Prison is the cloister of the thief and villain, that there he may be constantly mindful of God.2985
هست زندان صومعه‌ی دزد و لیم ** کاندرو ذاکر شود حق را مقیم
Inasmuch as Divine worship was the object (in the creation) of mankind, Hellfire was made the place of worship for the rebellious.
چون عبادت بود مقصود از بشر ** شد عبادتگاه گردن‌کش سقر
Man hath the power (of action) in everything, but this service (of God) has (ever) been the (final) object of him.
آدمی را هست در هر کار دست ** لیک ازو مقصود این خدمت بدست
“I did not create the Jinn and mankind (save that they might serve Me).” Recite this (text). The (final) object of the world is naught but Divine worship.
ما خلقت الجن و الانس این بخوان ** جز عبادت نیست مقصود از جهان
Though the (final) object of a book is the science (which it contains), (yet) if you make it a pillow (to rest on), it will become (serve as) that too;
گرچه مقصود از کتاب آن فن بود ** گر توش بالش کنی هم می‌شود
But this (function of being a) pillow was not its (final) object: it (the final object) was learning and knowledge and right guidance and profit.2990
لیک ازو مقصود این بالش نبود ** علم بود و دانش و ارشاد سود
If you have made the sword a tent-pin, you have preferred defeat to victory.
گر تو میخی ساختی شمشیر را ** برگزیدی بر ظفر ادبار را
Although the (final) object of Man is knowledge (of God) and to be rightly directed (in religion), (yet) every man hath a particular place of worship.
گرچه مقصود از بشر علم و هدیست ** لیک هر یک آدمی را معبدیست
The place where (the means whereby) the noble man worships is your treating him with kindness; the place where (the means whereby) the vile man worships is your making him sick (your maltreating him).
معبد مرد کریم اکرمته ** معبد مرد لیم اسقمته
Smite the vile, that they may bow their heads; give to the noble, that they may yield (good) fruit.
مر لیمان را بزن تا سر نهند ** مر کریمان را بده تا بر دهند