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.
تیغ بهر اوست کو را گردنیست ** سایه که افکندست بر وی زخم نیست
The sword is for him who has a (high and proud) neck; no blow falls on the shadow that is thrown (flat upon the ground).
مهتری نفطست و آتش ای غوی ** ای برادر چون بر آذر می‌روی2760
Eminence is naphtha and fire, O misguided one: O brother, how (why) art thou going into the fire?
هر چه او هموار باشد با زمین ** تیرها را کی هدف گردد ببین
How should anything that is level with the earth become a target for arrows? Consider!
سر بر آرد از زمین آنگاه او ** چون هدفها زخم یابد بی رفو
(But if) it raise its head from the earth, then, like targets, it will suffer blows irremediable.