Although thou hast no equipment, do thou be ever seeking: equipment is not necessary on the Way of the Lord.1445
گرچه آلت نیستت تو می‌طلب ** نیست آلت حاجت اندر راه رب
Whomsoever thou seest engaged in search, O son, become his friend and cast thy head before him,
هر که را بینی طلب‌کار ای پسر ** یار او شو پیش او انداز سر
For through being the neighbour of the seekers thou (thyself) wilt become a seeker, and from the shadows (protection) of the conquerors thou (thyself) wilt become a conqueror.
If an ant has sought (to attain) the rank of Solomon, do not look languidly (contemptuously) on its quest.
گر یکی موری سلیمانی بجست ** منگر اندر جستن او سست سست
Everything that thou hast of wealth and (skill in) a handicraft (or profession)— was it not at first a quest and a thought?
هرچه داری تو ز مال و پیشه‌ای ** نه طلب بود اول و اندیشه‌ای
Story of the person who in the time of David, on whom be peace, used to pray night and day, crying, “Give me a lawful livelihood without trouble (on my part).”
حکایت آن شخص کی در عهد داود شب و روز دعا می‌کرد کی مرا روزی حلال ده بی رنج
In the time of the prophet David a certain man, beside every sage and before every simpleton,1450
آن یکی در عهد داوود نبی ** نزد هر دانا و پیش هر غبی
Used always to utter this prayer: “O God, bestow on me riches without trouble!
این دعا می‌کرد دایم کای خدا ** ثروتی بی رنج روزی کن مرا
Since Thou hast created me a lazybones, a receiver of blows, a slow mover, a sluggard,
چون مرا تو آفریدی کاهلی ** زخم‌خواری سست‌جنبی منبلی
One cannot place on sore-backed luckless asses the load carried by horses and mules.
بر خران پشت‌ریش بی‌مراد ** بار اسپان و استران نتوان نهاد
Inasmuch as Thou, O perfect One, hast created me lazy, do Thou accordingly give me the daily bread by the way of laziness.
کاهلم چون آفریدی ای ملی ** روزیم ده هم ز راه کاهلی