بر نویس احوال پیر راهدان ** پیر را بگزین و عین راه دان‌‌

Write down what appertains to the Pír (Guide) who knows the Way:—Choose the Pír and regard him as the essence of the Way.

پیر تابستان و خلقان تیر ماه ** خلق مانند شب‌‌اند و پیر ماه‌‌

The Pír is (like) summer, and (other) people are (like) the autumn month; (other) people are like night, and the Pír is the moon.

کرده‌‌ام بخت جوان را نام پیر ** کاو ز حق پیر است نز ایام پیر 2940

I have bestowed on (my) young Fortune (Husámu’ddín) the name of Pír (old), because he is (made) old by the Truth, not (made) old by Time.

او چنان پیری است کش آغاز نیست ** با چنان در یتیم انباز نیست‌‌

So old is he that he hath no beginning: there is no rival to such a unique Pearl.

خود قوی‌‌تر می‌‌شود خمر کهن ** خاصه آن خمری که باشد من لدن‌‌

Verily, old wine grows more potent, especially the wine that is the presence of God.

پیر را بگزین که بی‌‌پیر این سفر ** هست بس پر آفت و خوف و خطر

Choose a Pír, for without a Pír this journey is exceeding full of woe and affright and danger.

آن رهی که بارها تو رفته‌‌ای ** بی‌‌قلاووز اندر آن آشفته‌‌ای‌‌

Without an escort you are bewildered (even) on a road you have travelled many times (before):

پس رهی را که ندیده ستی تو هیچ ** هین مرو تنها ز رهبر سر مپیچ‌‌ 2945

Do not, then, travel alone on a Way that you have not seen at all, do not turn your head away from the Guide.

گر نباشد سایه‌‌ی او بر تو گول ** پس ترا سر گشته دارد بانگ غول‌‌

Fool, if his shadow (protection) be not over you, then the cry of the ghoul will keep you (wandering about) with your head in a whirl.

غولت از ره افکند اندر گزند ** از تو داهی‌‌تر در این ره بس بدند

The ghoul will (entice you) from the Way (and) cast you into destruction: there have been in this Way many craftier than you (who have perished miserably).