Hide your work from your own eyes, that your work may be safe from the evil eye.
کار پنهان کن تو از چشمان خود ** تا بود کارت سلیم از چشم بد
Yield yourself up to the snare of the (Divine) reward, and then, (being) beside yourself, steal something from yourself.
خویش را تسلیم کن بر دام مزد ** و انگه از خود بیز خود چیزی بدزد
They give opium to the wounded man, in order that they may extract the point (of a spear or arrow) from his body.
میدهند افیون به مرد زخممند ** تا که پیکان از تنش بیرون کنند
At the hour of death he is torn with pain; he becomes preoccupied with that, and (meanwhile) his spirit (life) is taken away.
وقت مرگ از رنج او را میدرند ** او بدان مشغول شد جان میبرند
Inasmuch as, to whatsoever thought you give up your mind, something will secretly be taken away from you,1505
چون به هر فکری که دل خواهی سپرد ** از تو چیزی در نهان خواهند برد
Whatsoever acquisition you may make, O solicitous one, the thief will enter from the side where you feel safe,
هر چه اندیشی و تحصیلی کنی ** میدرآید دزد از آن سو کایمنی
Become occupied, therefore, with that which is better, in order that the thief may take away from you something that is less (in worth).
پس بدان مشغول شود کان بهترست ** تا ز تو چیزی برد کان کهترست
When the trader's bales fall into the water, he lays his hands upon the better merchandise.
بار بازرگان چو در آب اوفتد ** دست اندر کالهی بهتر زند
Since something will (certainly) be lost in the water, take leave of the less (worse) and gain (possession of) the better.
چون که چیزی فوت خواهد شد در آب ** ترک کمتر گوی و بهتر را بیاب
How the excellence and sagacity of Luqmán became manifest to those who made trial (of him).
ظاهر شدن فضل و زیرکی لقمان پیش امتحان کنندگان
Whatever food they brought to him (Luqmán's master), he would send some one to Luqmán after (receiving it),1510
هر طعامی کاوریدندی به وی ** کس سوی لقمان فرستادی ز پی
That Luqmán might put his hand to (partake of) it, on purpose that the master might eat his (Luqmán's) leavings.
تا که لقمان دست سوی آن برد ** قاصدا تا خواجه پس خوردش خورد
He would eat his remnants and be enraptured: any food that he (Luqmán) did not taste, he (the master) would throw away;
سور او خوردی و شور انگیختی ** هر طعامی کاو نخوردی ریختی
Or if he ate (of it), (’twould be) without heart and without appetite: this is (the sign of) an affinity without end.
ور بخوردی بیدل و بیاشتها ** این بود پیوندی بیانتها
They had brought a melon as a present. “Go, my son” said he, “and call Luqmán.”
خربزه آورده بودند ارمغان ** گفت رو فرزند لقمان را بخوان
When he cut it and gave him a slice, he ate it as if it were sugar and honey.1515
چون برید و داد او را یک برین ** همچو شکر خوردش و چون انگبین
On account of the pleasure with which he ate (it), he gave him a second (slice), (and went on) till the slices (given him) reached the seventeenth.
از خوشی که خورد داد او را دوم ** تا رسید آن گرچها تا هفدهم
One slice remained. He said, “I will eat this (myself), so that I may see what a sweet melon this is.
ماند گرچی گفت این را من خورم ** تا چه شیرین خربزه ست این بنگرم
He (Luqmán) eats it with such pleasure that from his delight (all) natures have become eager and craving the morsel.”
او چنین خوش میخورد کز ذوق او ** طبعها شد مشتهی و لقمه جو
As soon as he (the master) ate it, by its sourness there was kindled fire (which) blistered his tongue and burnt his throat.
چون بخورد از تلخیش آتش فروخت ** هم زبان کرد آبله هم حلق سوخت
He became beside himself for a while on account of its sourness; after that, he said to him, “O (you who are) soul and world,1520
ساعتی بیخود شد از تلخی آن ** بعد از آن گفتش که ای جان و جهان
How did you make all this poison an antidote? How did you deem this cruelty to be kindness?
نوش چون کردی تو چندین زهر را ** لطف چون انگاشتی این قهر را
What patience is this? For what reason is this great fortitude? Or, perchance, in your opinion this life of yours is an enemy (which you would fain destroy).
این چه صبر است این صبوری از چه روست ** یا مگر پیش تو این جانت عدوست
Why did not you cunningly bring (forward) a plea, saying, ‘I have an excuse (for declining to eat): desist for a while’.”
چون نیاوردی به حیلت حجتی ** که مرا عذری است بس کن ساعتی
Luqmán said, “From thy munificent hand I have eaten so much that I am (bent) double with shame.
گفت من از دست نعمت بخش تو ** خوردهام چندان که از شرمم دو تو
I was ashamed not to eat one bitter thing from thy hand, O thou who art possessed of knowledge.1525
شرمم آمد که یکی تلخ از کفت ** من ننوشم ای تو صاحب معرفت