Ghazal 151: The whole world is not worth one moment spent in grief

دمی با غم به سر بردن، جهان یک سر نمی‌ارزد
به می بفروش دلق ما، کز این بهتر نمی‌ارزد

به کوی می فروشانش، به جامی بر نمی‌گیرند
زهی سجادهٔ تقوا که یک ساغر نمی‌ارزد

رقیبم سرزنش‌ها کرد کز این باب رخ برتاب
چه افتاد این سر ما را که خاک در نمی‌ارزد؟

شکوه تاج سلطانی که بیم جان در او درج است
کلاهی دلکش است اما به ترک سر نمی‌ارزد

چه آسان می‌نمود اول غم دریا به بوی سود
غلط کردم که این طوفان به صد گوهر نمی‌ارزد

تو را آن به که روی خود ز مشتاقان بپوشانی
که شادی جهانگیری، غم لشکر نمی‌ارزد

چو حافظ در قناعت کوش و از دنیای دون بگذر
که یک جو منت دونان دو صد من زر نمی‌ارزد

The whole world is not worth one moment spent in grief;
sell our cloak for wine, for it is worth nothing better.

In the wine sellers' street they will not take it for a single cup;
what a prayer mat of piety, that is not worth one goblet!

The watcher reproached me: turn your face from this door.
What has befallen this head of ours, that it is not worth the dust of a door?

The splendour of a sultan's crown, with fear for one's life set in it,
is an attractive cap, but not worth the loss of one's head.

How easy the trouble of the sea seemed at first, in hope of profit;
I was wrong, for this storm is not worth a hundred pearls.

Better for you to hide your face from those who long for it,
for the joy of conquering the world is not worth the grief of the army.

Like Hafez, strive for contentment and pass by the base world,
for one grain of obligation to the mean is not worth two hundred weights of gold.

Interpretation of the fal

Nothing in the world is worth a moment of grief. Rank and wealth that come with fear and danger are not worth having. An undertaking that looked easy and profitable at first has turned out to be risky; withdraw before the loss grows. Be content with what you have, and do not put yourself under obligation to small-minded people.