ای کمان و تیرها بر ساخته ** صید نزدیک و تو دور انداخته

O you who have provided yourself with bow and arrows, the prey is near and you have shot far.

هرکه دوراندازتر او دورتر ** وز چنین گنجست او مهجورتر 2355

The farther one shoots, the farther away and more separated is he from a treasure like this.

فلسفی خود را از اندیشه بکشت ** گو بدو کوراست سوی گنج پشت

The philosopher killed (exhausted) himself with thinking: let him run on (in vain), for his back is turned towards the treasure.

گو بدو چندانک افزون می‌دود ** از مراد دل جداتر می‌شود

Let him run on: the more he runs, the more remote does he become from the object of his heart’s desire.

جاهدوا فینا بگفت آن شهریار ** جاهدوا عنا نگفت ای بی‌قرار

That (Divine) King said, “(those who) have striven in (for) Us”: He did not say, “(those who) have striven away from Us,” O restless one,

هم‌چو کنعان کو ز ننگ نوح رفت ** بر فراز قله‌ی آن کوه زفت

As (was the case with) Canaan, who in disdain of Noah went up to the top of that great mountain.

هرچه افزون‌تر همی‌جست او خلاص ** سوی که می‌شد جداتر از مناص 2360

The more he sought deliverance (by turning) towards the mountain, the more was he separated from the place of refuge,

هم‌چو این درویش بهر گنج و کان ** هر صباحی سخت‌تر جستی کمان

Like this dervish (who) for the sake of the treasure and the mine (of riches) sought (to thaw) the bow more strongly every morning,

هر کمانی کو گرفتی سخت‌تر ** بود از گنج و نشان بدبخت‌تر

And the more strongly he gripped the bow each time, the worse luck he had in respect of (finding) the treasure and (hitting) the mark.

این مثل اندر زمانه جانی است ** جان نادانان به رنج ارزانی است

This parable is of vital import (to the soul) in the world: the soul of the ignorant is worthy of pain (deserves to suffer.)