1. I gifted you advice, had you obeyed the advisor,
You would have found me giving you sincere advice.

2. Fear God, I advise you, so beware of Him,
You will succeed if you succeed in the place of success.

3. And your parents, I advise you to be good to them,
So be angry if they get angry and forgive if they forgive,

4. Their pleasure is part of pleasing the Creator upon you, so if
You anger them, you will find sorrow from your anger.

5. And seek knowledge even if in China striving,
And pursue it with a mind that has settled and expanded.

6. The first knowledge is teaching the Qur’an, as in
Its teaching is every way of guidance made clear.

7. So be keen on it and do not tire, and be understanding,
And to the teacher be a servant and be easy going.

8. The teacher only advises with approval,
And know that if you please him, he gave advice.

9. And when you finish memorizing, preserve it well
And tie the lesson at its appointed times morning and evening.

10. And accompany the people of God's house awaiting
In it the obligations and let tears flow.

11. And aim to attain medical knowledge, whereby
Sense with responsibility and splendor is established.

12. And take from grammar what suffices and take language
So you can be eloquent, having mastered eloquence.

13. Then the fundamentals, the foundations of faith, then take
The origin of secondary and branch of origin made clear.

14. Whatever remains of sciences, take what you can,
Do not be bored or disgusted with them.

15. And be associated with the people of piety and knowledge,
And cut off from the foolish people, the ropes pulled loose.

16. Accompany a scholarly and pious brother, and be with them
In what benefits you, and preserve all they have explained.

17. The people of knowledge are stars that give light
When the darkness of ignorance piles up and lies down.

18. You will find blessings present when called by them
Reason, light, proof, and gift.

19. Be confident with them wherever they may be,
And cut off others, and take in weighing what weighs most.

20. For man will be grouped with whom he loved, so be
Among the righteous, meeting God reconciled.

21. Every friend of God is brought near,
And he who moves away has certainly moved away.

22. It is said man's companion makes him similar,
So choose for yourself, if you succeed, what improves.

23. If you accompany the forbearing, the creations’ traits
Blow from him like ambergris fragrance.

24. One of little manners, if you socialize with him,
His ways are contaminated, and if you improve him, made ugly.

25. Oppose the foolish, and do not accompany an ignorant brother,
Alas! Fools and idiots are not like the reconciled.

26. Do not feel safe from the reckless, reckless fool’s advice,
How he has turned harm upon the head of the friend.

27. Whoever accompanies the ignorant, blathering fool
Is sunk in an ocean of ignorance, even if swimming.

28. And beware friendship, if you wished to advise
Him of his ignorance, he would not limit. Move away from him.

29. Merchandise is only brought for its season
To spend it or its Lord profits.

30. And dignify yourself from what is past its want,
And do not be overjoyed at acquiring more.

31. And if you are able to do good, act quickly
And oppose evil and flee far away.

32. And if the door of evil faces you locked,
Leave it and shut it if you find it open.

33. And if secrets are entrusted to you, then be
Deaf ears that do not hear what is said.

34. And if you sit in a gathering, be in it a mountain,
And if called to speak, be lightning swift.

35. And if silent, then be one of thought, and if
Speaking, let your speech be eloquent and witty.

36. It may be said, man’s words are his lineage,
A vessel pours out what is in its depths.

37. Meet your guest smiling openly
Even if the face of time scowls and frowns.

38. For the noble are traits that distinguish them,
The flood of giving not favoring when generous.

39. And be patient with the pinches of life, and be strong,
How many distresses before watering wither then recover.

40. I am a man who has known time well,
Eating, drinking, hearing, and observing.

41. I have milked from the days their halves,
And ignited the flints of time so they sparked.

42. I almost know what their consciences were,
And if I wanted to state plainly, it would be stated.

43. Their world is dead, I have smelled its stench,
And the best of them is a dog around it barking.

44. So seek help from God, relying on Him,
Through Him you will succeed, O triumph of one who succeeds!

45. And I have advised you, O righteous heart, though
Many advicers were more worthy than you, had I advised.

46. A blind man guided you and the way was clear,
So he fell into a pit of harm and was disgraced.

47. O Lord, I seek Your pardon, without smoothness,
Except by Your subtlety, things become harmonized.

48. So overlook the sinful offender, You are more worthy
And appropriate to bestow than one who gave and was generous.