He grows stout and slinks into a shady place—a lazy, full-fed, cowardly, self-opinionated (creature)!
گویدش دل خانهای ساز ای عمو ** گوید او در خانه کی گنجم بگو
His heart (conscience) says to him, “Build a house, O uncle!” He says, “How shall I find room in the house? Tell (me that).”
استخوان حرص تو در وقت درد ** درهم آید خرد گردد در نورد
In the hour of pain the bones of your greed shrink together and diminish in compass,
گویی از توبه بسازم خانهای ** در زمستان باشدم استانهای
And you say penitently, “I will build a house: it will be a resting-place (refuge) for me in winter”;
چون بشد درد و شدت آن حرص زفت ** همچو سگ سودای خانه از تو رفت
(But) when the pain is gone and your greed has grown stout, the desire for the house departs from you, just as (in the case of) the dog.
شکر نعمت خوشتر از نعمت بود ** شکرباره کی سوی نعمت رود2895
Thanksgiving for the bounty is sweeter than the bounty (itself): how should he that is addicted to thanksgiving go towards (direct his attention to) the bounty?
شکر جان نعمت و نعمت چو پوست ** ز آنک شکر آرد ترا تا کوی دوست
Thanksgiving is the soul of the bounty, and the bounty is as the husk, because thanksgiving brings you to the abode of the Beloved.
نعمت آرد غفلت و شکر انتباه ** صید نعمت کن بدام شکر شاه
Bounty produces heedlessness, and thanksgiving alertness: hunt after bounty with the snare of thanksgiving to the King.