(But) since a world (multitude of people) is seeking (to raise) doubt and difficulty, we will let the discourse run beyond the skin.
چون جهانی شبهت و اشکال‌جوست ** حرف می‌رانیم ما بیرون پوست
If you break your (material) self, you will become a kernel and will hear the tale of a goodly kernel.
گر تو خود را بشکنی مغزی شوی ** داستان مغز نغزی بشنوی
The voices of walnuts are in their skins (shells): where, indeed, is any voice in the kernel and the oil?
جوز را در پوستها آوازهاست ** مغز و روغن را خود آوازی کجاست
It (the kernel) has a voice, (but one that is) not suited to the (bodily) ear: its voice is hidden in the ear of ecstasy.2145
دارد آوازی نه اندر خورد گوش ** هست آوازش نهان در گوش نوش
Were it not for the sweetness of a kernel's voice, who would listen to the rattling voice of a walnut-shell?
گرنه خوش‌آوازی مغزی بود ** ژغژغ آواز قشری کی شنود
You endure the rattling of it (only) in order that you may silently come into touch with a kernel.
ژغژغ آن زان تحمل می‌کنی ** تا که خاموشانه بر مغزی زنی
Be without lip and without ear for a while, and then, like the lip, be the companion of honey.
چند گاهی بی‌لب و بی‌گوش شو ** وانگهان چون لب حریف نوش شو
How long have you been uttering poetry and prose and (proclaiming) mysteries! O master, try the experiment and, for one day, be dumb!
چند گفتی نظم و نثر و راز فاش ** خواجه یک روز امتحان کن گنگ باش
Story in confirmation of the saying, “We have tried speech and talk all this time: (now) for a while let us. try self-restraint and silence.”
حکایت در تقریر این سخن کی چندین گاه گفت ذکر را آزمودیم مدتی صبر و خاموشی را بیازماییم
How long have you been cooking (things) sour and acid and (like the fruit of) the white tamarisk? For this one time make an experiment and cook sweets.2150
چند پختی تلخ و تیز و شورگز ** این یکی بار امتحان شیرین بپز
On waking at the Resurrection, there is put into the hands of a (wicked) man the scroll of his sins: (it will be) black,
آن یکی را در قیامت ز انتباه ** در کف آید نامه‌ی عصیان سیاه