- The thorn bush (is) in (process of gaining) strength and (in) ascent; its digger (is) in (process of) aging and decline.
- خار بن در قوت و برخاستن ** خار کن در پیری و در کاستن
- The thorn bush every day and every moment is green and fresh; its digger is every day more sickly and withered.
- خار بن هر روز و هر دم سبز و تر ** خار کن هر روز زار و خشکتر
- It is growing younger, you older: be quick and do not waste your time!
- او جوانتر میشود تو پیرتر ** زود باش و روزگار خود مبر
- Know that every single bad habit of yours is a thorn bush: many a time, after all, have its thorns pierced your foot. 1240
- خار بن دان هر یکی خوی بدت ** بارها در پای خار آخر زدت
- Many a time have you been wounded by your own (evil) habits—you have no sense, you are very senseless.
- بارها از خوی خود خسته شدی ** حس نداری سخت بیحس آمدی
- If to the wounding of other persons, which comes to pass from your evil nature,
- گر ز خسته گشتن دیگر کسان ** که ز خلق زشت تو هست آن رسان
- You are indifferent, at any rate you are not (indifferent) to your own wounds: you are the torment of yourself and of every stranger.
- غافلی باری ز زخم خود نهای ** تو عذاب خویش و هر بیگانهای
- Either take up the axe and strike like a man—like ‘Alí, destroy this gate of Khaybar—
- یا تبر برگیر و مردانه بزن ** تو علیوار این در خیبر بکن
- Or unite these thorns with the rosebush: unite the light of the friend (of God) with the (sensual) fire, 1245
- یا به گلبن وصل کن این خار را ** وصل کن با نار نور یار را
- In order that his light may extinguish your fire, (and that) union with him may make your thorns roses.
- تا که نور او کشد نار تو را ** وصل او گلشن کند خار تو را