(If) the city is full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
شهر پر دزدست و پر جامه‌کنی ** خواه شحنه باش گو و خواه نی
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, appointed a youth of Hudhayl to be commander of an expeditionary force in which there were elders and veteran warriors.
امیر کردن رسول علیه‌السلام جوان هذیلی را بر سریه‌ای کی در آن پیران و جنگ آزمودگان بودند
The Prophet was sending a force to fight against the unbelievers and repel insolence.
یک سریه می‌فرستادش رسول ** به هر جنگ کافر و دفع فضول
He chose a youth of Hudhayl and appointed him commander of the army and leader of the cavalry.
یک جوانی را گزید او از هذیل ** میر لشکر کردش و سالار خیل
The foundation of an army is unquestionably the chief in command: a people without a chief are a body without a head.
اصل لشکر بی‌گمان سرور بود ** قوم بی‌سرور تن بی‌سر بود
That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief.1995
این همه که مرده و پژمرده‌ای ** زان بود که ترک سرور کرده‌ای
On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.
از کسل وز بخل وز ما و منی ** می‌کشی سر خویش را سر می‌کنی
(You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.
هم‌چو استوری که بگریزد ز بار ** او سر خود گیرد اندر کوهسار
Its master is running after it, crying, “O giddy-headed one, on every side there is a wolf in quest of an ass.
صاحبش در پی دوان کای خیره سر ** هر طرف گرگیست اندر قصد خر
If thou disappear now from mine eye, the mighty wolf will approach thee from every direction.
گر ز چشمم این زمان غایب شوی ** پیشت آید هر طرف گرگ قوی
He will chew thy bones like sugar, so that thou wilt never see life again.2000
استخوانت را بخاید چون شکر ** که نبینی زندگانی را دگر