The foolish are (like) those women (of Egypt) who cut their hands—foolish in respect of their hands, (but) giving (wise) notice to beware of the face (beauty) of Joseph.
ابلهان‌اند آن زنان دست بر ** از کف ابله وز رخ یوسف نذر
Sacrifice your intellect in love for the Friend: anyhow, (all) intellects are from the quarter where He is.
عقل را قربان کن اندر عشق دوست ** عقلها باری از آن سویست کوست
The (spiritually) intelligent have sent their intellects to that quarter: (only) the dolt has remained in this quarter where the’ Beloved is not.1425
عقلها آن سو فرستاده عقول ** مانده این سو که نه معشوقست گول
If, from bewilderment, this intellect of yours go out of this head, every head (tip) of your hair will become (a new) head and intellect.
زین سر از حیرت گر این عقلت رود ** هر سو مویت سر و عقلی شود
In that quarter the trouble of thinking is. not (incumbent) on the brain, for (there) the brain and intellect (spontaneously) produce fields and orchards (of spiritual knowledge).
نیست آن سو رنج فکرت بر دماغ ** که دماغ و عقل روید دشت و باغ
(If you turn) towards the field, you will hear from the field a subtle discourse; (if) you come to the orchard, your palm- tree will become fresh and flourishing.
سوی دشت از دشت نکته بشنوی ** سوی باغ آیی شود نخلت روی
In this Way abandon ostentation: do not move unless your (spiritual) guide move.
اندرین ره ترک کن طاق و طرنب ** تا قلاوزت نجنبد تو مجنب
Any one who moves without the head (guide) is a (mere) tail (base and contemptible): his movement is like the movement of the scorpion.1430
هر که او بی سر بجنبد دم بود ** جنبشش چون جنبش کزدم بود
Going crookedly, night-blind and ugly and venomous—his trade is the wounding of the pure bodies (of the unworldly).
کژرو و شب کور و زشت و زهرناک ** پیشه‌ی او خستن اجسام پاک
Beat the head of him whose inmost spirit is (like) this, and whose permanent nature and disposition is (like) this.
سر بکوب آن را که سرش این بود ** خلق و خوی مستمرش این بود
In sooth ‘tis good for him to beat this head (of his), so that his puny-soul may be delivered from that ill-starred body.
خود صلاح اوست آن سر کوفتن ** تا رهد جان‌ریزه‌اش زان شوم‌تن
Take away the weapons from the madman’s hand, that Justice and Goodness may be satisfied with you.
واستان آن دست دیوانه سلاح ** تا ز تو راضی شود عدل و صلاح
Since he has weapons and has no understanding, shackle his hand; otherwise he will inflict a hundred injuries.1435
چون سلاحش هست و عقلش نه ببند ** دست او را ورنه آرد صد گزند
Explaining that the acquisition of knowledge and wealth and rank by men of evil nature is the (means of) exposing him (such a one) to shame and is like a sword that has fallen into the hand of a brigand.
بیان آنک حصول علم و مال و جاه بدگوهران را فضیحت اوست و چون شمشیریست کی افتادست به دست راه‌زن
To teach the evil-natured man knowledge and skill is to put a sword in the hand of a brigand.
بدگهر را علم و فن آموختن ** دادن تیغی به دست راه‌زن
It is better to put a sword in the hand of an intoxicated negro than that knowledge should come into the possession of a worthless person.
تیغ دادن در کف زنگی مست ** به که آید علم ناکس را به دست
Knowledge and wealth and office’ and rank and fortune are a mischief in the hands of the evil-natured.
علم و مال و منصب و جاه و قران ** فتنه آمد در کف بدگوهران
Therefore the Holy War was made obligatory on the true believers for this purpose, (namely) that they might take the spear-point from the hand of the madman.
پس غزا زین فرض شد بر مومنان ** تا ستانند از کف مجنون سنان
His (the evil-natured man's) spirit is (like) the madman, and his body is (like) his (the madman's) sword: take away the sword from that wicked man!1440
جان او مجنون تنش شمشیر او ** واستان شمشیر را زان زشت‌خو
How should a hundred lions inflict the shame which (high) office inflicts upon the ignorant?
آنچ منصب می‌کند با جاهلان ** از فضیحت کی کند صد ارسلان
His vice is hidden, (but) when he got the instrument (gained power), his snake, (coming out) from its hole, sped along the plain.
عیب او مخفیست چون آلت بیافت ** مارش از سوراخ بر صحرا شتافت
The entire plain is filled with snakes and scorpions when the ignorant man becomes king (master) of the bitter (harsh) decree.
جمله صحرا مار و کزدم پر شود ** چونک جاهل شاه حکم مر شود
The worthless person who acquires wealth and office has become the seeker of his own disgrace.
مال و منصب ناکسی که آرد به دست ** طالب رسوایی خویش او شدست
Either he behaves stingily and gives few presents, or he shows generosity and bestows (them) in the wrong place (unsuitably).1445
یا کند بخل و عطاها کم دهد ** یا سخا آرد بنا موضع نهد
He puts the king in the house (square) of the pawn: the gifts which a fool makes are like this.
شاه را در خانه‌ی بیذق نهد ** این چنین باشد عطا که احمق دهد
When authority falls into the hands of one who has lost the (right) way, he deems it to be a high position (jáh), (but in reality) he has fallen into a pit (cháh).
حکم چون در دست گمراهی فتاد ** جاه پندارید در چاهی فتاد