زوترش بردار آویزید کو ** عیسی است از دست ما تخلیط‌جو 4370
“Hang him on the gibbet,” (cry the Jews), “with all speed, for he is Jesus: (he is) seeking to escape from our hands by personating another.”
چند لشکر می‌رود تا بر خورد ** برگ او فی گردد و بر سر خورد
How often does an army march (hoping) to enjoy the fruits (of victory): its equipment becomes spoil (for the enemy), and it is overthrown.
چند بازرگان رود بر بوی سود ** عید پندارد بسوزد همچو عود
How often does a merchant go (from home) in hope of gain: he thinks it will be a feast ('íd), but he is consumed like aloeswood ('úd).
چند در عالم بود برعکس این ** زهر پندارد بود آن انگبین
How often in the world does it happen contrariwise to this: (for example) one fancies (something to be bitter as) poison when it is (really sweet as) honey.
بس سپه بنهاده دل بر مرگ خویش ** روشنیها و ظفر آید به پیش
Often, (when) soldiers have made up their minds to die, the splendours (of triumph) and victory appear.
ابرهه با پیل بهر ذل بیت ** آمده تا افکند حی را چو میت 4375
Abraha came with the elephant to dishonour the House (of Allah), that he might throw down the living (and leave them lying) as though dead,
تا حریم کعبه را ویران کند ** جمله را زان جای سرگردان کند
And destroy the holy Ka‘ba and cause all (the inhabitants) to wander forth from that place,
تا همه زوار گرد او تنند ** کعبه‌ی او را همه قبله کنند
In order that all the pilgrims might gather round him and might all turn in worship to his Ka‘ba,
وز عرب کینه کشد اندر گزند ** که چرا در کعبه‌ام آتش زنند
And that he might take vengeance on the Arabs for the injury (inflicted by them), for “why,” said he, “should they set my Ka‘ba on fire?”
عین سعیش عزت کعبه شده ** موجب اعزاز آن بیت آمده
His efforts only turned to glory for the Ka‘ba: they caused the (holy) House to be glorified.