اندکی گفتیم زان بحث ای عتل ** ز اندکی پیدا بود قانون کل
We have told (only) a little of that disputation, O fierce debater, (but) from a little (part) the principle of the whole is evident.
هم‌چنین بحثست تا حشر بشر ** در میان جبری و اهل قدر
Similarly, there is a disputation, (which will continue) till mankind are raised from the dead, between the Necessitarians and the partisans of (absolute) Freewill.
گر فرو ماندی ز دفع خصم خویش ** مذهب ایشان بر افتادی ز پیش 3215
If he (the disputant of either party) had been incapable of refuting his adversary, their (respective) doctrines would have fallen out of sight (would have failed to maintain themselves),
چون برون‌شوشان نبودی در جواب ** پس رمیدندی از آن راه تباب
Since (in that case) they (the disputants) would not have had the means of escape (which consists) in replying (to their opponents), they would therefore have recoiled from the way of perdition (from their erroneous doctrines);
چونک مقضی بد دوام آن روش ** می‌دهدشان از دلایل پرورش
(But) inasmuch as their continuance in that course was (Divinely) destined, God feeds them with (logical) proofs,
تا نگردد ملزم از اشکال خصم ** تا بود محجوب از اقبال خصم
In order that he (the disputant) may not be silenced by his adversary's difficult objection, and that he may be prevented from seeing his adversary's success,
تا که این هفتاد و دو ملت مدام ** در جهان ماند الی یوم القیام
So that these two-and-seventy sects may always remain in the world till the Day of Resurrection.
چون جهان ظلمتست و غیب این ** از برای سایه می‌باید زمین 3220
Since this is the world of darkness and occultation, the earth is necessary for (the existence of) the shadow.
تا قیامت ماند این هفتاد و دو ** کم نیاید مبتدع را گفت و گو
These two-and-seventy (sects) will remain till the Resurrection: the heretic's talk and argument will not fail.
عزت مخزن بود اندر بها ** که برو بسیار باشد قفلها
The high value of a treasury is (shown by the circumstance) that there are many locks upon it.