Were it not for the sweetness of a kernel's voice, who would listen to the rattling voice of a walnut-shell?
گرنه خوش‌آوازی مغزی بود ** ژغژغ آواز قشری کی شنود
You endure the rattling of it (only) in order that you may silently come into touch with a kernel.
ژغژغ آن زان تحمل می‌کنی ** تا که خاموشانه بر مغزی زنی
Be without lip and without ear for a while, and then, like the lip, be the companion of honey.
چند گاهی بی‌لب و بی‌گوش شو ** وانگهان چون لب حریف نوش شو
How long have you been uttering poetry and prose and (proclaiming) mysteries! O master, try the experiment and, for one day, be dumb!
چند گفتی نظم و نثر و راز فاش ** خواجه یک روز امتحان کن گنگ باش
Story in confirmation of the saying, “We have tried speech and talk all this time: (now) for a while let us. try self-restraint and silence.”
حکایت در تقریر این سخن کی چندین گاه گفت ذکر را آزمودیم مدتی صبر و خاموشی را بیازماییم
How long have you been cooking (things) sour and acid and (like the fruit of) the white tamarisk? For this one time make an experiment and cook sweets.2150
چند پختی تلخ و تیز و شورگز ** این یکی بار امتحان شیرین بپز
On waking at the Resurrection, there is put into the hands of a (wicked) man the scroll of his sins: (it will be) black,
آن یکی را در قیامت ز انتباه ** در کف آید نامه‌ی عصیان سیاه
Headed with black, as letters of mourning; the body and margin of the scroll completely filled with (his) sins—
سرسیه چون نامه‌های تعزیه ** پر معاصی متن نامه و حاشیه
The whole (of it) wickedness and sin from end to end, full of infidelity, like the land of war.
جمله فسق و معصیت بد یک سری ** هم‌چو دارالحرب پر از کافری
Such a foul and noxious scroll does not come into the right hand; it comes into the left hand.
آنچنان نامه‌ی پلید پر وبال ** در یمین ناید درآید در شمال
Here also (in this world) regard your scroll (the record of your actions), (and consider) whether it fits the left hand or the right.2155
خود همین‌جا نامه‌ی خود را ببین ** دست چپ را شاید آن یا در یمین
In the (bootmaker's) shop, can you know before trying (them) on that the left boot or shoe belongs to the left (foot)?
موزه‌ی چپ کفش چپ هم در دکان ** آن چپ دانیش پیش از امتحان
When you are not “right,” know that you are “left”; the cries of a lion and an ape are distinct (from one another).
چون نباشی راست می‌دان که چپی ** هست پیدا نعره‌ی شیر و کپی
He (God) who makes the rose lovely and sweet-scented—His bounty makes every “left” to be “right.”
آنک گل را شاهد و خوش‌بو کند ** هر چپی را راست فضل او کند
He bestows “rightness” on every one belonging to the “left” He bestows a(fresh) running water on the (salt) sea.
هر شمالی را یمینی او دهد ** بحر را ماء معینی او دهد
If you are “left,” be “right” (in perfect harmony) with His Lordship, that you may see His mercies prevail (over His wrath).2160
گر چپی با حضرت او راست باش ** تا ببینی دست‌برد لطفهاش
Do you think it allowable that this vile scroll (of yours) should pass from the left hand and come into the right?
تو روا داری که این نامه‌ی مهین ** بگذرد از چپ در آید در یمین
How indeed should a scroll like this, which is full of iniquity and injury, be fit (to place) in the right hand?
این چنین نامه که پرظلم و جفاست ** کی بود خود درخور اندر دست راست
Explaining the case of a person who makes a statement when his behaviour is not consistent with that statement and profession, like the infidels (of whom God hath said): “and if thou ask them who created the heavens and the earth they will surely say, ‘Allah.’” How is the worship of a stone idol and the sacrifice of life and wealth for its sake appropriate to a soul which knows that the creator of heaven and earth and (all) created beings is a God, all-hearing, all-seeing, omnipresent, all-observing, all dominating, jealous, etc.?
در بیان کسی کی سخنی گوید کی حال او مناسب آن سخن و آن دعوی نباشد چنان که کفره و لن سالتهم من خلق السموات والارض لیقولن الله خدمت بت سنگین کردن و جان و زر فدای او کردن چه مناسب باشد با جانی کی داند کی خالق سموات و ارض و خلایق الهیست سمیعی بصیری حاضری مراقبی مستولی غیوری الی آخره
A certain ascetic had a very jealous wife: he also had a maid-servant (beautiful) as a houri.
زاهدی را یک زنی بد بس غیور ** هم بد او را یک کنیزک هم‌چو حور
The wife used to watch her husband jealously and not let him be alone with the maid.