امنشان از عین خوف آمد پدید ** لاجرم باشند هر دم در مزید 4365
Safety appeared to them from the very midst of terror; consequently they are always in a state of increase (of safety).
امن دیدی گشته در خوفی خفی ** خوف بین هم در امیدی ای حفی
You have seen that safety is concealed in a (state of) fear (danger): O excellent man, observe also that fear (danger) is (lurking) in a (state of) hope.
آن امیر از مکر بر عیسی تند ** عیسی اندر خانه رو پنهان کند
A certain Amír cunningly shadows Jesus: Jesus hides himself in the house.
اندر آید تا شود او تاجدار ** خود ز شبه عیسی آید تاجدار
He (the Amír) enters in order that he may (seize him and) wear the crown (of sovereignty): because of his likeness to Jesus he himself becomes the crown of the gibbet.
هی می‌آویزید من عیسی نیم ** من امیرم بر جهودان خوش‌پیم
(He cries out), “Oh, do not hang me: I am not Jesus, I am the Amír, I am well-disposed to the Jews.”
زوترش بردار آویزید کو ** عیسی است از دست ما تخلیط‌جو 4370
“Hang him on the gibbet,” (cry the Jews), “with all speed, for he is Jesus: (he is) seeking to escape from our hands by personating another.”
چند لشکر می‌رود تا بر خورد ** برگ او فی گردد و بر سر خورد
How often does an army march (hoping) to enjoy the fruits (of victory): its equipment becomes spoil (for the enemy), and it is overthrown.
چند بازرگان رود بر بوی سود ** عید پندارد بسوزد همچو عود
How often does a merchant go (from home) in hope of gain: he thinks it will be a feast ('íd), but he is consumed like aloeswood ('úd).
چند در عالم بود برعکس این ** زهر پندارد بود آن انگبین
How often in the world does it happen contrariwise to this: (for example) one fancies (something to be bitter as) poison when it is (really sweet as) honey.
بس سپه بنهاده دل بر مرگ خویش ** روشنیها و ظفر آید به پیش
Often, (when) soldiers have made up their minds to die, the splendours (of triumph) and victory appear.