Rumi's Masnavi - To the perfect man (every) mouthful (of food) and (every) saying is lawful. Thou art not perfect: do not eat, be mute,

To the perfect man (every) mouthful (of food) and (every) saying is lawful. Thou art not perfect: do not eat, be mute,

لقمه و نکته ست کامل را حلال ** تو نه‌‌ای کامل مخور می‌‌باش لال‌‌

Inasmuch as thou art an ear and he a tongue, not thy congener: God said to the ears, “Be silent.”

چون تو گوشی او زبان نی جنس تو ** گوشها را حق بفرمود أنصتوا

When the sucking babe is born, at first it keeps silence for a while, it is all ear.

کودک اول چون بزاید شیر نوش ** مدتی خامش بود او جمله گوش‌‌

For a while it must close its lips (and refrain) from speech, until it learns to speak;

مدتی می‌‌بایدش لب دوختن ** از سخن تا او سخن آموختن‌‌

And if it is not (silent like) an ear but makes babbling sounds, it makes itself the dumbest creature in the world. 1625

ور نباشد گوش و تی‌‌تی می‌‌کند ** خویشتن را گنگ گیتی می‌‌کند

He that is deaf by nature, he that had no ear at the beginning, is dumb: how should he burst into speech?

کر اصلی کش نبود آغاز گوش ** لال باشد کی کند در نطق جوش‌‌

Since, in order to speak, one must first hear, do thou come to speech by the way of hearing.

ز آن که اول سمع باید نطق را ** سوی منطق از ره سمع اندر آ

And enter ye the houses by their doors, and seek ye the ends in their causes.

ادخلوا الأبیات من أبوابها ** و اطلبوا الأغراض فی أسبابها

There is no speech independent of the way of hearing except the speech of the Creator who is without want.

نطق کان موقوف راه سمع نیست ** جز که نطق خالق بی‌‌طمع نیست‌‌

He is the Originator, He follows no master; He is the support of all things, He hath no support, 1630

مبدع است او تابع استاد نی ** مسند جمله و را اسناد نی‌‌