Abandon this Necessitarianism, which is very empty (of good), in order that you may know what is the inmost secret of Necessity.
ترک کن این جبر را که بس تهیست ** تا بدانی سر سر جبر چیست
Abandon this Necessitarianism of the idle party, in order that you may gain knowledge of the Necessity that is (dear) as the soul.
ترک کن این جبر جمع منبلان ** تا خبر یابی از آن جبر چو جان
Abandon the state of being loved (by men) and adopt the practice of loving (God), O you who think that you are excellent and pre-eminent.
ترک معشوقی کن و کن عاشقی ** ای گمان برده که خوب و فایقی
O you who really are more silent than Night, how long will you seek a purchaser for your words?3190
ای که در معنی ز شب خامش‌تری ** گفت خود را چند جویی مشتری
They (your hearers) nod their heads in your presence for (the purpose of assenting to) you: your time is wasted in the passionate desire of (attracting) them.
سر بجنبانند پیشت بهر تو ** رفت در سودای ایشان دهر تو
You say to me, ‘Don't indulge in envy,’ (but) how should any one feel envy in consequence of losing naught?
تو مرا گویی حسد اندر مپیچ ** چه حسد آرد کسی از فوت هیچ
O impudent man, instruction given to the worthless is like drawing a little design on a clod of earth.
هست تعلیم خسان ای چشم‌شوخ ** هم‌چو نقش خرد کردن بر کلوخ
Instruct thyself in love (of God) and (spiritual) insight; for that is like a design (engraved) on a solid mass of stone.
خویش را تعلیم کن عشق و نظر ** که آن بود چون نقش فی جرم الحجر
Your own self is the (only) pupil that is (really) faithful to you: (all) the others perish: where will you seek them, where?3195
نفس تو با تست شاگرد وفا ** غیر فانی شد کجا جویی کجا
In order that you may make others erudite and eminent, you are making yourself evil-natured and empty (of true knowledge).
تا کنی مر غیر را حبر و سنی ** خویش را بدخو و خالی می‌کنی