Rumi's Masnavi - The melodies of David were so dear (to the faithful), but to the interdicted (unbeliever) they were (no more than) the noise of wood.

The melodies of David were so dear (to the faithful), but to the interdicted (unbeliever) they were (no more than) the noise of wood.

لحن داودی چنان محبوب بود ** لیک بر محروم بانگ چوب بود

The water of the Nile was superior to the Water of Life, but to the interdicted and unbelieving it was blood. 1075

آب نیل از آب حیوان بد فزون ** لیک بر محروم و منکر بود خون‏

To the true believer martyrdom is life; to the hypocrite it is death and corruption.

هست بر مومن شهیدی زندگی ** بر منافق مردن است و ژندگی‏

Tell (me), what single blessing is there in the world, from which some group of people is not excluded?

چیست در عالم بگو یک نعمتی ** که نه محرومند از وی امتی‏

What profit have the ox and the ass in sugar? Every soul has a different food;

گاو و خر را فایده چه در شکر ** هست هر جان را یکی قوتی دگر

But if that food is accidental to it (and not according to its real nature), then admonition is the (proper) correction for it.

لیک گر آن قوت بر وی عارضی است ** پس نصیحت کردن او را رایضی است‏

As (in the case of) one who from disease has become fond of (eating) clay— though he may suppose that that (clay) is indeed his (natural) food, 1080

چون کسی کاو از مرض گل داشت دوست ** گر چه پندارد که آن خود قوت اوست‏

He has (in reality) forgotten his original food and has betaken himself to the food of disease.

قوت اصلی را فرامش کرده است ** روی در قوت مرض آورده است‏

Having given up honey, he has eaten poison; he has made the food of disease (to be his nourishment) as (though it were) fat.

نوش را بگذاشته سم خورده است ** قوت علت همچو چوبش کرده است‏

Man's original food is the Light of God: animal food is improper for him;

قوت اصلی بشر نور خداست ** قوت حیوانی مر او را ناسزاست‏