- Both reeds drank from the same water-source, (but) this one is empty and that one full of sugar. 270
- هر دو نی خوردند از یک آب خور ** این یکی خالی و آن پر از شکر
- Consider hundreds of thousands of such likenesses and observe that the distance between the two is (as great as) a seventy years' journey.
- صد هزاران این چنین اشباه بین ** فرقشان هفتاد ساله راه بین
- This one eats, and filth is discharged from him; that one eats, and becomes entirely the light of God.
- این خورد گردد پلیدی زو جدا ** آن خورد گردد همه نور خدا
- 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 خورد زاید همه بخل و حسد ** و آن خورد زاید همه نور احد
- 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.
- این زمین پاک و ان شوره ست و بد ** این فرشته‌‌ی پاک و ان دیو است و دد
- If both resemble each other in aspect, it may well be (so): bitter water and sweet water have (the same) clearness. 275
- هر دو صورت گر بهم ماند رواست ** آب تلخ و آب شیرین را صفاست
- Who knows (the difference) except a man possessed of (spiritual) taste? Find (him): he knows the sweet water from the brine.
- جز که صاحب ذوق کی شناسد بیاب ** او شناسد آب خوش از شوره آب
- Comparing magic with (prophetic) miracle, he (the ignorant one) fancies that both are founded on deceit.
- سحر را با معجزه کرده قیاس ** هر دو را بر مکر پندارد اساس
- The magicians (in the time) of Moses, for contention's sake, lifted up (in their hands) a rod like his,
- ساحران موسی از استیزه را ** بر گرفته چون عصای او عصا
- (But) between this rod and that rod there is a vast difference; from this action (magic) to that action (miracle) is a great way.
- زین عصا تا آن عصا فرقی است ژرف ** زین عمل تا آن عمل راهی شگرف