حَسَدواthey envied الفَتىthe young man إِذwhen لَمdid not يَنالواattain سَعيهُhis striving
حَسَدوا الفَتى إِذ لَم يَنالوا سَعيهُ
فَالقَومُso the people أَعداءٌenemies لَهُto him وَخُصومُand adversaries
فَالقَومُ أَعداءٌ لَهُ وَخُصومُ
They envied the young man when they could not match his striving;
So the people are his enemies and adversaries.
كَضَرائِرِlike the co-wives of الحَسناءِthe beautiful woman قُلنَthey said لِوَجهِهاof her face
كَضَرائِرِ الحَسناءِ قُلنَ لِوَجهِها
حَسداًout of envy وَبَغياًand malice إِنَّهُit is indeed لَدَميمُtruly ugly
حَسداً وَبَغياً إِنَّهُ لَدَميمُ
Like a beauty's co-wives, who said of her face,
Out of envy and malice, 'It is truly ugly!'
وَالوَجهُyet the face يُشرُقُshines فيin الظَلامِthe darkness كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَالوَجهُ يُشرُقُ في الظَلامِ كَأَنَّهُ
بَدرٌa full moon مُنيرٌradiant وَالنِساءُwhile the women نُجومُstars
بَدرٌ مُنيرٌ وَالنِساءُ نُجومُ
Yet her face shines in the darkness as though it were
A radiant full moon, while the women are stars.
وَتَرىand you see اللَبيبَthe discerning man مُحسَّداًmuch envied لَمnot يَجتَرِمcommit an offense
وَتَرى اللَبيبَ مُحسَّداً لَم يَجتَرِم
شَتمَinsulting الرِجالِmen وَعَرضُهُwhile his honor مَشتومُreviled
شَتمَ الرِجالِ وَعَرضُهُ مَشتومُ
You see the discerning man much envied, though innocent of
Insulting men, while his own honor is reviled.
وَكَذاكَand likewise مَنwhoever عَظُمَتhas grown great عَليهِupon him نِعمَةٌa blessing
وَكَذاكَ مَن عَظُمَت عَليهِ نِعمَةٌ
حُسّادُهhis enviers سَيفٌa sword عَليهِagainst him صَرومُkeen-cutting
حُسّادُه سَيفٌ عَليهِ صَرومُ
So too, when someone is greatly blessed,
His enviers are a keen-edged sword against him.
فاِترُكso abandon مُحاوَرةَdebating with السَفيهِthe fool فَإِنَّهاfor it is
فاِترُك مُحاوَرةَ السَفيهِ فَإِنَّها
نَدمٌregret وَغِبٌّand an aftermath بَعدَafter ذاكَthat وَخيمُdire
نَدمٌ وَغِبٌّ بَعدَ ذاكَ وَخيمُ
So abandon disputing with the fool, for it brings
Regret, followed by a dire aftermath.
وَإِذاand if جَريتَyou run مَعwith السَفيهِthe fool كَماas جَرىhe runs
وَإِذا جَريتَ مَع السَفيهِ كَما جَرى
فَكِلاكُماthen both of you فيin جَريهِhis running مَذمومُblameworthy
فَكِلاكُما في جَريهِ مَذمومُ
If you run with the fool as he runs,
Then both of you are blameworthy for running his course.
وَإِذاand if عتِبتَyou find fault عَلىwith السَفيهthe fool وَلُمتَهُand blame him
وَإِذا عتِبتَ عَلى السَفيه وَلُمتَهُ
فيfor مِثلِthe like of ماwhat تأَتيyou do فَأَنتَthen you are ظَلومُdeeply unjust
في مِثلِ ما تأَتي فَأَنتَ ظَلومُ
If you reproach the fool and blame him
For things like those you do, you are deeply unjust.
لاdo not تَنهَforbid عَنfrom خُلُقٍa character trait وَتَأتيَwhile you practice مِثلَهُits like
لا تَنهَ عَن خُلُقٍ وَتَأتيَ مِثلَهُ
عارٌa disgrace عَلَيكَupon you إِذاif فَعَلتُyou do so (vocalized: I do so) عَظيمُgreat
عارٌ عَلَيكَ إِذا فَعَلتُ عَظيمُ
Do not forbid a vice while practicing its like;
A grievous disgrace upon you, if you do so.
ابدأbegin بِنَفسِكَwith yourself وَانَهاand restrain it عَنfrom غِيِّهاits waywardness
ابدأ بِنَفسِكَ وَانَها عَن غِيِّها
فَإِذاthen when انتَهَتit desists عَنهُfrom it فَأَنتَthen you are حَكيمُwise
فَإِذا انتَهَت عَنهُ فَأَنتَ حَكيمُ
Begin with yourself, and restrain your soul from its waywardness;
When it desists from that, then you are wise.
فَهُناكَthen يُقبَلis accepted ماwhat وَعَظتَyou preached وَيُقتَدىand guidance is taken
فَهُناكَ يُقبَل ما وَعَظتَ وَيُقتَدى
بِالعِلمِthrough knowledge مِنكَfrom you وَيَنفَعُand is useful التَعليمُteaching
بِالعِلمِ مِنكَ وَيَنفَعُ التَعليمُ
Then what you preach is accepted, and people take guidance
From your knowledge, and teaching proves useful.
وَيلُwoe to الخَلِيِّthe carefree man مِنَfrom الشَجِيِّthe sorrowful man فَإِنَّهُfor he is
وَيلُ الخَلِيِّ مِنَ الشَجِيِّ فَإِنَّهُ
نَصِبُweary الفُؤادِof heart بِشَجوِهِwith his sorrow مَغمومُgrief-stricken
نَصِبُ الفُؤادِ بِشَجوِهِ مَغمومُ
Woe to the carefree because of the grieving, for the latter is
Weary at heart, weighed down by his grief.
وَتَرىand you see الخَليَّthe carefree man قَريرَcontented عَينٍof eye لاهياًheedless
وَتَرى الخَليَّ قَريرَ عَينٍ لاهياً
وَعَلىwhile upon الشَجيِّthe sorrowful man كَآبَةٌgloom وَهُمومُand cares
وَعَلى الشَجيِّ كَآبَةٌ وَهُمومُ
You see the carefree, contented and heedless,
While gloom and cares lie upon the grieving.
وَتَقولُand you say مالَكwhat is wrong with you? لاnot تَقولyou say مَقالَتيmy words
وَتَقولُ مالَك لا تَقول مَقالَتي
وَلِسانُyet the tongue of ذاthis one طَلقunfettered وَذاand that one مَكظومُstifled
وَلِسانُ ذا طَلق وَذا مَكظومُ
And you say, 'Why do you not speak as I do?'
Yet this one's tongue is free, and that one's is stifled.
لاdo not تَكلَمَنever wound عِرضَthe honor of ابنِthe son of عَمِّكَyour paternal uncle ظالِماًunjustly
لا تَكلَمَن عِرضَ ابنِ عَمِّكَ ظالِماً
فَإِذاfor if فَعَلتَyou do so فَعِرضُكَthen your honor المَكلومُthe wounded one
فَإِذا فَعَلتَ فَعِرضُكَ المَكلومُ
Never unjustly wound your cousin's honor;
For if you do, your own honor is wounded.
وَحَريمُهُand his sacred domain أَيضاًalso حَريمُكَyour sacred domain فاحمِهِso protect it
وَحَريمُهُ أَيضاً حَريمُكَ فاحمِهِ
كيso that لاnot يُباعُis sold لَدَيكَin your presence مِنهُof his حَريمُanything sacred
كي لا يُباعُ لَدَيكَ مِنهُ حَريمُ
What is sacred to him is sacred to you too, so protect it,
Lest anything sacred to him be sold away before you.
وَإِذاand if اِقتَصَصتَyou exact retaliation مِنfrom ابنِthe son of عَمِّكَyour paternal uncle كَلمَةًa wound
وَإِذا اِقتَصَصتَ مِن ابنِ عَمِّكَ كَلمَةً
فَكُلومُهُthen his wounds لَكَto you إِنif عَقِلتَyou understand كُلومُwounds
فَكُلومُهُ لَكَ إِن عَقِلتَ كُلومُ
If you inflict a wound on your cousin in retaliation,
His wounds, if you understand, are wounds to you.
وَإِذاand when طَلَبتَyou ask إِلىof كَريمٍa generous man حاجَةًa favor
وَإِذا طَلَبتَ إِلى كَريمٍ حاجَةً
فَلِقاؤُهُthen meeting him يَكفيكَsuffices you وَالتَسليمُand offering greetings
فَلِقاؤُهُ يَكفيكَ وَالتَسليمُ
When you ask a generous man a favor,
Meeting him and greeting him are enough for you.
فَإِذاthen when رَآكَhe sees you مُسَلِّماًoffering greetings ذَكَرَhe recalls الَّذيwhat
فَإِذا رَآكَ مُسَلِّماً ذَكَرَ الَّذي
كَلَّمتَهُyou spoke to him about فَكأَنَّهُas though he were مَلزومُbound by obligation
كَلَّمتَهُ فَكأَنَّهُ مَلزومُ
When he sees you offering greetings, he recalls what
You spoke to him about, as though bound to fulfill it.
وَرأىand he sees عَواقِبَthe consequences of حَمدِpraise for ذاكَthat وَذَمِّهُand blame for it
وَرأى عَواقِبَ حَمدِ ذاكَ وَذَمِّهُ
لِلمَرءِfor a man تَبقىremain وَالعِظامُwhile the bones رَميمُcrumbled
لِلمَرءِ تَبقى وَالعِظامُ رَميمُ
And he sees that the consequences of praise and blame for that
Remain with a man when his bones have crumbled.
فارجُso put your hope in الكَريمَthe noble man وَإِنeven if رَأَيتَyou see جَفاءَهُhis coldness
فارجُ الكَريمَ وَإِن رَأَيتَ جَفاءَهُ
فالعَتبُfor reproach مِنهُfrom him والكِرامِand from noble men كَريمُis noble
فالعَتبُ مِنهُ والكِرامِ كَريمُ
So place your hope in the noble, even if you encounter his coldness,
For reproach from him, and from noble men, is noble.
إِنif كُنتَyou are مُضطَرّاًcompelled by need وَإِلّاand otherwise فاِتَّخِذthen take
إِن كُنتَ مُضطَرّاً وَإِلّا فاِتَّخِذ
نَفَقاًa tunnel كَأَنَّكَas though you were خائِفٌafraid مَهزومُdefeated
نَفَقاً كَأَنَّكَ خائِفٌ مَهزومُ
If need compels you; otherwise, take
A tunnel, as though frightened and defeated.
وَاِترُكهُand leave him واحذَرand beware أَنthat تَمُرَّyou pass بِبابِهِby his door
وَاِترُكهُ واحذَر أَن تَمُرَّ بِبابِهِ
دَهراًfor a lifetime وَعِرضُكَand your honor إِنif فَعَلتَyou do so سَليمُunharmed
دَهراً وَعِرضُكَ إِن فَعَلتَ سَليمُ
Leave him, and beware of passing his door
All your life; if you heed this, your honor is safe.
فَالناسُfor the people قَدhave indeed صارواbecome بَهائِمَbeasts كُلُّهُمall of them
فَالناسُ قَد صاروا بَهائِمَ كُلُّهُم
وَمِنَand among البَهائِمَthe beasts قائِدٌa leader وَزَعيمُand a chief
وَمِنَ البَهائِمَ قائِدٌ وَزَعيمُ
For people have all become beasts,
And among the beasts are a leader and a chief.
عُميٌblind وَبُكمٌand mute لَيسَnot يُرجىis hoped for نَفعُهُمtheir benefit
عُميٌ وَبُكمٌ لَيسَ يُرجى نَفعُهُم
وَزَعيمُعُمand their leader فيin النائِباتِcalamities مُليمُblameworthy
وَزَعيمُعُم في النائِباتِ مُليمُ
Blind and mute, no benefit is hoped for from them,
And their leader is blameworthy in calamities.
وَإِذاand when طَلَبتَyou ask إِلىof لَئيمٍa base man حاجَةًa favor
وَإِذا طَلَبتَ إِلى لَئيمٍ حاجَةً
فَأَلِحَّthen insist فيwith رِفقٍgentleness وَأَنتَwhile you are مُديمُpersistent
فَأَلِحَّ في رِفقٍ وَأَنتَ مُديمُ
When you ask a base man a favor,
Insist gently, and remain persistent.
وَاِسكُنand settle قِبالَةَopposite بَيتِهِhis house وَفِنائِهِand his courtyard
وَاِسكُن قِبالَةَ بَيتِهِ وَفِنائِهِ
بِأَشَدِّwith the greatest tenacity ماthat لَزِمَclung to الغَريمَthe debtor غَريمُa creditor
بِأَشَدِّ ما لَزِمَ الغَريمَ غَريمُ
Settle opposite his house and courtyard,
As tightly as a creditor ever clung to a debtor.
وَعَجِبتُand I marveled للدُنياat the world وَرَغبَةِand the desire of أَهلِهاits people
وَعَجِبتُ للدُنيا وَرَغبَةِ أَهلِها
وَالرِزقُwhile sustenance فيماwithin بَينَهُمtheir midst مَقسومُapportioned
وَالرِزقُ فيما بَينَهُم مَقسومُ
I marveled at the world and its people's desire,
Though sustenance is apportioned among them.
وَالأَحمَقُand the fool المَرزوقُprovided for أَعجَبُthe most astonishing مَنwhom أَرىI see
وَالأَحمَقُ المَرزوقُ أَعجَبُ مَن أَرى
مِنamong أَهلِهاits people وَالعاقِلُand the wise man المَحرومُdeprived
مِن أَهلِها وَالعاقِلُ المَحرومُ
The well-provided fool is the strangest person I see
Among its people—and so is the deprived wise man.
ثُمَّthen اِنقَضىended عَجَبيmy wonder لِعلميَbecause I knew أَنَّهُthat it was
ثُمَّ اِنقَضى عَجَبي لِعلميَ أَنَّهُ
رِزقٌsustenance مُوافٍbound to arrive وَقتُهُits time مَعلومُknown
رِزقٌ مُوافٍ وَقتُهُ مَعلومُ
Then my wonder ceased, because I knew it was
Sustenance bound to arrive, its time known.
Sol 6.1