حزم آن باشد که ظن بد بری ** تا گریزی و شوی از بد بری

Prudence is this, that you think evil, so that you may flee and become quit of evil.

حزم س الظن گفتست آن رسول ** هر قدم را دام می‌دان ای فضول

The Prophet has said, “Prudence is (consists in) thinking evil”: know that for every footstep there is a snare, O fool!

روی صحرا هست هموار و فراخ ** هر قدم دامیست کم ران اوستاخ

The surface of the plateau is level and broad, (but at) every step there is a snare: do not advance boldly.

آن بز کوهی دود که دام کو ** چون بتازد دامش افتد در گلو 270

The mountain-goat runs on, saying, “Where is the snare?” As it speeds onward, the snare lights on its throat.

آنک می‌گفتی که کو اینک ببین ** دشت می‌دیدی نمی‌دیدی کمین

O thou who saidst “Where?” look and see! Thou sawest the plain, (but) thou didst not see the ambush.

بی کمین و دام و صیاد ای عیار ** دنبه کی باشد میان کشت‌زار

Without ambush and snare and hunter, O cunning one, how should there be a sheep's tail (laid in a trap) amidst the cornfield?

آنک گستاخ آمدند اندر زمین ** استخوان و کله‌هاشان را ببین

They that came along boldly on the earth—see their bones and skulls!

چون به گورستان روی ای مرتضا ** استخوانشان را بپرس از ما مضی

When you go to the graveyard, O you with whom God is pleased, ask their bones concerning that which is past,

تا بظاهر بینی آن مستان کور ** چون فرو رفتند در چاه غرور 275

That you may see clearly how those blind intoxicated men went down into the pit of delusion.

چشم اگر داری تو کورانه میا ** ور نداری چشم دست آور عصا

If you have eyes, do not walk blindly; and if you have not eyes, take a staff in your hand.

آن عصای حزم و استدلال را ** چون نداری دید می‌کن پیشوا

When you have not the staff of prudence and judgement, make the (seer's) eye your leader;

ور عصای حزم و استدلال نیست ** بی عصاکش بر سر هر ره مه‌ایست

And if there is no staff of prudence and judgement, do not stand on every road without a guide.

گام زان سان نه که نابینا نهد ** تا که پا از چاه و از سگ وا رهد

Step in the same fashion as a blind man steps, in order that your foot may escape from the pit and the dog.

لرز لرزان و بترس و احتیاط ** می‌نهد پا تا نیفتد در خباط 280

He (the blind man) plants his foot tremblingly and with fear and precaution, so that he may not fall into derangement.

ای ز دودی جسته در ناری شده ** لقمه جسته لقمه‌ی ماری شده

O you who have jumped away from some smoke and fallen into a fire, you who have sought a mouthful (of food) and become a mouthful for a snake,

قصه‌ی اهل سبا و طاغی کردن نعمت ایشان را و در رسیدن شومی طغیان و کفران در ایشان و بیان فضیلت شکر و وفا

(Story of the people of Sabá and how prosperity made them forward.)

تو نخواندی قصه‌ی اهل سبا ** یا بخواندی و ندیدی جز صدا

You have not read the story of the people of Sabá, or you have read it and seen (heard) naught but the echo.

از صدا آن کوه خود آگاه نیست ** سوی معنی هوش که را راه نیست

The mountain itself (which produces the echo) is not aware of the echo: the mind of the mountain hath no way (of access) to the meaning.

او همی بانگی کند بی گوش و هوش ** چون خمش کردی تو او هم شد خموش

Without ear and mind, it goes on making a noise; when you are silent, it also becomes silent.

داد حق اهل سبا را بس فراغ ** صد هزاران قصر و ایوانها و باغ 285

God bestowed on the people of Sabá much ease—myriads of castles and palaces and orchards.

شکر آن نگزاردند آن بد رگان ** در وفا بودند کمتر از سگان

(But) those bad-natured ones rendered no thanks for that (bounty): in fidelity they were less than dogs.

مر سگی را لقمه‌ی نانی ز در ** چون رسد بر در همی‌بندد کمر

When to a dog there comes from the door a piece of bread, he will gird up his loins at the door.

پاسبان و حارس در می‌شود ** گرچه بر وی جور و سختی می‌رود

He will become the watcher and guardian of the door, even though violence and hard treatment befall him.

هم بر آن در باشدش باش و قرار ** کفر دارد کرد غیری اختیار

Still will he stay and abide at that door: he will deem it ingratitude to prefer another.

ور سگی آید غریبی روز و شب ** آن سگانش می‌کنند آن دم ادب 290

And (again), if a strange dog come by day or night (to a quarter of the town), the dogs there will at once teach him a lesson,

که برو آنجا که اول منزلست ** حق آن نعمت گروگان دلست

Saying, “Begone to the place that is thy first lodging: obligation for that kindness is the heart's pledge (which it must redeem).”