لیک موسی را مقدم داشتند ** ساحران او را مکرم داشتند
Yet gave Moses the precedence—the magicians held him in honour—
ز آن که گفتندش که فرمان آن تست ** گر تو می‌‌خواهی عصا بفکن نخست
Because they said to him, “’Tis for thee to command: (if) thou wishest, do thou cast down thy rod first (of all).”
گفت نی اول شما ای ساحران ** افکنید آن مکرها را در میان
“Nay,” said he, “first do ye, O magicians, cast down those tricks (objects of enchantment) into the middle (where all can see them).”
این قدر تعظیم دینشان را خرید ** کز مری آن دست و پاهاشان برید
This amount of respect purchased their (belief in) (the true) religion, so that it (the true belief) cut off the hands and feet of their contention (prevented them from disputing further with Moses).
ساحران چون حق او بشناختند ** دست و پا در جرم آن درباختند1620
When the magicians acknowledged his (Moses') right, they sacrificed their hands and feet (as a penance) for the sin of that (contention).
لقمه و نکته ست کامل را حلال ** تو نه‌‌ای کامل مخور می‌‌باش لال
To the perfect man (every) mouthful (of food) and (every) saying is lawful. Thou art not perfect: do not eat, be mute,
چون تو گوشی او زبان نی جنس تو ** گوشها را حق بفرمود أنصتوا
Inasmuch as thou art an ear and he a tongue, not thy congener: God said to the ears, “Be silent.”
کودک اول چون بزاید شیر نوش ** مدتی خامش بود او جمله گوش
When the sucking babe is born, at first it keeps silence for a while, it is all ear.
مدتی می‌‌بایدش لب دوختن ** از سخن تا او سخن آموختن
For a while it must close its lips (and refrain) from speech, until it learns to speak;
ور نباشد گوش و تی‌‌تی می‌‌کند ** خویشتن را گنگ گیتی می‌‌کند1625
And if it is not (silent like) an ear but makes babbling sounds, it makes itself the dumbest creature in the world.