سعدها و نحسها دانسته‌ای ** ننگری سعدی تو یا ناشسته‌ای
Thou hast become acquainted with the fortunate and inauspicious stars; thou dost not look to see whether thou art fortunate or unwashed (spiritually foul and ill-favoured).
جان جمله علمها اینست این ** که بدانی من کیم در یوم دین
This, this, is the soul of all the sciences—that thou shouldst know who thou shalt be on the Day of Judgement.
آن اصول دین بدانستی ولیک ** بنگر اندر اصل خود گر هست نیک2655
Thou art acquainted with the fundamentals (usúl) of the (Mohammedan) Religion, but look upon thine own fundamental (asl) and see whether it is good.
از اصولینت اصول خویش به ** که بدانی اصل خود ای مرد مه
Thine own fundamentals are better for thee than the two fundamentals (of the Mohammedan Religion), so that thou mayst know thine own fundamental (essential nature), O great man.
صفت خرمی شهر اهل سبا و ناشکری ایشان
Description of the luxuriance of the city of the Sabaeans and their ingratitude.
اصلشان بد بود آن اهل سبا ** می‌رمیدندی ز اسباب لقا
Their fundamental (nature) was bad: those inhabitants of Sabá were recoiling from the means (which lead) to meeting (with God);
دادشان چندان ضیاع و باغ و راغ ** از چپ و از راست از بهر فراغ
(Yet) He gave them so many estates and orchards and meadowlands, on the left hand and the right, for (their) leisure (pastime and diversion).
بس که می‌افتاد از پری ثمار ** تنگ می‌شد معبر ره بر گذار
Inasmuch as the fruit was falling (to the ground) from abundance, there was no room for any one to pass on the road,
آن نثار میوه ره را می‌گرفت ** از پری میوه ره‌رو در شگفت2660
(For) the scattered largesse of fruit would block the way: the wayfarer (would be) in amazement at the plenty of the fruit.
سله بر سر در درختستانشان ** پر شدی ناخواست از میوه‌فشان
In their groves, through the dropping of the fruit, a basket on the head would be filled involuntarily.
باد آن میوه فشاندی نه کسی ** پر شدی زان میوه دامنها بسی
The breeze would scatter the fruit, not (the hand of) any one: by that fruit a multitude of skirts would be filled.