حق ذات پاک الله الصمد ** که بود به مار بد از یار بد

(I swear) by the truth of the Holy Person of Allah, the Lord, that a malign snake is better than a malign friend.

مار بد جانی ستاند از سلیم ** یار بد آرد سوی نار مقیم 2635

The malign snake takes a soul (life) from the man it has bitten; the malign friend leads him into the everlasting Fire.

از قرین بی‌قول و گفت و گوی او ** خو بدزدد دل نهان از خوی او

Thy heart secretly steals its disposition from the disposition of thy companion, without speech and talk on his part.

چونک او افکند بر تو سایه را ** دزدد آن بی‌مایه از تو مایه را

When he casts his shadow over thee, that unprincipled one steals away thy principles from thee.

عقل تو گر اژدهایی گشت مست ** یار بد او را زمرد دان که هست

(Even) if thy reason has become (as strong as) a furious dragon, know that the evil companion is an emerald to it.

دیده‌ی عقلت بدو بیرون جهد ** طعن اوت اندر کف طاعون نهد

Through him the eye of thy reason starts out (of the socket): his (vicious) thrusts deliver thee into the hands of pestilence.

جواب گفتن روبه خر را

The answer of the fox to the ass.

گفت روبه صاف ما را درد نیست ** لیک تخییلات وهمی خورد نیست 2640

The fox said, “There are no dregs in my pure liquor, but the illusions of imagination are not small.

این همه وهم توست ای ساده‌دل ** ورنه بر تو نه غشی دارم نه غل

All this is your imagination, O simpleton, for I bear no malice and rancour against you.

از خیال زشت خود منگر به من ** بر محبان از چه داری س ظن

Do not regard me from (the standpoint of) your evil fancy: wherefore do you cherish ill thoughts against your lovers?

ظن نیکو بر بر اخوان صفا ** گرچه آید ظاهرا زیشان جفا

Think well of the sincere, even though unkindness come from them in appearance.