Injustice drains the strength from a king's heart and hand;
the just ruler wins a good name from his age.
If you build up the kingdom, the kingdom is yours;
if you don't, then whoever does will take it away.
Explanation: The second couplet plays on 'molk bari' meaning both 'you carry off the kingdom' and 'the kingdom is yours,' a wordplay rendered here by sense.
Original · Persian
رباعی شمارهٔ ۱۳
ظلم از دل و دست ملک نیرو ببرد
عادل ز زمانه نام نیکو ببرد
گر تقویت ملک بری ملک بری
ور تو نکنی هر که کند او ببرد