مرگ هر یک ای پسر همرنگ اوست ** پیش دشمن دشمن و بر دوست دوست
Every one's death is of the same quality as himself, my lad: to the enemy (of God) an enemy, and to the friend (of God) a friend.
پیش ترک آیینه را خوش رنگیست ** پیش زنگی آینه هم زنگیست3440
In the eyes of the Turcoman the mirror hath a fair colour; similarly in the eyes of the Ethiopian the mirror is (dark as) an Ethiopian.
آنک می‌ترسی ز مرگ اندر فرار ** آن ز خود ترسانی ای جان هوش دار
Your fear of death in fleeing (from it) is (really) your fear of yourself. Take heed, O (dear) soul!
روی زشت تست نه رخسار مرگ ** جان تو همچون درخت و مرگ برگ
’Tis your (own) ugly face, not the visage of Death: your spirit is like the tree, and death (is like) the leaf.
از تو رستست ار نکویست ار بدست ** ناخوش و خوش هر ضمیرت از خودست
It has grown from you, whether it is good or evil: every hidden thought of yours, foul or fair, is (born) from yourself.
گر بخاری خسته‌ای خود کشته‌ای ** ور حریر و قزدری خود رشته‌ای
If you are wounded by a thorn, you yourself have sown; and if you are (clad) in satin and silk, you yourself have spun.
دانک نبود فعل همرنگ جزا ** هیچ خدمت نیست همرنگ عطا3445
Know that the act is not of the same complexion as the requital: the service is nowise of the same complexion as the payment given (in return for it).
مزد مزدوران نمی‌ماند بکار ** کان عرض وین جوهرست و پایدار
The labourers' wage does not resemble the work, inasmuch as the latter is the accident, while the former is the substance and permanent.
آن همه سختی و زورست و عرق ** وین همه سیمست و زرست و طبق
The former is wholly hardship and effort and sweat, while the latter is wholly silver and gold and trays (of food).
گر ترا آید ز جایی تهمتی ** کرد مظلومت دعا در محنتی
If suspicion fall upon you from some quarter, (the reason is that) the person whom you wronged has invoked (God) against you in an affliction (which you have brought upon him).