There is none ever, (be he) defiled or (be he) recovered (from foul disease), but his fortune is on his neck
لیس من مستقذر مستنقه ** قط الا طایره فی عنقه
Your greed for evil-doing is like fire: the live coal (the evil deed) is (made) pleasing by the fire’s pleasing hue.
حرص تو در کار بد چون آتشست ** اخگر از رنگ خوش آتش خوشست
The blackness of the coal is hidden in the fire: when the fire is gone, the blackness becomes evident.
آن سیاهی فحم در آتش نهان ** چونک آتش شد سیاهی شد عیان
By your greed the black coal is made live: when the greed is gone, that vicious coal remains.
اخگر از حرص تو شد فحم سیاه ** حرص چون شد ماند آن فحم تباه
At that (former) time the coal appeared to be live; that was not (owing to) the goodness of (your) action: it was (owing to) the fire of greed.1125
آن زمان آن فحم اخگر می‌نمود ** آن نه حسن کار نار حرص بود
Greed had embellished your action: greed departed, and your action was left in squalor
حرص کارت را بیاراییده بود ** حرص رفت و ماند کار تو کبود
(Only) one who is foolish will think ripe (and sweet) the ghawla which the ghouls deck out (describe as being attractive).
غوله‌ای را که بر آرایید غول ** پخته پندارد کسی که هست گول
When his soul makes trial (of it), its teeth are blunted by the experiment.
آزمایش چون نماید جان او ** کند گردد ز آزمون دندان او
From vain desire, the reflexion (distorting influence) of the ghoul, (which is) greed, was causing the trap to appear a (delicious) berry, though in truth it was unripe.
از هوس آن دام دانه می‌نمود ** عکس غول حرص و آن خود خام بود
Seek greed (seek to be eager) in the practice of religion and in good works: they are (still) beautiful, (even) when the greed (eagerness) remains not.1130
حرص اندر کار دین و خیر جو ** چون نماند حرص باشد نغزرو