غیر حق را گر نباشد اختیار ** خشم چون می‌آیدت بر جرم‌دار

If none but God have the power of choice, why do you become angry with one who has committed an offence (against you)?

چون همی‌خایی تو دندان بر عدو ** چون همی بینی گناه و جرم ازو 3040

Why do you gnash your teeth at a foe? Why do you regard the sin and offence as (proceeding) from him?

گر ز سقف خانه چوبی بشکند ** بر تو افتد سخت مجروحت کند

If a piece of timber break off from your house-roof and fall upon you and wound you severely,

هیچ خشمی آیدت بر چوب سقف ** هیچ اندر کین او باشی تو وقف

Will you feel any anger against the timber of the roof? Will you ever devote yourself to taking vengeance upon it,

که چرا بر من زد و دستم شکست ** او عدو و خصم جان من بدست

(And say), ‘Why did it hit me and fracture my hand? It has been my mortal foe and enemy’?

کودکان خرد را چون می‌زنی ** چون بزرگان را منزه می‌کنی

Why do you beat little children (when they do wrong), since (in theory) you make out that adults are exempt from blame?

آنک دزدد مال تو گویی بگیر ** دست و پایش را ببر سازش اسیر 3045

(In the case of) a man who steals your property, you say (to the magistrate), ‘Arrest him, cut off his hand and foot, make him a captive’;

وآنک قصد عورت تو می‌کند ** صد هزاران خشم از تو می‌دمد

And (in the case of) a man who visits your wife, a hundred thousand angers shoot up from you.

گر بیاید سیل و رخت تو برد ** هیچ با سیل آورد کینی خرد

(On the contrary), if a flood come and sweep away your household goods, will your reason bear any enmity towards the flood?

ور بیامد باد و دستارت ربود ** کی ترا با باد دل خشمی نمود

And if the wind came and carried off your turban, when did your heart show any anger against the wind?