Rumi's Masnavi - The high God hath given the balance a tongue (which you must regulate): hark, recite the Súratu’ l-Rahmán (the Chapter of the Merciful) in the Qur’án.

The high God hath given the balance a tongue (which you must regulate): hark, recite the Súratu’ l-Rahmán (the Chapter of the Merciful) in the Qur’án. 1400

حق تعالی داد میزان را زبان ** هین ز قرآن سوره‌ی رحمن بخوان

Beware, do not in your greed let the balance go: cupidity and greed are enemies that lead you to perdition.

هین ز حرص خویش میزان را مهل ** آز و حرص آمد ترا خصم مضل

Greed craves all and loses all: do not serve greed, O ignoble son of the ignoble.

حرص جوید کل بر آید او ز کل ** حرص مپرست ای فجل ابن الفجل

The maid, whilst she went (on her errand), was saying (to herself), “Ah, mistress, thou hast sent away the expert.

آن کنیزک می‌شد و می‌گفت آه ** کردی ای خاتون تو استا را به راه

Thou wilt set to work without the expert and wilt foolishly hazard thy life.

کار بی‌استاد خواهی ساختن ** جاهلانه جان بخواهی باختن

O thou who hast stolen from me an imperfect knowledge, thou wert ashamed to ask about the trap.” 1405

ای ز من دزدیده علمی ناتمام ** ننگ آمد که بپرسی حال دام

(If) the bird had picked the grain from its stack, the (trap-) cord would not have fallen on its neck (and made it captive).

هم بچیدی دانه مرغ از خرمنش ** هم نیفتادی رسن در گردنش

Eat less of the grain, do not patch (the body) so much (with food): after having recited eat ye, recite (also) do not exceed,

دانه کمتر خور مکن چندین رفو ** چون کلوا خواندی بخوان لا تسرفوا

So that you may eat the grain and (yet) not fall into the trap. Knowledge and contentment effect this. And (now) farewell.

تا خوری دانه نیفتی تو به دام ** این کند علم و قناعت والسلام

The wise man gets happiness from the present life, not sorrow, (while) the ignorant are left in disappointment and regret.

نعمت از دنیا خورد عاقل نه غم ** جاهلان محروم مانده در ندم