Hafez · Ghazal 159 · The Sufi's coin
نقد صوفی نه همه صافی بی‌غش باشدای بسا خرقه که مستوجب آتش باشد
صوفی ما که ز ورد سحری مست شدیشامگاهش نگران باش که سرخوش باشد
خوش بود گر محک تجربه آید به میانتا سیه‌روی شود هر که در او غش باشد
خط ساقی گر از این گونه زند نقش بر آبای بسا رخ که به خونآبه منقش باشد
ناز‌پرورد تنعم نبرد راه به دوستعاشقی شیوه رندان بلاکش باشد
غم دنیای دنی چند خوری؟ باده بخورحیف باشد دل دانا که مشوش باشد
دلق و سجاده حافظ ببرد باده‌فروشگر شرابش ز کف ساقی مه‌وش باشد
Not every coin is pure, Hafez says, and not every pious cloak is what it seems. Let experience be your touchstone: in time, what is genuine shows itself, and what is false loses its shine. He reminds you, too, that love belongs to those willing to bear some hardship, not to those who want only comfort. Then comes the kindest counsel of all: how long will you grieve over the passing world? A wise heart should not stay troubled. Set down the worry and take up what gladdens you.
The Sufi's coin is not always pure and without alloy;
many a cloak deserves the fire.
Our Sufi, who grew drunk on his dawn litany,
look at him at evening, and you will find him merry.
It would be good if the touchstone of experience were brought out,
so that whoever has alloy in him would be put to shame.
If the saqi's down draws its pictures on water like this,
many a face will be painted with tears of blood.
One raised in comfort and luxury will not find the way to the Friend;
loving is the way of the rends who bear trials.
How long will you grieve over this base world? Drink wine;
it is a pity for a wise heart to be troubled.
The wine-seller may take Hafez's cloak and prayer-mat,
if his wine comes from the hand of a moon-like saqi.