- The music of David reached (affected) rock and mountain, (but) the ears of those stony-hearted ones heard it not.
- لحن داودی به سنگ و که رسید ** گوش آن سنگین دلانش کم شنید
- Blessing ever be on reason and justice!—and God best knoweth the right way.
- آفرین بر عقل و بر انصاف باد ** هر زمان والله اعلم بالرشاد
- Believe noble Messengers, O Sabá! Believe a spirit made captive by Him who captured it.
- صدقوا رسلا کراما یا سبا ** صدقوا روحا سباها من سبا
- Believe them—they are rising suns—and they will preserve thee from the ignominies of al-Qári‘a. 2835
- صدقوهم هم شموس طالعه ** یومنوکم من مخازی القارعه
- Believe them—they are shining full-moons—ere they confront thee with al- Sáhira.
- صدقوهم هم بدور زاهره ** قبل ان یلقوکم بالساهره
- Believe them—they are the lamps of darkness; honour them— they are the keys of hope.
- صدقوهم هم مصابیح الدجی ** اکرموهم هم مفاتیح الرجا
- Believe those who hope not for your bounty; do not go astray, do not turn others away (from the Truth).
- صدقوا من لیس یرجو خیرکم ** لا تضلوا لا تصدوا غیرکم
- Let us speak Persian: come, abandon Arabic. Be the Hindú (slave) of that Turcoman (the Divine Beloved), O (man of) water and clay.
- پارسی گوییم هین تازی بهل ** هندوی آن ترک باش ای آب و گل
- Hark, listen to the testimonies of the (spiritual) kings; the heavens have believed (them): believe ye! 2840
- هین گواهیهای شاهان بشنوید ** بگرویدند آسمانها بگروید
- The meaning of prudence, and a parable of the prudent man.
- معنی حزم و مثال مرد حازم
- Either consider what happened to the former (peoples), or fly with a (great) prudence towards the latter end.
- یا به حال اولینان بنگرید ** یا سوی آخر بحزمی در پرید
- What is prudence? Precaution in (the case of) two (alternative) plans: of the two you will take that one which is far from craziness.
- حزم چه بود در دو تدبیر احتیاط ** از دو آن گیری که دورست از خباط
- One person may say, “On this road there is no water for seven days, and there is foot-scorching sand.”
- آن یکی گوید درین ره هفت روز ** نیست آب و هست ریگ پایسوز
- Another may say, “This is false: push on, for you will find a running fountain every night.”
- آن دگر گوید دروغست این بران ** که بهر شب چشمهای بینی روان
- It is prudence that you take water (with you), so that you may be saved from dread and may be on the right (side). 2845
- حزم آن باشد که بر گیری تو آب ** تا رهی از ترس و باشی بر صواب
- If there be water (on the road), spill this (water which you have taken with you); and if there be none, alas for the obstinate man!
- گر بود در راه آب این را بریز ** ور نباشد وای بر مرد ستیز
- O children of the Vicegerent (Adam), deal justly: act with prudence for the sake of the Day of Tryst (Judgement).
- ای خلیفهزادگان دادی کنید ** حزم بهر روز میعادی کنید
- That enemy who took vengeance upon your father and dragged him from ‘Illiyyín to prison,
- آن عدوی کز پدرتان کین کشید ** سوی زندانش ز علیین کشید
- And checkmated that king of the spiritual chessboard and made him, (cast out) from Paradise, a thrall to calamities—
- آن شه شطرنج دل را مات کرد ** از بهشتش سخرهی آفات کرد
- How often in combat did he seize him by sleight, that he might wrestle with him and throw him (to the ground) in disgrace! 2850
- چند جا بندش گرفت اندر نبرد ** تا بکشتی در فکندش رویزرد
- Thus hath he done to that paladin (Adam): do not regard him with contempt, O ye others!
- اینچنین کردست با آن پهلوان ** سست سستش منگرید ای دیگران
- That envious one nimbly snatched away our mother's and father's crown and ornament.
- مادر و بابای ما را آن حسود ** تاج و پیرایه بچالاکی ربود
- There he made them naked and wretched and despicable: (many) years did Adam weep bitterly,
- کردشان آنجا برهنه و زار و خوار ** سالها بگریست آدم زار زار
- So that (sweet) herbs grew from the tears of his eyes: (he wept, wondering) why he was inscribed in the scroll of lá (negation).
- که ز اشک چشم او رویید نبت ** که چرا اندر جریدهی لاست ثبت
- Judge thou of his (the Devil's) impudent cheatery from the fact that on account of him such a prince (as Adam) rends his beard (in sorrow). 2855
- تو قیاسی گیر طراریش را ** که چنان سرور کند زو ریش را
- Beware, O clay-worshippers, of his malice: smite the sword of lá hawl on his head!
- الحذر ای گلپرستان از شرش ** تیغ لا حولی زنید اندر سرش