این تفاوت عقلها را نیک دان ** در مراتب از زمین تا آسمان
Know well that intelligences differ thus in degree from the earth to the sky.
هست عقلی هم‌چو قرص آفتاب ** هست عقلی کمتر از زهره و شهاب 460
There is an intelligence like the orb of the sun; there is an intelligence inferior to (the planet) Venus and the meteor.
هست عقلی چون چراغی سرخوشی ** هست عقلی چون ستاره‌ی آتشی
There is an intelligence like a tipsy (flickering) lamp; there is an intelligence like a star of fire,
زانک ابر از پیش آن چون وا جهد ** نور یزدان‌بین خردها بر دهد
Because, when the cloud is removed from it, it produces intellects that behold the Light of God.
عقل جزوی عقل را بدنام کرد ** کام دنیا مرد را بی‌کام کرد
The particular intelligence has given the (universal) intelligence a bad name: worldly desire has deprived the (worldly) man of his desire (in the world hereafter).
آن ز صیدی حسن صیادی بدید ** وین ز صیادی غم صیدی کشید
That (universal intelligence), through being a prey (to God), beheld the beauty of the (Divine) Hunting, while this (particular intelligence), through being a hunter (of worldly goods), suffered the pain of being a prey (to perdition).
آن ز خدمت ناز مخدومی بیافت ** وآن ز مخدومی ز راه عز بتافت 465
The former, through service, gained the pride of lordship, while the latter, through lordship, turned from the path of glory.
آن ز فرعونی اسیر آب شد ** وز اسیری سبط صد سهراب شد
The latter, through being a Pharaoh, was taken captive by the water (of perdition), while the Israelites, through captivity, became (mighty as) a hundred Suhrábs.
لعب معکوسست و فرزین‌بند سخت ** حیله کم کن کار اقبالست و بخت
’Tis a topsy-turvy game and a terrible quandary; do not try (to escape by) cunning: ’tis (all) a matter of (Divine) favour and fortune.
بر حیال و حیله کم تن تار را ** که غنی ره کم دهد مکار را
Do not weave plots in vain imagination and cunning; for the Self-sufficient One does not give way to the contriver.