The only lasting colour is the dye of Allah: know that all the rest are tied (stuck) on (superficially) like a bell.
رنگ باقی صبغة الله است و بس ** غیر آن بر بسته دان هم‌چون جرس
The colour of sincerity and the colour of piety and intuitive faith will endure in the (devout) worshippers for evermore;
رنگ صدق و رنگ تقوی و یقین ** تا ابد باقی بود بر عابدین
And the colour of doubt and the colour of ingratitude and hypocrisy will endure in the undutiful soul for evermore;
رنگ شک و رنگ کفران و نفاق ** تا ابد باقی بود بر جان عاق
Like wicked Pharaoh's blackness of face, the colour whereof is enduring, though his body passes away.
چون سیه‌رویی فرعون دغا ** رنگ آن باقی و جسم او فنا
(And so with) the radiance and glory in the beauteous faces of the sincere (believers): their bodies pass away, but that remains till the Day of Judgement.4715
برق و فر روی خوب صادقین ** تن فنا شد وان به جا تو یومن دین
The only ugly one is that (eternally) ugly one; the only beautiful one is that (eternally) beautiful one: this one is always laughing and that one scowling.
زشت آن زشتست و خوب آن خوب و بس ** دایم آن ضحاک و این اندر عبس
He (God) gives to earth a certain colour and variety and value, and causes childish folk to wrangle over it.
خاک را رنگ و فن و سنگی دهد ** طفل‌خویان را بر آن جنگی دهد
(When) a piece of dough is baked in the shape of a camel or lion, (these) children bite their fingers (excitedly) in their greed for it.
از خمیری اشتر وشیری پزند ** کودکان از حرص آن کف می‌گزند
The lion or camel turns to bread in the mouth, but it is futile to tell this to children.
شیر و اشتر نان شود اندر دهان ** در نگیرد این سخن با کودکان
The child is in a (state of) ignorance and fancy and doubt: at any rate, thank God, his strength is (but) little.4720
کودک اندر جهل و پندار و شکیست ** شکر باری قوت او اندکیست