He took the sickle and was cutting that (crop); then a voice from the Unseen reached his ear,
داس بگرفت و مر آن را می‌برید ** پس ندا از غیب در گوشش رسید
Crying, “Why dost thou sow and tend some seed-corn and (now) art cutting it when it has attained to perfection?”
که چرا کشتی کنی و پروری ** چون کمالی یافت آن را می‌بری
He replied, “O Lord, I destroy and lay it low because straw is here and (also) grain.3020
گفت یا رب زان کنم ویران و پست ** که درینجا دانه هست و کاه هست
The grain is not suitable (to be stored) in the straw-barn; the straw likewise is bad (for putting) in the corn-barn.
دانه لایق نیست درانبار کاه ** کاه در انبار گندم هم تباه
’Tis not wisdom to mix these twain: it (wisdom) makes necessary the separation (of them) in winnowing.”
نیست حکمت این دو را آمیختن ** فرق واجب می‌کند در بیختن
He (God) said, “From whom didst thou gain this knowledge, so that by means of the knowledge thou didst construct a threshing-floor?”
گفت این دانش تو از کی یافتی ** که به دانش بیدری بر ساختی
He replied, “Thou, O God, gavest me discernment.” He (God) said, “Then how should I not have discernment?”
گفت تمییزم تو دادی ای خدا ** گفت پس تمییز چون نبود مرا
Amongst the created beings are pure spirits; there are (also) spirits dark and muddy.3025
در خلایق روحهای پاک هست ** روحهای تیره‌ی گلناک هست
These shells are not in one grade: in one (of them) is the pearl and in another the (worthless) bead.
این صدفها نیست در یک مرتبه ** در یکی درست و در دیگر شبه
It is necessary to make manifest (the difference between) this good and evil, just as (it is necessary) to make manifest (distinguish) the wheat from the straw.
واجبست اظهار این نیک و تباه ** هم‌چنانک اظهار گندمها ز کاه