هر که در ره بی قلاوزی رود ** هر دو روزه راه صدساله شود
If anybody goes on the way without a leader, every two days' journey becomes one of a hundred years.
هر که تازد سوی کعبه بی دلیل ** همچو این سرگشتگان گردد ذلیل
Whoever speeds towards the Ka‘ba without a guide becomes contemptible, like these bewildered men.
هر که گیرد پیشه‌ای بی‌اوستا ** ریش‌خندی شد بشهر و روستا590
Whoever takes up a trade (or profession) without (having) a teacher becomes a laughing-stock in town and country.
جز که نادر باشد اندر خافقین ** آدمی سر بر زند بی والدین
Except it be (a) singular (case), (in the whole world) between East and West does a descendant of Adam put forth his head (come to birth) without parents?
مال او یابد که کسبی می‌کند ** نادری باشد که بر گنجی زند
He gains wealth who earns something; ’tis an extraordinary event when one hits upon a (buried) treasure.
مصطفایی کو که جسمش جان بود ** تا که رحمن علم‌القرآن بود
Where is a Mustafá (Mohammed) whose body is spirit, so that the Merciful (God) should teach (him) the Qur’án?
اهل تن را جمله علم بالقلم ** واسطه افراشت در بذل کرم
For all those who are attached to the body He (God), in profusion of bounty, raised (the banner of) “He taught by the pen” as the means (of acquiring knowledge).
هر حریصی هست محروم ای پسر ** چون حریصان تگ مرو آهسته‌تر595
O son, every greedy person is deprived (of spiritual blessings): do not thou run like the greedy, (go) more slowly.
اندر آن ره رنجها دیدند و تاب ** چون عذاب مرغ خاکی در عذاب
On that journey they (the townsman's party) suffered pains and anguish like the torment of a land-bird in fresh water.
سیر گشته از ده و از روستا ** وز شکرریز چنان نا اوستا
They became sick of the village and the country and of the sugared expressions of such an uninstructed boor.
رسیدن خواجه و قومش به ده و نادیده و ناشناخته آوردن روستایی ایشان را
How the Khwája and his kinsfolk arrived at the village, and how the countryman pretended not to see or recognise them: