غابن الحمد حقَّهُ مغبُونُهْ

غابن الحمد حقَّهُ مغبُونُهْ

وهوانُ العلا على المرءِ هونُهْ

وهوانُ العلا على المرءِ هونُهْ

He who cheats praise of its due is himself its victim.

When praised, he who deserves it is deprived,

To hold high honor cheap is a man's own abasement.

While vilifying the exalted debases oneself.

والمَحلُّ الخلاءُ من كُلِّ ضَيْفٍ

والمَحلُّ الخلاءُ من كُلِّ ضَيْفٍ

ومَضيفٍ مُعَطَّلٌ مسكونُهْ

ومَضيفٍ مُعَطَّلٌ مسكونُهْ

A dwelling empty of every guest

A residence empty of every guest,

and host lies idle, though inhabited.

And every hosting host, is inhabited.

والوعاءُ الذي وَعَى الوفْرَ والذَّمْ

والوعاءُ الذي وَعَى الوفْرَ والذَّمْ

مَ خليطين فارغٌ مشحونُهْ

مَ خليطين فارغٌ مشحونُهْ

A vessel holding wealth and blame

A vessel that contained abundance and blame

mingled together is empty, though filled.

When empty, is laden.

وأرى المالَ ما يَخال أناسٌ

وأرى المالَ ما يَخال أناسٌ

أن ذا المالِ فيهُمُ مغبونه

أن ذا المالِ فيهُمُ مغبونه

I view wealth as some people imagine it:

I see wealth as some people imagine,

its possessor among them is its victim.

That the wealth possesses them, not they it.

خيرُ مالٍ موزونُهُ لذوي الحمْ

خيرُ مالٍ موزونُهُ لذوي الحمْ

دِ كما خيرُ حَمْدِهم موزونه

دِ كما خيرُ حَمْدِهم موزونه

The best wealth is what is weighed out to those who praise,

Best wealth is its measured sum for the praiseworthy,

just as their finest praise is measured verse.

Just as best praise is its measured sum.

وأصحُّ الآراءِ ما ظنَّ ذُو الأَفْ

وأصحُّ الآراءِ ما ظنَّ ذُو الأَفْ

نِ بِذي الرأي أنَّهُ مأفونه

نِ بِذي الرأي أنَّهُ مأفونه

The soundest views are those for which a fool

Soundest views are those you'd think, possessed by their holder,

deems a man of judgment his fool.

That he was bereft of them.

والفَتى الحازِمُ الحصين حصوناً

والفَتى الحازِمُ الحصين حصوناً

مَنْ تُلاقيهِ والأيادي حصونه

مَنْ تُلاقيهِ والأيادي حصونه

The prudent young man, securely fortified,

The composed youth, a fortress of fortresses,

is one whose fortresses, when you meet him, are his favors.

Is he whom you meet, his hands his fortress.

وأخسُّ الرجالِ مَنْ راحَ فيهم

وأخسُّ الرجالِ مَنْ راحَ فيهم

مُسْلَمَ العِرض سالماً ماعونه

مُسْلَمَ العِرض سالماً ماعونه

The basest man is one who goes among them

Vilest of men is he who walked amongst them,

with his honor abandoned and his possessions intact.

Surrendering honour, greeting disgrace.

أنْفِق المالَ قبل إنفاقكَ العم

أنْفِق المالَ قبل إنفاقكَ العم

رَ ففي الدهر ريبُهُ ومَنونه

رَ ففي الدهر ريبُهُ ومَنونه

Spend your wealth before you spend your life;

Spend your money before spending your life,

time holds its reversals and its doom.

For time is fickle, ephemeral.

قلَّ ما ينفع الثراءُ بخيلاً

قلَّ ما ينفع الثراءُ بخيلاً

عَلِقَتْ في الثَّرَى المهيلِ رُهونه

عَلِقَتْ في الثَّرَى المهيلِ رُهونه

Rarely does wealth benefit a miser

Rarely does wealth benefit a miser;

whose pledges lie caught in the heaped-up dust.

In the sod, the vessels of his coveting are pledged.

لا تظنَّنَّ أن مالك شيء

لا تظنَّنَّ أن مالك شيء

كدم الجوف خيره محقونه

كدم الجوف خيره محقونه

Do not imagine your wealth is something

Think not your money is a thing belonging to you,

like blood within the body, best when kept unspilled.

Like blood of your veins, its best diluted.

لو نجا من حِمامهِ جاعلُ الما

لو نجا من حِمامهِ جاعلُ الما

ل مَعاذاً له نجا قارونه

ل مَعاذاً له نجا قارونه

If one could escape death by making wealth

Had he who hoarded wealth escaped his ruin,

his refuge, wealth's Qarun would have escaped.

So too would Qarun have escaped his.

ازرع الحُبَّ تَسْتدمْهُ فَمِمَّا

ازرع الحُبَّ تَسْتدمْهُ فَمِمَّا

رُدَّ مزروعُهُ أتَى مَطْحونه

رُدَّ مزروعُهُ أتَى مَطْحونه

Sow love and sustain it; for from what

Sow affection, and you'll reap it enduring,

returns its sown seed comes its milled grain.

For some of what's sown returns, milled.

كلْ وأطعمْ فربما راعَ ريْعاً

كلْ وأطعمْ فربما راعَ ريْعاً

زاكياً من تعولُه وتَمونه

زاكياً من تعولُه وتَمونه

Eat and feed others; often a return comes,

Eat and feed, for perhaps tending gain

abundant, from one you support and provide for.

Bountiful and blessed, are those you nourish.

لا تَفرَّدْ بأكل مالٍ ولا تَمْ

لا تَفرَّدْ بأكل مالٍ ولا تَمْ

نُنْ بعُرْفٍ فَشَرُّهُ مَمْنونه

نُنْ بعُرْفٍ فَشَرُّهُ مَمْنونه

Do not consume wealth alone, nor make reproaches

Do not hoard from others wealth you eat,

for kindness: the worst is kindness tainted by reminders.

Nor refuse bounty, for it's refuse is vilest.

آكلوا المالِ شاغلوه عن المَجْ

آكلوا المالِ شاغلوه عن المَجْ

دِ ولا ينفع امرءاً مَخزُونه

دِ ولا ينفع امرءاً مَخزُونه

Those who devour wealth distract it from glory;

They who consume wealth, distract it from glory,

what lies hoarded away profits no man.

And hoarding benefits no man, amassed.

خازنو المالِ ساجنوه وما كا

خازنو المالِ ساجنوه وما كا

ن ليسعَى لساجنٍ مَسْجونه

ن ليسعَى لساجنٍ مَسْجونه

Hoarders of wealth are its jailers; never

Those who imprison wealth, themselves it imprisons,

would a jailer's prisoner labor for him.

For no imprisoned jailer freedom finds.

إنَّ ربَّ العبادِ يرزقُ من يَخْ

إنَّ ربَّ العبادِ يرزقُ من يَخْ

لُق فليُحْسنَنَّ ظنَّاً ظَنُونه

لُق فليُحْسنَنَّ ظنَّاً ظَنُونه

The Lord of His servants provides for those He creates;

God provides for those he created,

so let whoever doubts Him think well of Him.

So think good thoughts, dispel doubt.

أحسِنِ الظنَّ بالإلهِ ولا تأ

أحسِنِ الظنَّ بالإلهِ ولا تأ

منهُ أمن امرئٍ شديدٍ مجونه

منهُ أمن امرئٍ شديدٍ مجونه

Think well of God, but do not feel

Think good of God, trust not in the pledges

safe from Him like a man steeped in wantonness.

Of a severe man whose oaths are wanton.

واسترِبْ بالمُرِيبِ من كلِّ شيءٍ

واسترِبْ بالمُرِيبِ من كلِّ شيءٍ

واتَّهمْهُ لا تَحْتجنْك حُجونه

واتَّهمْهُ لا تَحْتجنْك حُجونه

Be suspicious of whatever is suspect,

Be suspect of the suspect in all things,

and mistrust it; let not its hooks ensnare you.

And blame him, let not his oaths convince you.

وإذا ما ظننتَ شرّاً فَخَفْهُ

وإذا ما ظننتَ شرّاً فَخَفْهُ

رُبَّ شَرٍّ يقينُه مَظنونه

رُبَّ شَرٍّ يقينُه مَظنونه

Whenever you suspect evil, fear it;

When you expect evil, then beware it;

many a suspected evil proves certain.

Many an evil is certain, though suspected.

لا تَبِيتَنَّ آمِناً من ظَنينٍ

لا تَبِيتَنَّ آمِناً من ظَنينٍ

واحترسْ منه أوْ تليك أُمونه

واحترسْ منه أوْ تليك أُمونه

Never pass the night feeling safe from a suspect;

Do not rest secure from suspecting foes,

guard against him, or his treachery will befall you.

Take care, else their treachery will surprise you.

كم رُكونٍ جنى عليكَ حِذاراً

كم رُكونٍ جنى عليكَ حِذاراً

مَنْ أطالَ الركونَ قلَّ رُكونه

مَنْ أطالَ الركونَ قلَّ رُكونه

How often trust has earned you caution!

How much ease has an enemy denied you,

Whoever trusts too long comes to trust little.

When long ease made you less wary?

إنْ تَطُلْ مِحْنَتِي فلا أنا مَفْتو

إنْ تَطُلْ مِحْنَتِي فلا أنا مَفْتو

نٌ زماني ولا أخي مفتونه

نٌ زماني ولا أخي مفتونه

If my ordeal lasts, I am not led astray

If my ordeal's prolonged, I'm not addled -

by my times, nor is my brother led astray by them.

My time, nor my mind deranged.

بل فتىً ذو خَليقةٍ تَضْرحُ اللَّعْ

بل فتىً ذو خَليقةٍ تَضْرحُ اللَّعْ

نَ إذا اللعنُ جرَّهُ مَلْعونه

نَ إذا اللعنُ جرَّهُ مَلْعونه

Rather, a youth whose nature casts aside cursing

Rather, I'm a lad whose nature slashes pain

when the accursed draws the curse upon himself.

When cursed, his curse returns to damn the curser.

غيرَ أَنِّي إذا غدا صاحبُ الما

غيرَ أَنِّي إذا غدا صاحبُ الما

لِ مديناً فإنني مديونه

لِ مديناً فإنني مديونه

Yet, when a man of wealth becomes

Except when the owner of wealth is in debt to me -

a lender, I am his debtor.

Then I am in debt, though creditor by right.

أحملُ الدين في الحقوقِ وإن أُث

أحملُ الدين في الحقوقِ وإن أُث

قِلْتُ والحقُّ قائمٌ قانونه

قِلْتُ والحقُّ قائمٌ قانونه

I carry debts as obligations, even when weighed

I'll carry debts in rights, even if blamed,

down; the law of right stands firm.

For right persists, its law remains.

راض مِنِّي جنونُ دهرٍ سخيفٍ

راض مِنِّي جنونُ دهرٍ سخيفٍ

ربما ثَقَّفَ العقولَ جنونه

ربما ثَقَّفَ العقولَ جنونه

The madness of a foolish age tamed me;

I'm pleased by the madness of a foolish time,

sometimes its madness sharpens minds.

Maybe it will enlighten maddened minds.

راضني ثم هاجني فاعتلاه

راضني ثم هاجني فاعتلاه

بي شديدُ المحال لا موهونه

بي شديدُ المحال لا موهونه

It tamed me, then provoked me; above it rose,

It pleased me then provoked me, yet it's ruled

through me, one mighty in power, not weak.

By ceaseless whims, never reigned in.

وثَّبَ الدهرَ وَثْبَةً جشَّمَتْنِي

وثَّبَ الدهرَ وَثْبَةً جشَّمَتْنِي

سَلَّ سَيْفٍ عَمِرتُ دهراً أصونه

سَلَّ سَيْفٍ عَمِرتُ دهراً أصونه

He made time leap—a leap that compelled me

It leaped at days in steps that bruised me,

to draw a sword I had long kept safe.

Drew a sword whose edge I'd long sheathed.

طالَ عَهْدي به ولم يَتَغَيَّرْ

طالَ عَهْدي به ولم يَتَغَيَّرْ

ليَ مصقولُه ولا مسنونه

ليَ مصقولُه ولا مسنونه

Long has my acquaintance with it lasted; unchanged

Long was my pact with it, unchanged,

for me are its polished surface and its sharpened edge.

Burnished or worn by time.

وعزيزٌ عليَّ سلِّيه لكنْ

وعزيزٌ عليَّ سلِّيه لكنْ

كُلُّ سَيْفٍ فللظهور كُمونه

كُلُّ سَيْفٍ فللظهور كُمونه

It pains me to draw it; yet

Yet to draw it is hard, though in my heart a blaze

every sword lies hidden only to emerge.

Nearly burst free from my secret depths.

جَرَّدته يدي وفي القلبِ وَجْدٌ

جَرَّدته يدي وفي القلبِ وَجْدٌ

كادَ يَفْرِي تَجَمُّلِي مكنونه

كادَ يَفْرِي تَجَمُّلِي مكنونه

My hand unsheathed it, with anguish in my heart;

I struck at time until its sharpness yielded,

what lay hidden nearly rent my composure.

After defiant excess, bent to me.

فضربتُ الزمانَ حتى استكانتْ

فضربتُ الزمانَ حتى استكانتْ

بِيضُهُ بعدما استطالتْ وجُونه

بِيضُهُ بعدما استطالتْ وجُونه

So I struck time until its helmets submitted,

With a sword that rejects betrayal to the slain

after its rugged heights had towered,

When one trusted is betrayed.

بحسام يأبَى الخيانة في الرَّوْ

بحسام يأبَى الخيانة في الرَّوْ

عِ إذا خان آمناً مأمونه

عِ إذا خان آمناً مأمونه

with a sword that refuses treachery amid terror,

It's not forged of iron essence,

when a trusting man is betrayed by one he trusts.

But from glory, its blade and sheath.

ليس من جوهرِ الحديدِ مَصُوغاً

ليس من جوهرِ الحديدِ مَصُوغاً

بل من المجدِ نصلُهُ وجُفونه

بل من المجدِ نصلُهُ وجُفونه

It is not wrought from the substance of iron;

If time were lent the loyalty in Musa's son,

its blade and its scabbards are made of glory.

Its epochs would not expire.

لو أُعير الزمانُ ما في ابنِ موسَى

لو أُعير الزمانُ ما في ابنِ موسَى

من وفاءٍ لما تفانت قرونه

من وفاءٍ لما تفانت قرونه

Were time lent what lies in Ibn Musa

If the sword were lent the clarity in Musa's son,

of loyalty, its generations would not perish in succession.

No rust would tarnish its sheen.

لو أعيرَ الحُسامُ ما في ابن موسى

لو أعيرَ الحُسامُ ما في ابن موسى

من صفاءٍ لما جلته قيونه

من صفاءٍ لما جلته قيونه

Were the sword lent what lies in Ibn Musa

Majid, whose sweat soaked the earth of glory,

of purity, its smiths would never need to polish it.

And fulfilled the boughs' branches.

ماجدٌ ساخ عرقُهُ في ثرى المجْ

ماجدٌ ساخ عرقُهُ في ثرى المجْ

دِ وأوفت على الغصون غُصونه

دِ وأوفت على الغصون غُصونه

A noble man whose root sank into glory's soil,

A lad in whom all wisdom stirs,

and whose branches overtopped the branches.

And stillness suits his composure.

من فَتىً للذَّكاءِ كلُّ حراكٍ

من فَتىً للذَّكاءِ كلُّ حراكٍ

حلَّ فيه وللوقاء سكونُه

حلَّ فيه وللوقاء سكونُه

In this youth, intelligence claims every movement

He never neglected to probe mysteries,

that arises in him, and protection claims his stillness.

Keeping sharp eyes on the loyal.

لم يَزَلْ ذا تَفَقُّد للخفايا

لم يَزَلْ ذا تَفَقُّد للخفايا

مُذْكياتٍ على الصَّديقِ عُيونه

مُذْكياتٍ على الصَّديقِ عُيونه

He has always been attentive to hidden things,

O scion of the Bareem clan, I have hope

his eyes keenly watchful over his friend.

In none but you Majid to fulfill it.

يا فَتَى آل بَرمكٍ ليَ مُرْجىً

يا فَتَى آل بَرمكٍ ليَ مُرْجىً

ما أرى ماجداً سواك يكونه

ما أرى ماجداً سواك يكونه

O youth of Barmak's house, I have someone to hope in;

I thank and praise you Abu Hasan of beauty,

I see no noble man but you who could be that one.

When backs are burdened by debts.

أحمدَ الحمدِ يا أبا حسن الحسْ

أحمدَ الحمدِ يا أبا حسن الحسْ

نَى إذا الظهرُ أثقلتهُ ديونه

نَى إذا الظهرُ أثقلتهُ ديونه

O Ahmad of praise, O Abu Hasan of kindness,

I thank and praise you Abu Hasan most fine,

when a man's back is weighed down by his debts;

When hearts are aligned with sorrows.

أحمدَ الحمدِ يا أبا حسن الحُسْ

أحمدَ الحمدِ يا أبا حسن الحُسْ

نَى إذا القلبُ حَالفتْه شُجونه

نَى إذا القلبُ حَالفتْه شُجونه

O Ahmad of praise, O Abu Hasan of kindness,

There is a sanctity between us, and time has bit me,

when the heart's sorrows ally themselves with it.

Though its command could not rend.

بيننا حُرمةٌ وقد عضَّني الده

بيننا حُرمةٌ وقد عضَّني الده

رُ ولا قَتْ ظهورَ أمرِي بطونه

رُ ولا قَتْ ظهورَ أمرِي بطونه

A sacred bond joins us; time has bitten me,

The sword bears witness you're the true sword,

and my affairs' outsides have met their insides.

No deceiver who would betray the undeceiving.

شهد السيفُ أنَّكَ السيفُ حقاً

شهد السيفُ أنَّكَ السيفُ حقاً

لا كَهامٌ يخونُ من لا يخونه

لا كَهامٌ يخونُ من لا يخونه

The sword testifies that you are truly the sword,

So accomplish my need, for in needs

not a blunt blade that betrays one who does not betray it.

You're the fortunate bird, its omen blessed.

فامضِ في حاجتي فإنك في الحا

فامضِ في حاجتي فإنك في الحا

جةِ مسعودُ طائرٍ مَيمونه

جةِ مسعودُ طائرٍ مَيمونه

So press on with my request; in matters of need,

Your share, I think, embraces glory,

your bird of omen is fortunate and blessed.

So walk with your brother, we'll embrace our ruin.

لك حظّ أراه يُعْنِقُ في السَّيْ

لك حظّ أراه يُعْنِقُ في السَّيْ

رِ فساير أخاك تُعْنِقْ حَرونه

رِ فساير أخاك تُعْنِقْ حَرونه

Your luck, I see, moves at a brisk pace;

Musa is the confidant of those who confide,

keep pace with your brother and set his balking fortune running.

Strengthened through his support of Aaron.

إنَّ موسى نَجِيُّ من لا يناجَى

إنَّ موسى نَجِيُّ من لا يناجَى

شُدَّ منهُ بِعَوْنِهِ هارونه

شُدَّ منهُ بِعَوْنِهِ هارونه

Musa is the confidant of Him none can privately address;

So aid me, for perhaps with treasure laid bare

his Harun was strengthened through him, by His help.

Lies one roused by another concealed.

فأعنِّي فَرُبَّ صاحبِ كنز

فأعنِّي فَرُبَّ صاحبِ كنز

مستثارٌ بغيرِه مدفونه

مستثارٌ بغيرِه مدفونه

So help me: many a treasure-owner

Do not neglect a gathering where

has his buried hoard unearthed by another.

My good thoughts of you prove true, for words have their crafts.

لا تدعْ محضراً تُحقِّقُ فيه

لا تدعْ محضراً تُحقِّقُ فيه

حُسْنَ ظَنِّي فالقولُ جَمٌّ فنونه

حُسْنَ ظَنِّي فالقولُ جَمٌّ فنونه

Do not miss a gathering where you can vindicate

And dress my ode in the finest ode,

my good opinion; speech has many arts.

Like the sweetest melodies' trills.

واكسُ شعري من النشيدِ نشيداً

واكسُ شعري من النشيدِ نشيداً

كالغناء المُشذَّراتِ لُحُونه

كالغناء المُشذَّراتِ لُحُونه

And dress my verse in a recitation

For how many faults have you cloaked, that I see

like song whose melodies are adorned.

In none cloaked or composed wrong.

فلكم مُعْوِرٍ سترتَ فما أعْ

فلكم مُعْوِرٍ سترتَ فما أعْ

ور مكسورُه ولا ملحونه

ور مكسورُه ولا ملحونه

How many a flawed piece you have covered! No fault appeared

And if you display the garb of a friend,

in its broken meter or its faulty grammar.

Like brocade - none other matches its weave.

وإذا ما نشرت بزَّ صديق

وإذا ما نشرت بزَّ صديق

فكديباج غيرهِ بزيونه

فكديباج غيرهِ بزيونه

And when you spread out a friend's cloth,

Time has one possessed, so treat him,

his lesser fabric is like another's brocade.

And perhaps he will show me one possessed.

إنَّ للدهرِ منجنوناً فعالجْ

إنَّ للدهرِ منجنوناً فعالجْ

ه عسى أن يدور لي منجنونه

ه عسى أن يدور لي منجنونه

Time has a waterwheel; work it,

Be diligent in my need before one easy,

perhaps its waterwheel will turn in my favor.

Whose heights are facile and fecund.

جُدْ بتسهيل حاجتي عند سهلٍ

جُدْ بتسهيل حاجتي عند سهلٍ

للمعالي سهوله وحُزونه

للمعالي سهوله وحُزونه

Be generous in easing my request with Sahl;

A hopeful wish is a promise to its hopeful,

his plains and rugged heights are devoted to noble aims.

A promise, and its fulfillment secure.

وَعْدُ أمنيَّةِ المؤمل عنه

وَعْدُ أمنيَّةِ المؤمل عنه

وعْد فيه ووعدُه مضمونه

وعْد فيه ووعدُه مضمونه

A hopeful seeker's wish makes a promise on his behalf;

Generosity released his wealth to reap praise,

it is a promise concerning him, and his promise is guaranteed.

As the hopeful's hands are freed from prison.

أطلقَ المالَ جودُهُ يجتني الحم

أطلقَ المالَ جودُهُ يجتني الحم

دَ وأيدي المؤملين سجونه

دَ وأيدي المؤملين سجونه

His generosity frees wealth to harvest praise;

Between his robes, a sun of wisdom and rain

the hands of hopeful seekers are its prisons.

Of bounty spills upon us, abundant.

بين ثوبَيْهِ شمسُ رأي وغَيْثٍ

بين ثوبَيْهِ شمسُ رأي وغَيْثٍ

مستهَلُّ الحيا علينا هَتُونه

مستهَلُّ الحيا علينا هَتُونه

Between his two robes are a sun of judgment and a raincloud,

So guidance is where the sun rises from it,

pouring forth rain, its showers streaming upon us.

And dew where its abundance spills.

فالهُدى حيث تطلعُ الشمسُ مِنْهُ

فالهُدى حيث تطلعُ الشمسُ مِنْهُ

والندى حيث تستهِلُّ دجونه

والندى حيث تستهِلُّ دجونه

Guidance is where the sun rises from him;

and bounty is where his dark clouds pour down.