- Many a one has become an emperor by dint of toil, while (many) another has been made destitute by that (same) toil.
- بس کسی از مکسبی خاقان شده ** دیگری زان مکسبه عریان شده
- Many a one has been made (rich as) Qárún by marriage, and many a one has been made bankrupt by marriage.
- بس کس از عقد زنان قارون شده ** بس کس از عقد زنان مدیون شده
- The means, then, is turning about, like the tail of an ass: ’tis better not to rely upon it. 3690
- پس سبب گردان چو دم خر بود ** تکیه بر وی کم کنی بهتر بود
- And if you take the means, you should not take it boldly, for beneath it there are many hidden banes.
- ور سبب گیری نگیری هم دلیر ** که بس آفت‌هاست پنهانش به زیر
- This prudence and precaution is the gist of the saving clause, for this (Divine) decree (often) makes the ass appear to be a goat.
- سر استثناست این حزم و حذر ** زانک خر را بز نماید این قدر
- Although he whose eye it (the Divine decree) has bandaged is clever, (yet) because of his seeing double, in his eyes the ass is a goat.
- آنک چشمش بست گرچه گربزست ** ز احولی اندر دو چشمش خربزست
- Since God is the Turner of eyes, who (else) should turn the heart and the thoughts?
- چون مقلب حق بود ابصار را ** که بگرداند دل و افکار را
- (Hence) you deem a pit to be a pleasant house, you deem a trap to be a dainty bait. 3695
- چاه را تو خانه‌ای بینی لطیف ** دام را تو دانه‌ای بینی ظریف
- This is not sophistry (scepticism), it is God's turning: it shows where the realities are.
- این تفسطط نیست تقلیب خداست ** می‌نماید که حقیقتها کجاست
- He who denies the realities is wholly involved in a phantasy.
- آنک انکار حقایق می‌کند ** جملگی او بر خیالی می‌تند