The hand of the imperfect man is the hand of Devil and demon, because he is in the trap of imposition and guile.
دست ناقص دست شیطان است و دیو ** ز آن که اندر دام تکلیف است و ریو
If ignorance come to him (the perfect man), it becomes knowledge, (but) the knowledge that goes into the disbelieving man becomes ignorance.
جهل آید پیش او دانش شود ** جهل شد علمی که در ناقص رود
Whatever an ill man takes becomes illness, (but) if a perfect man takes infidelity, it becomes religion.
هر چه گیرد علتی علت شود ** کفر گیرد کاملی ملت شود
O thou who, being on foot, hast contended with a horseman, thou wilt not save thy head. Now hold thy foot (desist)!
ای مری کرده پیاده با سوار ** سر نخواهی برد اکنون پای دار
How the magicians paid respect to Moses, on whom be peace, saying, “What dost thou command? Wilt thou cast down thy rod first?”
تعظیم ساحران مر موسی را علیه السلام که چه فرمایی اول تو اندازی عصا یا ما
The magicians in the time of the accursed Pharaoh, when they contended with Moses in enmity,1615
ساحران در عهد فرعون لعین ** چون مری کردند با موسی به کین
Yet gave Moses the precedence—the magicians held him in honour—
لیک موسی را مقدم داشتند ** ساحران او را مکرم داشتند
Because they said to him, “’Tis for thee to command: (if) thou wishest, do thou cast down thy rod first (of all).”
ز آن که گفتندش که فرمان آن تست ** گر تو می‌‌خواهی عصا بفکن نخست
“Nay,” said he, “first do ye, O magicians, cast down those tricks (objects of enchantment) into the middle (where all can see them).”
گفت نی اول شما ای ساحران ** افکنید آن مکرها را در میان
This amount of respect purchased their (belief in) (the true) religion, so that it (the true belief) cut off the hands and feet of their contention (prevented them from disputing further with Moses).
این قدر تعظیم دینشان را خرید ** کز مری آن دست و پاهاشان برید
When the magicians acknowledged his (Moses') right, they sacrificed their hands and feet (as a penance) for the sin of that (contention).1620
ساحران چون حق او بشناختند ** دست و پا در جرم آن درباختند