هم‌چنان جمله نعیم این جهان ** بس خوشست از دور پیش از امتحان
Even so all the pleasures of this world are very delightful (when viewed) from a distance before the (actual) test.
می‌نماید در نظر از دور آب ** چون روی نزدیک باشد آن سراب
Seen from a distance they appear (like refreshing) water, (but) when you approach (them) they are a mirage.
گنده پیرست او و از بس چاپلوس ** خویش را جلوه کند چون نو عروس
She (the World) is a stinking hag, though by reason of her great blandishments she displays herself like a young bride.
هین مشو مغرور آن گلگونه‌اش ** نوش نیش‌آلوده‌ی او را مچش
Hark! Do not be deceived by her rouge, do not taste her sherbet which is mixed with poison!
صبر کن کالصبر مفتاح الفرج ** تا نیفتی چون فرج در صد حرج 320
Have patience (self-restraint), for patience is the key to joy, lest like Faraj you fall into a hundred (grievous) straits.
آشکارا دانه پنهان دام او ** خوش نماید ز اولت انعام او
Her (the World's) bait is visible, (but) her trap is hidden: at first (sight) her favours seem sweet to you.
در بیان آنک این غرور تنها آن هندو را نبود بلک هر آدمیی به چنین غرور مبتلاست در هر مرحله‌ای الا من عصم الله
Explaining that this self-delusion was not (peculiar) to that Hindú alone; on the contrary, every human being is afflicted with a similar self-delusion at every stage (of the journey), except those whom God has preserved.
چون بپیوستی بدان ای زینهار ** چند نالی در ندامت زار زار
Since you are attached to those (worldly goods), oh, beware! How often (afterwards) will you sob piteously in repentance!
نام میری و وزیری و شهی ** در نهانش مرگ و درد و جان‌دهی
The names “princehood,” “vizierate,” and “kingship” (are enticing, but) hidden beneath them is death and pain and giving up the ghost.
بنده باش و بر زمین رو چون سمند ** چون جنازه نه که بر گردن برند
Be a slave (of God) and walk on the earth like a horse (under the rider), not like a bier which is carried on the necks (of the bearers).
جمله را حمال خود خواهد کفور ** چون سوار مرده آرندش به گور 325
The ungrateful (worldly) man wishes all people to carry him: they bring him, like a dead rider, to the grave.
بر جنازه هر که را بینی به خواب ** فارس منصب شود عالی رکاب
If you dream of any one (being carried) on a bier, he will become a high-stirruped rider of (will rise to high eminence in) office.
زانک آن تابوت بر خلقست بار ** بار بر خلقان فکندند این کبار
Inasmuch as the coffin is a burden on the people (who carry it), these grandees have laid the burden (of their rank and riches) on (the necks of) the people (whom they oppress).
بار خود بر کس منه بر خویش نه ** سروری را کم طلب درویش به
Do not lay your burden on any one, lay it on yourself: do not seek eminence, ’tis best to be poor.
مرکب اعناق مردم را مپا ** تا نیاید نقرست اندر دو پا
Do not be perpetually riding on the necks of people, lest gout attack your feet.
مرکبی را که آخرش تو ده دهی ** که به شهری مانی و ویران‌دهی 330
The vehicle which you will curse in the end, saying, “Thou resemblest a (flourishing) city, but thou art (really) a ruined village”—
ده دهش اکنون که چون شهرت نمود ** تا نباید رخت در ویران گشود
Curse it now when it (still) appears to you like a city, in order that (ultimately) you may not have to unload in the wilderness.
ده دهش اکنون که صد بستانت هست ** تا نگردی عاجز و ویران‌پرست
Curse it now when you (still) possess a hundred gardens, lest you become unable (to renounce it) and (become) devoted to the wilderness (of worldly fortune).
گفت پیغامبر که جنت از اله ** گر همی‌خواهی ز کس چیزی مخواه
The Prophet said, “If thou desirest Paradise from God, desire nothing from any one (else).
چون نخواهی من کفیلم مر ترا ** جنت الماوی و دیدار خدا
When thou desirest nothing (from any one), I am thy surety for the Garden of resort and the vision of God.”
آن صحابی زین کفالت شد عیار ** تا یکی روزی که گشته بد سوار 335
Because of this suretyship that Companion (of the Prophet) became so independent (of others) that one day when he had mounted (his horse),
تازیانه از کفش افتاد راست ** خود فرو آمد ز کس آنرا نخواست
And the whip fell right out of his hand, he himself dismounted and did not ask any one to give it to him.
آنک از دادش نیاید هیچ بد ** داند و بی‌خواهشی خود می‌دهد
He (God), from whose gifts no evil cometh, knows (your want) and Himself will give it without any asking.
ور به امر حق بخواهی آن رواست ** آنچنان خواهش طریق انبیاست
But if you ask by God's command, that is right: such asking is the way followed by the prophets.
بد نماند چون اشارت کرد دوست ** کفر ایمان شد چون کفر از بهر اوست
When the Beloved has signified (that you should do so and so), ’tis evil no more: infidelity (itself) becomes faith when the infidelity is for His sake.
هر بدی که امر او پیش آورد ** آن ز نیکوهای عالم بگذرد 340
Any evil deed prompted by His command surpasses (all) the good deeds in the world.