1. Whoever comes close to fire will surely burn,
So keep your distance from people and beware of them; do not trust.

2. Be patient with the woes of this life, and be a hero
Who faces swords at the outbreak of war with armor.

3. If you are utterly frustrated with its calamities,
Then do not fear, for God's kindness has no limit.

4. A man will make up for what is apparent to the observer,
While God does what is hidden from sight.

5. How often has the sky rumbled and its edges quaked,
Then the thunder ceased, doing no more than causing anxiety.

6. At times thick clouds gather but they rain not
Except as the two seas evaporate into vapor.

7. Let no sick person despair of recovery
As long as there is still some life left in his body.

8. Many have died though their lives were hoped prolonged, but met their fate;
And many feared death, yet continued to live.

9. Every night has a morning in which we seek light,
So the darkness of nightfall stays not forever upon us.

10. In the end, weakness is like the beginning,
As we see the resemblance between dawn and twilight.

11. People differ in this world, never agreeing
Except in their bare love for it, empty of sincerity.

12. Their souls raced toward acquiring wealth
And high status, like horses racing freely.

13. Yet poverty is better than wealth which burdens you
With worries that keep the eyes sleepless at night.

14. And humiliation is better than glory that dresses you
In blame from people, like a collar round the neck.

15. No good in a wine that tastes sweet to its drinker
But is followed by the bitterness of a headache.

16. Whoever does not consider the consequences
Should not expect his feet to be safe from stumbling.

17. Say to one who tore silk confidently
And now patches it with worn shreds full of holes:

18. Do not open the door to hornets while taking precautions
Against mosquitoes−this is the epitome of foolishness.

19. The worst ignorance is that which comes with age,
Blackening white hair like ink on paper.

20. And the easiest ignorance to cure is that whose owner
Turns back from it like one waking up from deep slumber.

21. Do not be astonished by a drunk who you see sober,
But by one sunk in drunkenness who does not awaken.

22. Persisting in a fault you have committed
Is a new fault apart from that ingrained in your nature.

23. People in appearance are alike, though conflict has arisen
Among them in most ways.

24. What hope of benefit is there if our names agree
Yet the named ones themselves do not agree?

25. Oh, that I had a sea of thanks so I could plunge into it!
But I am afraid for myself of drowning.

26. Gratitude for One with no defect but blessings
Which continuously flowed from Him like well-joined pearls;

27. He whom whenever I try to catch up with in love
I find He has raced ahead in taking the lead;

28. And whenever the eye of time grew murky, it cleared,
And whenever the soul of time grew impure, it was purified;

29. His pure works point to His affection
As musk's fragrance points to the musk.

30. And if love brings no benefit,
That is like a branch bearing naught but leaves.

31. We see some people whose affection
Contents a youth with a deceitful, smooth tongue.

32. They are like locusts in a sea of food−
Whoever misses the meat should be full on the broth.