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.
عزت مقصد بود ای ممتحن ** پیچ پیچ راه و عقبه و راه‌زن
The greatness of the (traveller's) goal, O well-tried man, is (shown by) the intricate windings of the way and the mountain-passes and the brigands (infesting them).
عزت کعبه بود و آن نادیه ** ره‌زنی اعراب و طول بادیه
The greatness of the Ka‘ba and its assembly-place is (shown by) the brigandage of the Beduins and the length of the desert (traversed by the pilgrims).
هر روش هر ره که آن محمود نیست ** عقبه‌ای و مانعی و ره‌زنیست 3225
Every (religious) doctrine, every tenet, that is not praiseworthy is (like) a mountain-pass and a barrier and a brigand.
این روش خصم و حقود آن شده ** تا مقلد در دو ره حیران شده
This doctrine has become the adversary and bitter enemy of that, so that the imitator (who adopts the beliefs of others) is in a dilemma;
صدق هر دو ضد بیند در روش ** هر فریقی در ره خود خوش منش
(For) he sees that both the opponents are firm in their doctrine: every sect is pleased with its own path.
گر جوابش نیست می‌بندد ستیز ** بر همان دم تا به روز رستخیز
If it has no reply (to the arguments brought against it), it will cling obstinately to the same formula till the Day of Resurrection,
که مهان ما بدانند این جواب ** گرچه از ما شد نهان وجه صواب
Saying, “Our great authorities know the reply to this, although the right method (of answering) is hidden from us.”