مشرق و مغرب چو تو بس دیده‌اند ** که سر ایشان ز تن ببریده‌اند
East and West have seen many like thee, whose heads have been severed from their bodies.
مشرق و مغرب که نبود بر قرار ** چون کنند آخر کسی را پایدار
After all, how should East and West, which are not permanent, make any one enduring?
تو بدان فخر آوری کز ترس و بند ** چاپلوست گشت مردم روز چند
Thou takest pride in the fact that men, from fear and bondage, have become thy flatterers for a few days.
هر کرا مردم سجودی می‌کنند ** زهر اندر جان او می‌آکنند
When men bow in adoration to any one, they are (really) cramming poison into his soul.
چونک بر گردد ازو آن ساجدش ** داند او کان زهر بود و موبدش2745
When his adorer turns away from him, he knows that that (adoration) was poisonous and destructive to him.
ای خنک آن را که ذلت نفسه ** وای آنک از سرکشی شد چون که او
Oh, blest is he whose carnal soul was abased! Alas who became like a mountain from arrogance
این تکبر زهر قاتل دان که هست ** از می پر زهر شد آن گیج مست
Know that this pride is a killing poison: that fool toxicated by the poisonous wine.
چون می پر زهر نوشد مدبری ** از طرب یکدم بجنباند سری
When an unhappy wretch drinks the poisonous wine, his head in delight for one moment.
بعد یکدم زهر بر جانش فتد ** زهر در جانش کند داد و ستد
After one moment the poison falls on his spirit the poison exercises (complete) sway over his spirit.
گر نذاری زهری‌اش را اعتقاد ** کو چه زهر آمد نگر در قوم عاد2750
If you have not firm belief in its being poisonous (and do not know) what (a deadly) poison it is, look at the people of ‘Ád.
چونک شاهی دست یابد بر شهی ** بکشدش یا باز دارد در چهی
When one king gains the upper hand (prevails) over another. king, he kills him or confines him in a dungeon;
ور بیابد خسته‌ی افتاده را ** مرهمش سازد شه و بدهد عطا
But if he find a fallen wounded man, the king will make a plaster for him and bestow gifts on him.
گر نه زهرست آن تکبر پس چرا ** کشت شه را بی‌گناه و بی‌خطا
If that pride is not poison, then why did he kill the (vanquished) king without (his having committed any) crime or offence?
وین دگر را بی ز خدمت چون نواخت ** زین دو جنبش زهر را شاید شناخت
And how did he treat this other (helpless) man (so) kindly without (his having performed any) service? From these two actions you may recognise (the poisonous nature of) pride.
راه‌زن هرگز گدایی را نزد ** گرگ گرگ مرده را هرگز گزد2755
No highwayman ever attacked a beggar: does a wolf ever bite a dead wolf?
خضر کشتی را برای آن شکست ** تا تواند کشتی از فجار رست
Khizr made a breach in the boat in order that the boat might be saved from the wicked.
چون شکسته می‌رهد اشکسته شو ** امن در فقرست اندر فقر رو
Since the broken (contrite) one will be saved, be thou broken (contrite). Safety lies in poverty enter into poverty
آن کهی کو داشت از کان نقد چند ** گشت پاره پاره از زخم کلند
The mountain that possessed some cash in its mine was riven to pieces by the strokes of the pick-axe.
تیغ بهر اوست کو را گردنیست ** سایه که افکندست بر وی زخم نیست
The sword is for him who has a (high and proud) neck; no blow falls on the shadow that is thrown (flat upon the ground).
مهتری نفطست و آتش ای غوی ** ای برادر چون بر آذر می‌روی2760
Eminence is naphtha and fire, O misguided one: O brother, how (why) art thou going into the fire?
هر چه او هموار باشد با زمین ** تیرها را کی هدف گردد ببین
How should anything that is level with the earth become a target for arrows? Consider!
سر بر آرد از زمین آنگاه او ** چون هدفها زخم یابد بی رفو
(But if) it raise its head from the earth, then, like targets, it will suffer blows irremediable.
نردبان خالق این ما و منیست ** عاقبت زین نردبان افتادنیست
This egoism is the ladder of (climbed by) the creatures (of God): they must fall from this ladder in the end.
هر که بالاتر رود ابله‌ترست ** که استخوان او بتر خواهد شکست
The higher any one goes, the more foolish he is, for his bones will be worse broken.
این فروعست و اصولش آن بود ** که ترفع شرکت یزدان بود2765
This is (constitutes) the derivatives (of the subject), and its fundamental principles are that to exalt one’s self is (to claim) copartnership with God.