Some will say: 'They were three; their dog was the fourth' Others, guessing at the Unseen, will say: 'They were five and their dog was the sixth' And yet others: 'Seven; their dog was the eighth' Say: 'My Lord knows best their number. Except for a few none know their number' Therefore, do not dispute with them except in outward disputation, and do not ask any of them concerning them.
（ある者は）言う。 「（かれらは）3人で，4番目は犬です。」（外の者は）単なる推測で，「かれらは5人で，6番目は犬です。」と言う。（またある者は）言う。「かれらは7人で，8番目は犬です。」言ってやるがいい。「わたしの主はその数を最もよく知っておられる。かれら（の真相）を知る者は極く少数に過ぎない。」それで外部に見えることの議論の外は，かれらに関し論争してはならない。またかれらに就いて，誰にも問いかけてはならない。