این قلاوزی مکن از حرص جمع ** پس‌روی کن تا رود در پیش شمع
Do not act thus as a guide from (with the motive of) greed for amassing (wealth and power): follow behind, in order that the Candle (the true guide) may go in front (of thee).”
شمع مقصد را نماید هم‌چو ماه ** کین طرف دانه‌ست یا خود دامگاه
The Candle, like the moon, shows (clearly) the (traveller's) destination, and whether in this direction there is the grain (of spiritual welfare) or the place for the snare (of perdition).
گر بخواهی ور نخواهی با چراغ ** دیده گردد نقش باز و نقش زاغ
Whether thou wilt or not, (so long as thou art) with the Lantern the form of falcon and the form of crow become visible (to thee).
ورنه این زاغان دغل افروختند ** بانگ بازان سپید آموختند1700
Otherwise, (beware, for) these crows have lit (the lantern of) fraud: they have learned the cry of the white falcons.
بانگ هدهد گر بیاموزد فتی ** راز هدهد کو و پیغام سبا
If a man learn the cry of the hoopoe, (yet) where is the mystery of the hoopoe and the message from Sabá?
بانگ بر رسته ز بر بسته بدان ** تاج شاهان را ز تاج هدهدان
Know (distinguish) the natural cry from the artificial one, (know) the crown of kings from the crown (crest) of hoopoes.
حرف درویشان و نکته‌ی عارفان ** بسته‌اند این بی‌حیایان بر زبان
These shameless persons have attached to their tongues the speech of dervishes and the deep sayings of gnostics.
هر هلاک امت پیشین که بود ** زانک چندل را گمان بردند عود
Every destruction of an olden people that there was—(it was) because they deemed sandal-wood to be (common) wood.
بودشان تمییز کان مظهر کند ** لیک حرص و آز کور و کر کند1705
They had the discernment that should make that (difference) evident, but greed and cupidity make (men) blind and deaf.
کوری کوران ز رحمت دور نیست ** کوری حرص است که آن معذور نیست
The blindness of the (physically) blind is not far from (the Divine) mercy; ’tis the blindness of greed that is inexcusable.