He is independent of the bricks and of quarrelling over the bricks and of a wicked young ruffian like you who would sell (prostitute) his own mother.
فارغست از خشت و از پیکار خشت ** وز چو تو مادرفروش کنک زشت
Three or four hairs on the chin as a notice are better than triginta lateres circa culum.” [Three or four hairs on the chin as a notice are better than thirty bricks around the buttocks.”]
بر زنخ سه چار مو بهر نمون ** بهتر از سی خشت گرداگرد کون
One atom of the shade (protection) of (Divine) favour is better than a thousand endeavours of the devout pietist,
ذره‌ای سایه‌ی عنایت بهترست ** از هزاران کوشش طاعت‌پرست
Because the Devil will remove the bricks of piety: (even) if there are two hundred bricks he will make a way for himself.3870
زانک شیطان خشت طاعت بر کند ** گر دو صد خشتست خود را ره کند
If the bricks are numerous, (yet) they are laid by you, (while) those two or three hairs are a gift from Yonder.
خشت اگر پرست بنهاده‌ی توست ** آن دو سه مو از عطای آن سوست
In reality each one of those (hairs) is (firm) as a mountain, for it is a safe conduct bestowed by an Emperor.
در حقیقت هر یکی مو زان کهیست ** کان امان‌نامه‌ی صله‌ی شاهنشهیست
If you put a hundred locks on a door, some reckless fellow may remove them all;
تو اگر صد قفل بنهی بر دری ** بر کند آن جمله را خیره‌سری
(But) if a police magistrate put a wax seal (on it), at (the sight of) that (even) the hearts of doughty champions will quail.
شحنه‌ای از موم اگر مهری نهد ** پهلوانان را از آن دل بشکهد
Those two or three hair-threads of (Divine) favour form a barrier (strong) as a mountain (against evil), like majesty of aspect in the faces (of potentates).3875
آن دو سه تار عنایت هم‌چو کوه ** سد شد چون فر سیما در وجوه
Do not neglect (to lay) the bricks, O man of goodly nature; but at the same time do not sleep (as though you were) safe from the wicked Devil.
خشت را مگذار ای نیکوسرشت ** لیک هم آمن مخسپ از دیو زشت