جان تلخی کش نگر ** همچو گل آغشته اندر گل شکر

Behold hundreds of thousands of bitterly suffering souls steeped in rose-syrup, like the rose.

ای دریغا مر ترا گنجا بدی ** تا ز جانم شرح دل پیدا شدی‌‌

Oh, alas, would that thou hadst comprehension, so that the unfolded tale of my heart might be shown forth to thee from my soul.

این سخن شیر است در پستان جان ** بی‌‌کشنده خوش نمی‌‌گردد روان‌‌

This discourse is milk in the teat of the soul: it will not flow well without some one to suck (the teat).

مستمع چون تشنه و جوینده شد ** واعظ ار مرده بود گوینده شد

When the hearer has become thirsty and craving, the preacher, (even) if he be (as good as) dead, becomes eloquent.

مستمع چون تازه آمد بی‌‌ملال ** صد زبان گردد به گفتن گنگ و لال‌‌ 2380

When the hearer is fresh and without fatigue (not bored), the dumb and mute will find a hundred tongues to speak withal.

چون که نامحرم در آید از درم ** پرده در پنهان شوند اهل حرم‌‌

When a stranger comes in at my door, the women of the harem hide themselves in the veil,

ور در آید محرمی دور از گزند ** بر گشایند آن ستیران روی‌‌بند

But if a harmless relative should come in, those covered ones will lift up their face-veils.

هر چه را خوب و خوش و زیبا کنند ** از برای دیده‌‌ی بینا کنند

Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made (so) for the eye of him that sees.

کی بود آواز چنگ و زیر و بم ** از برای گوش بی‌‌حس اصم‌‌

How should the sound of the harp and treble and bass be (made) for the insentient ear of one who is deaf?

مشک را بی‌‌هوده حق خوش دم نکرد ** بهر حس کرد او پی اخشم نکرد 2385

Not in vain did God make musk fragrant: He made it (so) for the sense (of smell), He did not make it for one whose nostrils are stopped (by disease).

حق زمین و آسمان بر ساخته ست ** در میان بس نار و نور افراخته ست‌‌

God hath fashioned the earth and the sky, He hath raised in the midst much fire and light.

این زمین را از برای خاکیان ** آسمان را مسکن افلاکیان‌‌

(He made) this earth for those (created) of clay, (He made) heaven to be the abode of the celestials.

مرد سفلی دشمن بالا بود ** مشتری هر مکان پیدا بود

The low (base) man is the enemy of what is high: the purchaser (seeker) of each place (Heaven or Hell) is manifest (made known by his actions).

ای ستیره هیچ تو برخاستی ** خویشتن را بهر کور آراستی‌‌

O chaste woman, hast thou ever risen up and decked thyself for the sake of him that is blind?

گر جهان را پر در مکنون کنم ** روزی تو چون نباشد چون کنم‌‌ 2390

If I should fill the world with hidden pearls (of wisdom), how should I fare (what good would it do me), since they are not thy portion (since thou art unfit to receive them)?

ترک جنگ و ره زنی ای زن بگو ** ور نمی‌‌گویی به ترک من بگو

O wife, take leave of quarrelling and waylaying, and if thou wilt not, (then) take leave of me!

مر مرا چه جای جنگ نیک و بد ** کاین دلم از صلحها هم می‌‌رمد

What room have I for quarrelling with the good or the bad? —for this heart of mine is recoiling (even) from acts of peace.

گر خمش کردی و گرنه آن کنم ** که همین دم ترک خان و مان کنم‌‌

If thou keep silence, (’tis well), and if not, I will so do that at this very moment I will leave my house and home.”

مراعات کردن زن شوهر را و استغفار کردن از گفته‌‌ی خویش‌‌

How the wife paid regard to her husband and begged God to forgive her for what she had said.

زن چو دید او را که تند و توسن است ** گشت گریان گریه خود دام زن است‌‌

When the wife saw that he was fierce and unmanageable, she began to weep: tears in sooth are a woman's lure.

گفت از تو کی چنین پنداشتم ** از تو من اومید دیگر داشتم‌‌ 2395

She said, “When did I imagine such (words) from thee? I hoped of thee something different.”