تا عدمها ار ببینی جمله هست ** هستها را بنگری محسوس پست
That you may regard all (apparent) nonentities as (really) existent and look upon (all) entities, (so far as they are) perceived by the senses, as of low degree.
این ببین باری که هر کش عقل هست ** روز و شب در جست و جوی نیستست
At least consider this, that every one who possesses reason is daily and nightly in quest of the (relatively) non-existent.
در گدایی طالب جودی که نیست ** بر دکانها طالب سودی که نیست
In begging, he seeks a munificence that is not in being; in the shops he seeks a profit that is not in being.
در مزارع طالب دخلی که نیست ** در مغارس طالب نخلی که نیست
In the cornfields he seeks an income (crop) that is not in being; in the plantations he seeks a date-palm that is not in being.
در مدارس طالب علمی که نیست ** در صوامع طالب حلمی که نیست 1365
In the colleges he seeks a knowledge that is not in being; in the Christian monasteries he seeks a morality that is not in being.
هستها را سوی پس افکنده‌اند ** نیستها را طالبند و بنده‌اند
They (the intelligent) have thrown the (actually) existent things behind them and are seekers of, and devoted to, the (relatively) non-existent things,
زانک کان و مخزن صنع خدا ** نیست غیر نیستی در انجلا
Because the mine and treasury of God's doing is not other than non-existence in (process of) being brought into manifestation.
پیش ازین رمزی بگفتستیم ازین ** این و آن را تو یکی بین دو مبین
We have previously given some indication of this (matter): regard this (present discourse) and that (former discourse) as one, not as two.
گفته شد که هر صناعت‌گر که رست ** در صناعت جایگاه نیست جست
It was stated (formerly) that every craftsman who appeared (in the world) sought the abode of (relative) non-existence in (exercising) his craft.
جست بنا موضعی ناساخته ** گشته ویران سقفها انداخته 1370
The builder sought an unrepaired place that had become ruined and (where) the roofs (were) fallen in.