It is necessary to cut off the head of the bird that rings the bell (crows) at the wrong time.
سر بریدن واجب آید مرغ را ** کو بغیر وقت جنباند درا
At every moment thy particular spirit is struggling with death: in thy spirit's death-struggle look to thy faith!
هر زمان نزعیست جزو جانت را ** بنگر اندر نزع جان ایمانت را
Thy life is like a purse of gold: day and night are like him who counts the gold coins (the money-changer).
عمر تو مانند همیان زرست ** روز و شب مانند دینار اشمرست
He (Time) counts and gives the gold without stopping, until it (the purse) is emptied and there comes the eclipse (death).125
می‌شمارد می‌دهد زر بی وقوف ** تا که خالی گردد و آید خسوف
If you take away from a mountain and do not put (anything) in the place (of what you have taken), the mountain will be demolished by that giving.
گر ز که بستانی و ننهی بجای ** اندر آید کوه زان دادن ز پای
Therefore, for every breath (that you give out), put an equivalent in its place, so that by (acting in accordance with the text) and fall to worship and draw nigh you may gain your object.
پس بنه بر جای هر دم را عوض ** تا ز واسجد واقترب یابی غرض
Do not strive so much to complete (your worldly) affairs: do not strive in any affair that is not religious.
در تمامی کارها چندین مکوش ** جز به کاری که بود در دین مکوش
(Otherwise) at the end you will depart incomplete, your (spiritual) affairs marred and your bread unbaked.
عاقبت تو رفت خواهی ناتمام ** کارهاات ابتر و نان تو خام
And the beautifying of your grave and sepulchre is not (done) by means of stone and wood and plaster;130
وان عمارت کردن گور و لحد ** نه به سنگست و به چوب و نه لبد
Nay, but by digging for yourself a grave in (spiritual) purity and burying (your) egoism in His egoism,
بلک خود را در صفا گوری کنی ** در منی او کنی دفن منی