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
The words of a tale-bearer who speaks ill of you will cause your service (rendered) during (many) years to be wasted;
گفت غمازی که بد گوید ترا ** ضایع آرد خدمتت را سالها
(But) the words of tale-bearers do not take their abode in the presence of the King who is hearing and seeing.
پیش شاهی که سمیعست و بصیر ** گفت غمازان نباشد جای‌گیر
All the tale-bearers are reduced to despair by Him: they come to us and increase (our) bondage.
جمله غمازان ازو آیس شوند ** سوی ما آیند و افزایند پند
They speak much abuse of the King before us, saying, ‘Go! The Pen has dried (after writing your destiny). (Therefore) do not keep faith (with Him).’3150
بس جفا گویند شه را پیش ما ** که برو جف القلم کم کن وفا
How should the meaning of ‘the Pen has dried’ be (this), that acts of perfidy and acts of faithfulness are alike?
معنی جف القلم کی آن بود ** که جفاها با وفا یکسان بود
Nay, perfidy (in return) for acts of perfidy: the Pen has dried (on that); and faithfulness (in return) for those acts of faithfulness: the Pen has dried (on that).
بل جفا را هم جفا جف القلم ** وآن وفا را هم وفا جف القلم