بشنوم یا من دهم هم خدعه‌اش ** تا بداند اصل را آن فرع‌کش

Shall I hearken (to him) or shall I too give him deceit (in return), in order that that puller of the branch may recognise the root?

که اصل هر مکری و حیلت پیش ماست ** هر چه بر خاکست اصلش از سماست

For the root (origin) of every cunning and contrivance is with use: whatsoever is on the earth, its root (origin) is from Heaven.”

گفت حق آن سگ نیرزد هم به آن ** پیش سگ انداز از دور استخوان

God said (to Moses), “That cur (Pharaoh) is not worth even that: fling a bone to the cur from a distance.

هین بجنبان آن عصا تا خاکها ** وا دهد هرچه ملخ کردش فنا

Hark, shake the rod, so that the sods may give back whatever the locusts have destroyed,

وان ملخها در زمان گردد سیاه ** تا ببیند خلق تبدیل اله 3600

And let the locusts immediately become black, that the people may behold the transformation wrought by God;

که سببها نیست حاجت مر مرا ** آن سبب بهر حجابست و غطا

For I have no need of means: those means are (only) for the purpose of (serving as) a screen and covering,

تا طبیعی خویش بر دارو زند ** تا منجم رو با ستاره کند

To the end that the natural philosopher may attach himself to the drug; and that the astronomer may turn his face to the star;

تا منافق از حریصی بامداد ** سوی بازار آید از بیم کساد

And that the hypocrite, from greed, may come to market at daybreak for fear of (finding) no demand for his wares,

بندگی ناکرده و ناشسته روی ** لقمه‌ی دوزخ بگشته لقمه‌جوی

Without having performed his devotions or washed his face (whilst) seeking morsels (for himself) he has become a morsel for Hell.”

آکل و ماکول آمد جان عام ** هم‌چو آن بره‌ی چرنده از حطام 3605

The spirit of the vulgar is devouring and being devoured, like the lamb that feeds on hay.