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ای بسا دولت که آید گاه گاه ** پیش بی‌دولت بگردد او ز راه
- Oh, many a fortune that comes now and then to the unfortunate one, and he turns away (from it)!
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ای بسا معشوق کاید ناشناخت ** پیش بدبختی نداند عشق باخت
- Oh, many a beloved who comes unbeknown to an ill-starred one, and he knows not how to make love!
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این غلط‌ده دیده را حرمان ماست ** وین مقلب قلب را س القضاست
- This that misleads the eye is our (original) damnation, and this that turns the heart (from seeing the truth) is (our) evil destiny.
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چون بت سنگین شما را قبله شد ** لعنت و کوری شما را ظله شد
- Since to you the idol of stone has become an object of adoration, the curse (of God) and blindness have o’ershadowed you.
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چون بشاید سنگتان انباز حق ** چون نشاید عقل و جان همراز حق 2765
- When your stone is a fitting partner for God, how are not intellect and spirit fitting confidants of God?
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پشه‌ی مرده هما را شد شریک ** چون نشاید زنده همراز ملیک
- The dead gnat has become the consort of the humá: how (then) is the living one not fit to be the confidant of the King?
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یا مگر مرده تراشیده‌ی شماست ** پشه‌ی زنده تراشیده‌ی خداست
- Or, maybe, (’tis because) the dead one is fashioned by you, (whereas) the living gnat is fashioned by God.
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عاشق خویشید و صنعت‌کرد خویش ** دم ماران را سر مارست کیش
- Ye are in love with yourselves and the thing manufactured by yourselves: to serpents' tails the serpent's head is a law.
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نه در آن دم دولتی و نعمتی ** نه در آن سر راحتی و لذتی
- In that tail there is no fortune or happiness; in that head there is no pleasure or delight.
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گرد سر گردان بود آن دم مار ** لایق‌اند و درخورند آن هر دو یار 2770
- That serpent's tail is circling around the head: both those friends are fit and suited (to each other).