تو بسی کردی به دعوت لطف و جود ** آن خران را طالع و روزی نبود

Much kindness and favour didst thou show in calling them (to God), (but) ’twas not the fortune and provision allotted to those asses.

پس فرو پوشان لحاف نعمتی ** تا بردشان زود خواب غفلتی

Therefore let the quilt of bounty cover them, that the slumber of forgetfulness may overtake them speedily,

تا چو بجهند از چنین خواب این رده ** شمع مرده باشد و ساقی شده

So that, when this troop (of asses) shall start up from suchlike slumber, the candle will have been extinguished and the cup-bearer will have gone.

داشت طغیانشان ترا در حیرتی ** پس بنوشند از جزا هم حسرتی 3675

Their rebellious disobedience kept thee in a (great) perplexity: therefore they shall suffer in retribution a (great) sorrow,

تا که عدل ما قدم بیرون نهد ** در جزا هر زشت را درخور دهد

To the end that Our justice may step forth and bestow in retribution what is appropriate to every evil-doer;

که آن شهی که می‌ندیدندیش فاش ** بود با ایشان نهان اندر معاش

For the King, whom they were not seeing openly, was (always) with them secretly in their lives.”

چون خرد با تست مشرف بر تنت ** گر چه زو قاصر بود این دیدنت

Inasmuch as the intellect is with thee, overseeing thy body, and though this perception of thine is unable to apprehend it,

نیست قاصر دیدن او ای فلان ** از سکون و جنبشت در امتحان

(Yet) its perception, O such and such, is not unable to apprehend thy motion and rest when it tries,

چه عجب گر خالق آن عقل نیز ** با تو باشد چون نه‌ای تو مستجیز 3680

What wonder if the Creator of that intellect too is with thee? How art thou not conceding (the truth of that)?

از خرد غافل شود بر بد تند ** بعد آن عقلش ملامت می‌کند

He (some one) pays no heed to his intellect and embarks on evil; afterwards his intellect rebukes him.