هر دو گون زنبور خوردند از محل ** لیک شد ز ان نیش و زین دیگر عسل‌‌

Both species of zanbúr ate and drank from the (same) place, but from that one (the hornet) came a sting, and from this other (the bee) honey.

هر دو گون آهو گیا خوردند و آب ** زین یکی سرگین شد و ز ان مشک ناب‌‌

Both species of deer ate grass and drank water: from this one came dung, and from that one pure musk.

هر دو نی خوردند از یک آب خور ** این یکی خالی و آن پر از شکر 270

Both reeds drank from the same water-source, (but) this one is empty and that one full of sugar.

صد هزاران این چنین اشباه بین ** فرقشان هفتاد ساله راه بین‌‌

Consider hundreds of thousands of such likenesses and observe that the distance between the two is (as great as) a seventy years' journey.

این خورد گردد پلیدی زو جدا ** آن خورد گردد همه نور خدا

This one eats, and filth is discharged from him; that one eats, and becomes entirely the light of God.

این خورد زاید همه بخل و حسد ** و آن خورد زاید همه نور احد

This one eats, (and of him) is born nothing but avarice and envy; that one eats, (and of him) is born nothing but the Light of the One (God).

این زمین پاک و ان شوره ست و بد ** این فرشته‌‌ی پاک و ان دیو است و دد

This one is good (fertile) soil and that one brackish and bad; this one is a fair angel and that one a devil and wild beast.

هر دو صورت گر بهم ماند رواست ** آب تلخ و آب شیرین را صفاست‌‌ 275

If both resemble each other in aspect, it may well be (so): bitter water and sweet water have (the same) clearness.

جز که صاحب ذوق کی شناسد بیاب ** او شناسد آب خوش از شوره آب‌‌

Who knows (the difference) except a man possessed of (spiritual) taste? Find (him): he knows the sweet water from the brine.

سحر را با معجزه کرده قیاس ** هر دو را بر مکر پندارد اساس‌‌

Comparing magic with (prophetic) miracle, he (the ignorant one) fancies that both are founded on deceit.

ساحران موسی از استیزه را ** بر گرفته چون عصای او عصا

The magicians (in the time) of Moses, for contention's sake, lifted up (in their hands) a rod like his,

زین عصا تا آن عصا فرقی است ژرف ** زین عمل تا آن عمل راهی شگرف‌‌

(But) between this rod and that rod there is a vast difference; from this action (magic) to that action (miracle) is a great way.

لعنة الله این عمل را در قفا ** رحمه الله آن عمل را در وفا 280

This action is followed by the curse of God, (while) that action receives in payment the mercy (blessing) of God.

کافران اندر مری بوزینه طبع ** آفتی آمد درون سینه طبع‌‌

The infidels in contending (for equality with the prophets and saints) have the nature of an ape: the (evil) nature is a canker within the breast.

هر چه مردم می‌‌کند بوزینه هم ** آن کند کز مرد بیند دم‌‌به‌‌دم‌‌

Whatever a man does, the ape at every moment does the same thing that he sees done by the man.

او گمان برده که من کژدم چو او ** فرق را کی داند آن استیزه رو

He thinks, “I have acted like him”: how should that quarrelsome-looking one know the difference?

این کند از امر و او بهر ستیز ** بر سر استیزه رویان خاک ریز

This one (the holy man) acts by the command (of God), and he (the apish imitator) for the sake of quarrelling (rivalry). Pour dust on the heads of those who have quarrelsome faces!

آن منافق با موافق در نماز ** از پی استیزه آید نی نیاز 285

That (religious) hypocrite joins in ritual prayer with the (sincere) conformist (only) for quarrelling's sake, not for supplication.

در نماز و روزه و حج و زکات ** با منافق مومنان در برد و مات‌‌

In prayer and fasting and pilgrimage and alms-giving the true believers are (engaged) with the hypocrite in (what brings) victory and defeat.

مومنان را برد باشد عاقبت ** بر منافق مات اندر آخرت‌‌

Victory in the end is to the true believers; upon the hypocrite (falls) defeat in the state hereafter.

گر چه هر دو بر سر یک بازی‌‌اند ** هر دو با هم مروزی و رازی‌‌اند

Although both are intent on one game, in relation to each other they are (as far apart as) the man of Merv and the man of Rayy.

هر یکی سوی مقام خود رود ** هر یکی بر وفق نام خود رود

Each one goes to his (proper) abiding-place; each one fares according to his name.

مومنش خوانند جانش خوش شود ** ور منافق تیز و پر آتش شود 290

If he be called a true believer, his soul rejoices; and if (he be called) “hypocrite,” he becomes fierce and filled with fire (rage).

نام او محبوب از ذات وی است ** نام این مبغوض از آفات وی است‌‌

His (the true believer's) name is loved on account of its essence (which is true faith); this one's (the hypocrite's) name is loathed on account of its pestilent qualities.

میم و واو و میم و نون تشریف نیست ** لفظ مومن جز پی تعریف نیست‌‌

(The four letters) mím and wáw and mím and nún do not confer honour: the word múmin (true believer) is only for the sake of denotation.