O Thou whose harshness is better than the troth of the faithful, the honey (kindness) of the faithful is also from Thy bounty.”1525
ای جفاات به ز عهد وافیان ** هم ز داد تست شهد وافیان
Hearken to your own reason, O possessor of a granary, and commit your wheat to the earth of Allah,
بشنو از عقل خود ای انباردار ** گندم خود را به ارض الله سپار
That it may be safe from thieves and weevils. Kill the Devil with the wood-fretter (of reason) as quickly as possible;
تا شود آمن ز دزد و از شپش ** دیو را با دیوچه زوتر بکش
For he is always frightening you with (the threat of) poverty: make him your prey like a partridge, O valiant hawk.
کو همی ترساندت هم دم ز فقر ** هم‌چو کبکش صید کن ای نره صقر
It would be a shame for the falcon of the mighty and fortunate Sultan to be made a prey by the partridge.
باز سلطان عزیزی کامیار ** ننگ باشد که کند کبکش شکار
He (the father) gave many injunctions (to his sons) and sowed the seed of exhortation, (but) as their soil was nitrous (barren), ’twas of no avail.1530
بس وصیت کرد و تخم وعظ کاشت ** چون زمین‌شان شوره بد سودی نداشت
Although the admonisher have a hundred appeals, counsel demands a retentive ear.
گرچه ناصح را بود صد داعیه ** پند را اذنی بباید واعیه
You counsel him (the heedless man) with a hundred courtesies, and he turns aside from your counsel.
تو به صد تلطیف پندش می‌دهی ** او ز پندت می‌کند پهلو تهی
A single person who obstinately refuses to listen will baffle a hundred (eloquent) speakers.
یک کس نامستمع ز استیز و رد ** صد کس گوینده را عاجز کند
Who should be more persuasive in counselling and sweeter-tongued than the prophets, whose words made an impression (even) on stones?
ز انبیا ناصح‌تر و خوش لهجه‌تر ** کی بود کی گرفت دمشان در حجر