بعد یک‌دم زهر بر جانش فتد ** زهر در جانش کند داد و ستد
After one moment the poison falls on his spirit the poison exercises (complete) sway over his spirit.
گر نذاری زهری‌اش را اعتقاد ** کو چه زهر آمد نگر در قوم عاد2750
If you have not firm belief in its being poisonous (and do not know) what (a deadly) poison it is, look at the people of ‘Ád.
چونک شاهی دست یابد بر شهی ** بکشدش یا باز دارد در چهی
When one king gains the upper hand (prevails) over another. king, he kills him or confines him in a dungeon;
ور بیابد خسته‌ی افتاده را ** مرهمش سازد شه و بدهد عطا
But if he find a fallen wounded man, the king will make a plaster for him and bestow gifts on him.
گر نه زهرست آن تکبر پس چرا ** کشت شه را بی‌گناه و بی‌خطا
If that pride is not poison, then why did he kill the (vanquished) king without (his having committed any) crime or offence?
وین دگر را بی ز خدمت چون نواخت ** زین دو جنبش زهر را شاید شناخت
And how did he treat this other (helpless) man (so) kindly without (his having performed any) service? From these two actions you may recognise (the poisonous nature of) pride.
راه‌زن هرگز گدایی را نزد ** گرگ گرگ مرده را هرگز گزد2755
No highwayman ever attacked a beggar: does a wolf ever bite a dead wolf?
خضر کشتی را برای آن شکست ** تا تواند کشتی از فجار رست
Khizr made a breach in the boat in order that the boat might be saved from the wicked.
چون شکسته می‌رهد اشکسته شو ** امن در فقرست اندر فقر رو
Since the broken (contrite) one will be saved, be thou broken (contrite). Safety lies in poverty enter into poverty
آن کهی کو داشت از کان نقد چند ** گشت پاره پاره از زخم کلند
The mountain that possessed some cash in its mine was riven to pieces by the strokes of the pick-axe.