Saying, ‘The affair has gone out of My hands: do not approach Me so often, do not entreat (Me) so much’?
که ز دست من برون رفتست کار ** پیش من چندین میا چندین مزار
Nay, the meaning is: ‘the Pen has dried (on this that) justice and injustice are not equal in My sight.
بلک معنی آن بود جف القلم ** نیست یکسان پیش من عدل و ستم
I have laid down a distinction between good and evil; I have also laid down a distinction between the bad and the worse.’
فرق بنهادم میان خیر و شر ** فرق بنهادم ز بد هم از بتر
If there be in you a single mote of self-discipline in excess of (that of) your companion, the grace of God will know,3140
ذره‌ای گر در تو افزونی ادب ** باشد از یارت بداند فضل رب
And will bestow on you that mote's amount of superiority: the mote will step forth as (big as) a mountain (to meet you).
قدر آن ذره ترا افزون دهد ** ذره چون کوهی قدم بیرون نهد
A king before whose throne there is no distinction between the faithful (friend) and the seeker of iniquity—
پادشاهی که به پیش تخت او ** فرق نبود از امین و ظلم‌جو
Between him who trembles in fear of his (the king's) disapproval and him who intrigues against his fortune (empire)—
آنک می‌لرزد ز بیم رد او ** وانک طعنه می‌زند در جد او
(So that) there is no difference, but both of them are one to him: he is not a king, may dark earth be on his head!
فرق نبود هر دو یک باشد برش ** شاه نبود خاک تیره بر سرش
If your (devotional) labour exceed (that of another) by a single mote, it (that mote) will be weighed in God's balance.3145
ذره‌ای گر جهد تو افزون بود ** در ترازوی خدا موزون بود
You continually work yourself to death in the service of these (worldly) kings, (yet) they are ignorant of (the difference between) treachery and honesty.
پیش این شاهان هماره جان کنی ** بی‌خبر ایشان ز غدر و روشنی