Contrive that you may become the meanest slave (of God): if you enter into (the state of) meanness (self-abasement), you will become lordly.
مکر کن تا کمترین بنده شوی ** در کمی رفتی خداونده شوی
Never, O old wolf, practise foxiness and perform service with the purpose of (gaining) lordship;
روبهی و خدمت ای گرگ کهن ** هیچ بر قصد خداوندی مکن
But rush into the fire like a moth: do not hoard up that (service), play for love!
لیک چون پروانه در آتش بتاز ** کیسه‌ای زان بر مدوز و پاک باز
Renounce power and adopt piteous supplication: (the Divine) mercy comes towards piteous supplication, O dervish.
زور را بگذار و زاری را بگیر ** رحم سوی زاری آید ای فقیر
The piteous supplication of one sorely distressed and athirst is real; the piteous (but) cold supplication of falsehood is proper to the miscreant.475
زاری مضطر تشنه معنویست ** زاری سرد دروغ آن غویست
The weeping of Joseph's brethren is a trick, for their hearts are full of envy and infirmity.
گریه‌ی اخوان یوسف حیلتست ** که درونشان پر ز رشک و علتست
Story of the Arab of the desert whose dog was dying of hunger, while his wallet was full of bread; he was lamenting over the dog and reciting poetry and sobbing and beating his head and face; and yet he grudged the dog a morsel from his wallet.
حکایت آن اعرابی کی سگ او از گرسنگی می‌مرد و انبان او پر نان و بر سگ نوحه می‌کرد و شعر می‌گفت و می‌گریست و سر و رو می‌زد و دریغش می‌آمد لقمه‌ای از انبان به سگ دادن
The dog was dying, and the Arab sobbing, shedding tears, and crying, “Oh, sorrow!”
آن سگی می‌مرد و گریان آن عرب ** اشک می‌بارید و می‌گفت ای کرب
A beggar passed by and asked, “What is this sobbing? For whom is thy mourning and lamentation?”
سایلی بگذشت و گفت این گریه چیست ** نوحه و زاری تو از بهر کیست
He replied, “There was in my possession a dog of excellent disposition. Look, he is dying on the road.
گفت در ملکم سگی بد نیک‌خو ** نک همی‌میرد میان راه او
He hunted for me by day and kept watch by night; (he was) keen-eyed and (good at) catching the prey and driving off thieves.”480
روز صیادم بد و شب پاسبان ** تیزچشم و صیدگیر و دزدران