They buy (desire) the wrong in hope of (its being) the right: (if) poison go into a piece of sugar, then (and then only) they eat (poison).
بر امید راست کژ را میخرند ** زهر در قندی رود آن گه خورند
If there be no savoury wheat, what shall he get who sells barley, pretending that it is wheat?
گر نباشد گندم محبوب نوش ** چه برد گندمنمای جو فروش
Do not say, then, that all these utterances are false: the false (pretenders) are a snare to the heart on the ground of (because they give) hope of truth.
پس مگو کاین جمله دمها باطلند ** باطلان بر بوی حق دام دلند
Do not say, then, that all (this) is phantasy and error: without truth phantasy exists not in the world.
پس مگو جمله خیال است و ضلال ** بیحقیقت نیست در عالم خیال
Truth is the Night of Power (which is) hidden amidst the (other) nights in order that the soul may make trial of every night.2935
حق شب قدر است در شبها نهان ** تا کند جان هر شبی را امتحان
Not all nights are (the Night of) Power, O youth, nor are all nights void of that (Night).
نه همه شبها بود قدر ای جوان ** نه همه شبها بود خالی از آن
Amongst the wearers of the dervish-cloak there is one (true) dervish: make trial, and accept him that is true.
در میان دلق پوشان یک فقیر ** امتحان کن و آن که حق است آن بگیر
Where is the sagacious and discerning believer, that he may distinguish effeminate wretches from men?
مومن کیس ممیز کو که تا ** باز داند هیزکان را از فتی
If there be no faulty things in the world, all fools would be (shrewd) merchants.
گر نه معیوبات باشد در جهان ** تاجران باشند جمله ابلهان
Then it would be very easy to know (the value of) goods: when there is no defect, what (is the difference between) the incompetent and the competent (appraiser)?2940
پس بود کالا شناسی سخت سهل ** چون که عیبی نیست چه نااهل و اهل