Rumi's Masnavi - From the Messenger (Prophet) to whom the realities revealed themselves has come down (the saying), “A (great) penury is near being infidelity.”

From the Messenger (Prophet) to whom the realities revealed themselves has come down (the saying), “A (great) penury is near being infidelity.”

زان رسولی کش حقایق داد دست ** کاد فقر ان یکن کفر آمدست

The ass had been made prisoner by hunger: he said (to himself), “If it is a plot, (what then?). Suppose I am dead once and for all, 2820

گشته بود آن خر مجاعت را اسیر ** گفت اگر مکرست یک ره مرده گیر

At any rate I shall be delivered from this torment of hunger: if this is life, I am better dead.”

زین عذاب جوع باری وا رهم ** گر حیات اینست من مرده بهم

If at first the ass repented and swore (to keep his vow), in the end, because of his asininity, he made a (great) lapse.

گر خر اول توبه و سوگند خورد ** عاقبت هم از خری خبطی بکرد

Greed makes one blind and foolish and ignorant: to fools it makes death (seem) easy;

حرص کور و احمق و نادان کند ** مرگ را بر احمقان آسان کند

(But) death is not (really) easy to the souls of asses who do not possess the splendour of the everlasting soul.

نیست آسان مرگ بر جان خران ** که ندارند آب جان جاودان

Since he (the ass) does not possess the everlasting soul, he is damned: his boldness in (facing) death is the result of folly. 2825

چون ندارد جان جاوید او شقیست ** جرات او بر اجل از احمقیست

Endeavour that your soul may become immortal, so that on the day of death you will have a (goodly) store.

جهد کن تا جان مخلد گردد ** تا به روز مرگ برگی باشدت

Again, he (the ass) had no confidence in the Provider (to assure him) that He would scatter over him largesse from the Unseen.

اعتمادش نیز بر رازق نبود ** که بر افشاند برو از غیب جود

Until now, the (Divine) Bounty had not kept him without the daily provision, though at times He subjected his body to a (severe) hunger.

تاکنونش فضل بی‌روزی نداشت ** گرچه گه‌گه بر تنش جوعی گماشت