Another bird said to the hoopoe: “Tell me, thou who hast won renown, how I may attain contentment on this journey. If thou tell me, my distress will lessen, and I shall consent to be guided in this undertaking. For a man needs guidance on this distant journey, so that he may have no misgivings about the road he must travel. Since I will not accept the guidance of the invisible world, I reject, all the more, the false guidance of creatures.”
“As long as thou livest,” replied the hoopoe, “be content through remembrance of God, and beware of every indiscreet talker. If thy soul possesses this contentment, its cares and sorrows will vanish. Such, in both worlds, is the nature of contentment for mankind. It is by it that the vault of heaven is in motion. Abide in God in contentment; turn like the heavens, for love of Him. If thou knowest anything better, say so, O poor bird! that thou mayest be happy, at least for a moment.”
“As long as thou livest,” replied the hoopoe, “be content through remembrance of God, and beware of every indiscreet talker. If thy soul possesses this contentment, its cares and sorrows will vanish. Such, in both worlds, is the nature of contentment for mankind. It is by it that the vault of heaven is in motion. Abide in God in contentment; turn like the heavens, for love of Him. If thou knowest anything better, say so, O poor bird! that thou mayest be happy, at least for a moment.”