أَلاَ قُلْ لِمَنْ يَبْغِي إِلَى العِزِّ مَنْفَذاً

أَلاَ قُلْ لِمَنْ يَبْغِي إِلَى العِزِّ مَنْفَذاً

إِلَهَكَ فَاذْكُرْ دَائِماً ودَعِ البَذَا

إِلَهَكَ فَاذْكُرْ دَائِماً ودَعِ البَذَا

Listen: tell whoever seeks a path to honor:

Tell those who seek glory, your God is the only way

Say to him who seeks a passage to glory:

Remember your God always, and abandon foul speech.

Remember Him always and leave foolishness astray

Remember your God always, and forsake foul speech.

ولاَ تَشْتَرِ الدنْيا بِدينِكَ سَاءَ مَنْ

ولاَ تَشْتَرِ الدنْيا بِدينِكَ سَاءَ مَنْ

يَبيعُ بِأَفْلاَذِ الزُّجاجِ زُمُرُّذَا

يَبيعُ بِأَفْلاَذِ الزُّجاجِ زُمُرُّذَا

And do not buy worldly life with your faith; wretched is he

Do not sell your faith for this life, how awful is he

And do not sell your religion for this world; wretched is the one who

who sells an emerald for shards of glass.

Who sells pearls for fragments of glass thrown away

Sells emeralds for pieces of glass.

وقُلْ لِلْعُيونِ النَّاظِراتِ لَهَا امْرَهِي

وقُلْ لِلْعُيونِ النَّاظِراتِ لَهَا امْرَهِي

وَبِالْجِدِّ لاَ بِالْكَدِّ كُنْ مُتَلَوِّذَا

وَبِالْجِدِّ لاَ بِالْكَدِّ كُنْ مُتَلَوِّذَا

And tell the eyes that gaze upon it: “Grow bleary!”

Say to prying eyes, tend to your own affairs

And say to the eyes that gaze upon it: 'Weep',

And take refuge in earnestness, not in toil.

Attain through hard work not trickery your goals each day

And seek refuge in earnest endeavor, not in mere toil.

وَقُلْ لِلدَّنَايَا خَامِري أُمَّ عَامِرٍ

وَقُلْ لِلدَّنَايَا خَامِري أُمَّ عَامِرٍ

فَلَنْ تَجِدِي عِنْدِي لأَِخْذِكِ مَأْخَذَا

فَلَنْ تَجِدِي عِنْدِي لأَِخْذِكِ مَأْخَذَا

And tell base deeds: “Hide away, Umm ʿĀmir!”

Say to tempting life, seductress, daughter of one wealthy

Say to base deeds: 'Hide yourself, O Umm Amir, the hyena!

For you will find in me no opening for your grasp.

You’ll find in me no place where you can lead me astray

For you will find no hold upon me to seize me.'

وَأَيَّاكَ وَالْفَدْمَ الْخَسِيسَ فَجَافِهِ

وَأَيَّاكَ وَالْفَدْمَ الْخَسِيسَ فَجَافِهِ

تَجِدْ بَعْدَهُ طَعْمَ الْحَيَاةِ طَبَرْزَذَا

تَجِدْ بَعْدَهُ طَعْمَ الْحَيَاةِ طَبَرْزَذَا

And beware the base dullard: shun him.

Beware of vile souls, shun them outright

Beware the despicable dullard, and shun him;

Away from him, you will find life's taste sweet as rock sugar.

After them you’ll find life’s taste acrid and gray

After him, you will find the taste of life as sweet as sugar.

فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُنْئِهِ يُدْنِكَ الْخَنَا

فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُنْئِهِ يُدْنِكَ الْخَنَا

وَيُلْبِسْكَ مِنْ نَسْجِ الْمَذَلَّةِ مِشْوَذَا

وَيُلْبِسْكَ مِنْ نَسْجِ الْمَذَلَّةِ مِشْوَذَا

For if you do not keep him far away, he will draw you into foulness,

For if you do not spurn them, they will drag you down

For if you do not keep him at a distance, he will bring obscenity near to you,

and clothe you in a turban woven of humiliation.

And dress you in the garb of disgrace and decay

And clothe you in a turban woven of humiliation.

تَعَمَّمْ بِعِزٍّ وَهْوَ صَبْرٌ وَعِفَّةٌ

تَعَمَّمْ بِعِزٍّ وَهْوَ صَبْرٌ وَعِفَّةٌ

فَأَخْبِثْ بِمَنْ بِالذُّلِّ يَوْماً تَشَوَّذَا

فَأَخْبِثْ بِمَنْ بِالذُّلِّ يَوْماً تَشَوَّذَا

Make honor your turban: it is patience and chastity.

Cloak yourself in dignity, patience and piety

Turban yourself with honor, which is patience and purity,

So how vile is one who ever wore humiliation as his turban!

Make wretched whom in baseness found pleasure one day

For how vile is the one who one day turbans himself with disgrace.

وَصَدِّقْ بِفِعْلِ مَا تَقولُ تَكُنْ فَتىً

وَصَدِّقْ بِفِعْلِ مَا تَقولُ تَكُنْ فَتىً

فَأَغْبَى الْوَرى مَنْ كانَ مِنْهُمْ مُطَرْمِذَا

فَأَغْبَى الْوَرى مَنْ كانَ مِنْهُمْ مُطَرْمِذَا

And make your deeds bear out your words; you will be a noble youth.

And make your actions prove your words, be a true man

Validate what you say with your actions, and you will be a true man,

For the most foolish of humankind is the empty braggart among them.

For most foolish is he says one thing, does another way

For the most foolish of people is the one who boasts of what he does not do.

وَنَفْسَكَ جَاهِدْهَا إِذَا مَا تَمَرَّدَتْ

وَنَفْسَكَ جَاهِدْهَا إِذَا مَا تَمَرَّدَتْ

وَإِلاَّ تَجِدْ سَهْمَ الرَّدَى لَكَ مَنْفَذَا

وَإِلاَّ تَجِدْ سَهْمَ الرَّدَى لَكَ مَنْفَذَا

And struggle against your own soul whenever it rebels;

Your soul struggle with when it rebels against you

Strive against your soul whenever it rebels,

otherwise, you will find death's arrow has a passage into you.

Or else you will find the arrow of ruin make its way

Or else the arrow of ruin will find a passage to you.

أَرَى النَّفْسَ سِعْلاَةً تَطِيرُ لِبَارِقٍ

أَرَى النَّفْسَ سِعْلاَةً تَطِيرُ لِبَارِقٍ

مِنَ الشَّرِّ إِنْ عَمْرُ الْعُقُولِ لَهَا احْتَذَى

مِنَ الشَّرِّ إِنْ عَمْرُ الْعُقُولِ لَهَا احْتَذَى

I see the soul as a she-ghoul, flying toward a flash

I see the soul a leaping doe that flies to any

I see the soul as a female demon, flying toward the lightning-flash

of evil, if the life of minds follows her lead.

Flash of evil, for the life of minds is its prey

Of evil, if the life of minds takes it as a guide.

وَوَفِّرْ بِبَذْلِ الْوَفْرِ عِرْضَكَ مِنْ أَذىً

وَوَفِّرْ بِبَذْلِ الْوَفْرِ عِرْضَكَ مِنْ أَذىً

وَذُدْ بِالسَّخَاءِ الذَّمَّ عَنْكَ وَأَشْقِذَا

وَذُدْ بِالسَّخَاءِ الذَّمَّ عَنْكَ وَأَشْقِذَا

And preserve your honor from harm by giving of your wealth,

Repel with generosity harm from your honor

Protect your honor from harm by spending your wealth freely,

and fend off blame through generosity, driving it away.

And blunt with generosity the slander thrown your way

And repel blame from yourself through generosity, and chase it away.

وَلَكِنْ بَِقَصْدٍ وَاجْتِنَابِ تَبَذُّرٍ

وَلَكِنْ بَِقَصْدٍ وَاجْتِنَابِ تَبَذُّرٍ

وَإِلاَّ فَقَدْ تَبْلَى وَلَنْ تُلْفَ مُنْقَذَا

وَإِلاَّ فَقَدْ تَبْلَى وَلَنْ تُلْفَ مُنْقَذَا

But with moderation and avoidance of squandering;

But with moderation and avoiding excess

But do so with moderation, avoiding extravagance,

otherwise, you may come to grief and never be rescued.

Or else you’ll wear out and no escape can you parlay

Or else you will be ruined and will never find a rescuer.

وَجَنِّبْ بَنِي الدُّنْيَا يُجَنِّبْكَ كَيْدُهُمْ

وَجَنِّبْ بَنِي الدُّنْيَا يُجَنِّبْكَ كَيْدُهُمْ

فَسَلْ عَنْ أَذَاهُمْ أَحْوَذِيّاً مُجَرَّذَا

فَسَلْ عَنْ أَذَاهُمْ أَحْوَذِيّاً مُجَرَّذَا

And avoid the sons of this world; that will spare you their guile.

Avoid the schemes of worldly men, their plots avoid you

Avoid the children of this world, and their plotting will avoid you;

So ask a resourceful, seasoned man about their harm.

Ask one hurt by their harms, ask one led them astray

Ask about their harm an experienced, seasoned man.

فَسَلْ عنْ بَنِي الدنيا عَلِيماً بِحَالِهِمْ

فَسَلْ عنْ بَنِي الدنيا عَلِيماً بِحَالِهِمْ

تَمَعْدَدَ فِيهِمْ بَعْدَمَا قَدْ تََبَغْذَذَا

تَمَعْدَدَ فِيهِمْ بَعْدَمَا قَدْ تََبَغْذَذَا

So ask about the sons of this world one who knows their condition,

Ask about the people of this world one knowing their state

Ask about the sons of the world one who knows their true condition,

who grew hardy like Maʿadd among them after acquiring Baghdad's refinement.

Once joined to them and then escaped their fangs one day

Who lived a harsh bedouin life among them after enjoying Baghdad's luxury.

لََنَجَّذَنِي مَكْرُ اللِّئَامِ وَكَيْدُهُمْ

لََنَجَّذَنِي مَكْرُ اللِّئَامِ وَكَيْدُهُمْ

وَمَا الْكَيْدُ إِلاَّ مَا أَخَا الْعِلْمِ نَجَّذَا

وَمَا الْكَيْدُ إِلاَّ مَا أَخَا الْعِلْمِ نَجَّذَا

The plotting and guile of the base have indeed seasoned me;

The cunning and plots of villains rescued me

The deceit and plotting of the wicked have indeed made me seasoned,

and guile is nothing but what seasons the man of learning.

And no plot succeeds but what knowledge leads astray

And plotting is but that which makes the man of knowledge wise and tested.

وأرْهَفَ سَيْفَ اللُّبِّ رِبْذَةُ خَبِّهِمْ

وأرْهَفَ سَيْفَ اللُّبِّ رِبْذَةُ خَبِّهِمْ

وَأَعْظِمْ بِخَبٍّ كَانَ لِلُّبِّ مِشْحَذَا

وَأَعْظِمْ بِخَبٍّ كَانَ لِلُّبِّ مِشْحَذَا

And the nimbleness of their deceit sharpened the sword of reason.

The blade of villainy is sharpened by the whetstone of their vice

The malice of their deceit has sharpened the sword of the intellect,

And how great a deceit that has been a whetstone for reason!

And amplifies vice what for villainy was honed each day

And how great is a deceit that acts as a whetstone for the mind!

وَلاَسِيَّمَا مَنْ يَدَّعِي الْعِلْمَ مِنْهُمُ

وَلاَسِيَّمَا مَنْ يَدَّعِي الْعِلْمَ مِنْهُمُ

أُولَئِكَ كلٌّ فِي حِمَى الْمَكْرِ هِرْبِذَا

أُولَئِكَ كلٌّ فِي حِمَى الْمَكْرِ هِرْبِذَا

And especially those among them who claim knowledge:

Especially those claiming knowledge from among them

Especially those among them who lay claim to knowledge;

each of those is a fire-priest in the sanctuary of guile.

Each lurks in the sanctuary of cunning, I would say

Every one of them is a chief priest in the sanctuary of deceit.

بِهِ لاَ بِظَبْيٍ قَوْلُهُمْ لَكَ عِنْدَمَا

بِهِ لاَ بِظَبْيٍ قَوْلُهُمْ لَكَ عِنْدَمَا

يَهُمُّكَ مِنْهُمْ مَا يُهِمُّكَ مِنْ أَذَى

يَهُمُّكَ مِنْهُمْ مَا يُهِمُّكَ مِنْ أَذَى

“On him, not on a gazelle!” is what they say to you when

Not with beauty, but their words to you when

'May it strike him, not a gazelle,' is their saying to you when

whatever harm from them troubles you weighs upon you.

You’re vexed by their vexing and troubles that come your way

You are troubled by the harm from them that concerns you.

إذَا أَبْصَرُوا شَرْيَانَ فَقْرِكَ نَابِضاً

إذَا أَبْصَرُوا شَرْيَانَ فَقْرِكَ نَابِضاً

قَلَوْكَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ الْعَلِيمَ الْمُنَجَّذَا

قَلَوْكَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ الْعَلِيمَ الْمُنَجَّذَا

If they see the artery of your poverty pulsing,

When they see the pulse of your poverty throbbing

Yet if they see the artery of your poverty throbbing,

they loathe you, even if you are learned and seasoned.

They undermine you, even if you are wise and led the way

They despise and abandon you, even if you are the learned, seasoned one.

وَإِنْ هُمْ رَأَوْا لِلْفَدْمِ وَفْراً تَسَاقَطُوا

وَإِنْ هُمْ رَأَوْا لِلْفَدْمِ وَفْراً تَسَاقَطُوا

عَليْهِ وَكانُوا بِالْحِمَى مِنْهُ لُوَّذَا

عَليْهِ وَكانُوا بِالْحِمَى مِنْهُ لُوَّذَا

And if they see a dullard possessed of wealth, they tumble

And if they see abundance in the vile one, they fall

But if they see wealth belonging to a dullard, they fall

upon him, seeking shelter in the sanctuary he provides.

Upon it, having for it from birth been led astray

Upon him, and seek refuge in his sanctuary.

فَإِنْ شِئْتَ تَبْقَى قَذىً فِي عُيُونِهِمْ

فَإِنْ شِئْتَ تَبْقَى قَذىً فِي عُيُونِهِمْ

فَغَمِّضْ جُفُونَ الصَّبْرِ مِنْكَ عَلَى قَذَى

فَغَمِّضْ جُفُونَ الصَّبْرِ مِنْكَ عَلَى قَذَى

So if you wish to remain a mote in their eyes,

If you wish to remain a speck in their eyes

So if you wish to remain a speck of dust in their eyes,

then close your own eyelids of patience over grit.

Then close the eyes of patience to the speck and fray

Close your eyelids of patience over the mote.

فَمَنْ لَمْ يُكَابِدْ حِرَّةً تَحْتَ قِرَّةٍ

فَمَنْ لَمْ يُكَابِدْ حِرَّةً تَحْتَ قِرَّةٍ

لَهُمْ يُمْسِ فِي أَرْضِ الْهَوانِ مُنَبَّذَا

لَهُمْ يُمْسِ فِي أَرْضِ الْهَوانِ مُنَبَّذَا

For whoever does not endure heat beneath coldness

For he who does not endure the heat under coolness

For whoever does not endure a burning thirst beneath their coldness

on their account ends up cast out in the land of humiliation.

On the land of disgrace will tossed away and decay

Will end up cast away in the land of humiliation.

وَإِنَّ سَرَّكَ الْمَحْيَا وَنَارُ قُلُوبِهِمْ

وَإِنَّ سَرَّكَ الْمَحْيَا وَنَارُ قُلُوبِهِمْ

تَسَعَّرُ مِنْ وَجْدٍ سِبَابَهُمُ اُنْبِذَا

تَسَعَّرُ مِنْ وَجْدٍ سِبَابَهُمُ اُنْبِذَا

And if it pleases you to live while the fire in their hearts

And if you love life and their hearts are aflame

If your survival pleases you while the fire of their hearts

blazes with anguish, cast reviling them aside.

Their insults blaze from passion and spite each day

Blazes with rage, then cast aside their insults.

لَتَرْكُ سِبَابَ النَّذْلِ كانَ أَمَضَّ مِنْ

لَتَرْكُ سِبَابَ النَّذْلِ كانَ أَمَضَّ مِنْ

أَحَدِّ الظُّبَى وَقْعاً علَيْهِ وَأَنْفَذَا

أَحَدِّ الظُّبَى وَقْعاً علَيْهِ وَأَنْفَذَا

Surely, refraining from reviling a scoundrel is more painful than

To leave insulting the base was more effective than

For ignoring the insults of the scoundrel is more painful

the sharpest blades' blow upon him, and more piercing.

A sharp arrow striking its target point blank and straight

And piercing to him than the blow of the sharpest swords.

تَعَوَّذْ بِحَبْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَالْحِلْمِ وَالتُّقَى

تَعَوَّذْ بِحَبْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَالْحِلْمِ وَالتُّقَى

تَبُذَّ الذِي بِالْغَيِّ مِنْهُمْ تَعَوَّذَا

تَبُذَّ الذِي بِالْغَيِّ مِنْهُمْ تَعَوَّذَا

Seek refuge in the rope of knowledge, forbearance, and piety;

Take refuge in the rope of knowledge, patience and piety

Seek refuge in the rope of knowledge, forbearance, and piety,

you will surpass whoever among them has sought refuge in error.

You banish what with immorality from them took refuge each day

And you will surpass the one among them who takes refuge in transgression.

وَلاَ تَلْتَفِتْ مِنْهُمْ لِمَدْحٍ وَلاَ هِجاً

وَلاَ تَلْتَفِتْ مِنْهُمْ لِمَدْحٍ وَلاَ هِجاً

فَذَمُّهُمُ مَدْحٌ وَمَدْحُهُمُ بَذَا

فَذَمُّهُمُ مَدْحٌ وَمَدْحُهُمُ بَذَا

And heed neither praise nor invective from them;

Do not heed from them praise or insult

Pay no attention to their praise or their satire,

for their blame is praise, and their praise is foul speech.

Their blame is praise, their praise is but decay

For their dispraise is praise, and their praise is foul speech.

وَلاَ تَكُ حُلْواً تُسْتَرَطْ بِحُلُوقِهِمْ

وَلاَ تَكُ حُلْواً تُسْتَرَطْ بِحُلُوقِهِمْ

كَمَا لاَ تَكُنْ مُرّاً فَتُعْقَ وَتُنْبَذَا

كَمَا لاَ تَكُنْ مُرّاً فَتُعْقَ وَتُنْبَذَا

And do not be so sweet that you are swallowed down their throats,

Be not made sweet to be spat out by their throats

Do not be so sweet that you are swallowed down their throats,

likewise, do not be so bitter that you are spat out and cast away.

Just as be not bitter, rejected and thrown away

Nor so bitter that you are choked upon and spat out.

وَجَاهِدْهُمْ بِاللهِ رَبِّكَ وَحْدَهُ

وَجَاهِدْهُمْ بِاللهِ رَبِّكَ وَحْدَهُ

تَدُسْ خَدَّ مَنْ يَبْغِي عَلَيْكَ مُفَخِّذَا

تَدُسْ خَدَّ مَنْ يَبْغِي عَلَيْكَ مُفَخِّذَا

And strive against them with the help of God, your Lord, alone;

Struggle against them with your Lord alone

Strive against them by God, your Lord, alone,

you will trample the cheek of whoever wrongs you, breaking his strength.

You defeat whoever against you sought harm in his way

And you will trample the cheek of your oppressor, leaving him weakened.

وَكُنْ فِي حُزُونِ الدِّينِ تُكْسَ بِعِزَّةٍ

وَكُنْ فِي حُزُونِ الدِّينِ تُكْسَ بِعِزَّةٍ

فَإِنَّ أَعَزَّ النَّبْتِ مَا كَانَ عُوَّذَا

فَإِنَّ أَعَزَّ النَّبْتِ مَا كَانَ عُوَّذَا

And dwell on the rugged ground of religion; you will be clothed in honor.

Be among the devout in faith, you will be clothed in might

And in the rugged terrains of religion, be clothed in honor,

For the best-protected plants are those that grow in shelter.

For mightiest of plants are those for harm sheltered each day

For the noblest of plants are those that grow in unapproachable places.

وَصَلِّ عَلَى شَمْسِ الْهُدَى تَنْجُ مِنْ رَدَى

وَصَلِّ عَلَى شَمْسِ الْهُدَى تَنْجُ مِنْ رَدَى

فَنِعْمَ حُلِيُّ الْمُهْتَدِينَ وَحَبَّذَا

فَنِعْمَ حُلِيُّ الْمُهْتَدِينَ وَحَبَّذَا

And send blessings upon the sun of guidance; you will escape destruction.

Send blessings upon the sun of guidance and you will escape ruin

And send blessings upon the Sun of Guidance to be saved from ruin,

What fine adornment for the guided—how admirable!

Blessed indeed is the guide of the guided, I would say

For what an excellent adornment it is for the guided, how wonderful!

تَلَذَّذْ بِهَا تَظْفَرْ بِلَذَّةِ حُبِّهِ

تَلَذَّذْ بِهَا تَظْفَرْ بِلَذَّةِ حُبِّهِ

فَيَا فَوْزَ مَنْ أَمْسَى بِهَا مُتَلَذِّذَا

فَيَا فَوْزَ مَنْ أَمْسَى بِهَا مُتَلَذِّذَا

Take delight in it, and gain the delight of loving him.

Find in it delight, you will win the delight of His love

Find delight in it, and you will attain the delight of His love,

Oh, the triumph of whoever has come to delight in it!

What triumph for one who finds in it delight each day

Oh, the triumph of the one who spends his evening delighting in it.

عَلَيْهِ صَلاَةُ اللهِ وَالطِّيبُ طِيبُهَا

عَلَيْهِ صَلاَةُ اللهِ وَالطِّيبُ طِيبُهَا

وَأَزْكَى سَلاَمٍ طَيِّبِ الْعَرْفِ وَالشَّذَا

وَأَزْكَى سَلاَمٍ طَيِّبِ الْعَرْفِ وَالشَّذَا

Upon him be God's blessing—its perfume is true perfume—

The blessings of God and purest purity upon it

Upon him be the peace and blessings of God, whose fragrance is pure,

and the purest peace, sweet in fragrance and aroma.

And most fragrant salutation of good scent and bouquet

And the purest greetings, sweet in scent and aroma.

كَذَا الآلُ والأصْحابُ وَالْفَضْلُ فَضْلُهُمْ

كَذَا الآلُ والأصْحابُ وَالْفَضْلُ فَضْلُهُمْ

أُولَئِكَ أَقْوَاتُ الْهُدَى بِهِمُ اغْتَذَى

أُولَئِكَ أَقْوَاتُ الْهُدَى بِهِمُ اغْتَذَى

Likewise upon his family and companions; excellence is theirs.

The family, companions, and their excellence too

Likewise upon his family, companions, and their abundant grace;

Those are the provisions of guidance; through them it has been nourished.

They are nourishments of guidance, by them we are led the way

They are the nourishment of guidance by which one is sustained.

فَخُذْهَا تَهَادَى فِي مُلاَءَةِ حِكْمَةٍ

فَخُذْهَا تَهَادَى فِي مُلاَءَةِ حِكْمَةٍ

وَكُنْ لِلَّذِي وَشَّتْ يَدَاهَا مُنَفِّذَا

وَكُنْ لِلَّذِي وَشَّتْ يَدَاهَا مُنَفِّذَا

So take it as it glides in a mantle of wisdom,

Take them, you will be guided in the company of wisdom

So take this poem, swaying in the mantle of wisdom,

and carry out what its two hands have embroidered.

And be one who executed what their hands conveyed each day

And be an executor for the one whose hands embellished it.

تَرَ الْعِزَّ يَحْتَاجُ الْهَوَانَ بِعَضْبِهِ

تَرَ الْعِزَّ يَحْتَاجُ الْهَوَانَ بِعَضْبِهِ

إذَا طَمَّ سَيْلُ الْعِزِّ صَمَّ صَدَى الأَذَى

إذَا طَمَّ سَيْلُ الْعِزِّ صَمَّ صَدَى الأَذَى

You will see honor needing humiliation with its keen sword [wording unclear].

You will see might seeking to crush with its anger

You will see honor eradicating humiliation with its sharp sword;

When honor's torrent overflows, the echo of harm falls silent.

When the torrent of might roars, silenced is harm and decay

When the flood of honor overflows, it deafens the echo of harm.