A pious man, devout to the truth

Came across a golden brick

It dazzled his intelligent mind

That the thought darkened his bright heart

All night he pondered over this treasure and wealth

So that it would never perish while he lived

No longer did he want to bow in humility

Not needing to bend and straighten before anyone

I will build a house with a marble foundation

With trees of raw aloe for its roof

A special room for friends

Inside the room, a garden in the courtyard

I wore out stitching patch upon patch

The heat of the hearth burned my eyes and brain

Now subordinates will cook my meals

I will nurture my soul in comfort

This hard mattress killed my rest

Henceforth, I will spread luxurious rugs

His thoughts turned to fantasies and colorful dreams

A crab's claw grasped his brain

He had no peace for prayer and secrets

He had no time for food, sleep, remembrance, or prayer

He went into the desert, intoxicated with delusion

He could not find a place to rest

Someone was kneading mud over a grave

To make a brick for the grave from that mud

The old man pondered for a moment

Saying, 'O short-sighted soul, take heed'

Why do you bind your heart to this golden brick

When one day they will make a brick from your clay?

Greed does not have such a wide mouth

That a single morsel can close it

Stop, O lowly one, from this brick

For the Jeyhun River cannot be dammed with a single brick

You, heedless in thoughts of profit and wealth

Your life's capital is being trampled

The dust of the air has blinded your wisdom

The poison of desire has burned your life

Remove the kohl of heedlessness from your eyes

For tomorrow you will be kohl in the eye of the earth