حزم آن باشد که ظن بد بری ** تا گریزی و شوی از بد بری

Prudence is this, that you think evil, so that you may flee and become quit of evil.

حزم س الظن گفتست آن رسول ** هر قدم را دام می‌دان ای فضول

The Prophet has said, “Prudence is (consists in) thinking evil”: know that for every footstep there is a snare, O fool!

روی صحرا هست هموار و فراخ ** هر قدم دامیست کم ران اوستاخ

The surface of the plateau is level and broad, (but at) every step there is a snare: do not advance boldly.

آن بز کوهی دود که دام کو ** چون بتازد دامش افتد در گلو 270

The mountain-goat runs on, saying, “Where is the snare?” As it speeds onward, the snare lights on its throat.

آنک می‌گفتی که کو اینک ببین ** دشت می‌دیدی نمی‌دیدی کمین

O thou who saidst “Where?” look and see! Thou sawest the plain, (but) thou didst not see the ambush.

بی کمین و دام و صیاد ای عیار ** دنبه کی باشد میان کشت‌زار

Without ambush and snare and hunter, O cunning one, how should there be a sheep's tail (laid in a trap) amidst the cornfield?

آنک گستاخ آمدند اندر زمین ** استخوان و کله‌هاشان را ببین

They that came along boldly on the earth—see their bones and skulls!

چون به گورستان روی ای مرتضا ** استخوانشان را بپرس از ما مضی

When you go to the graveyard, O you with whom God is pleased, ask their bones concerning that which is past,

تا بظاهر بینی آن مستان کور ** چون فرو رفتند در چاه غرور 275

That you may see clearly how those blind intoxicated men went down into the pit of delusion.

چشم اگر داری تو کورانه میا ** ور نداری چشم دست آور عصا

If you have eyes, do not walk blindly; and if you have not eyes, take a staff in your hand.