عجبت لمبتاع الضلالة بالهدى

عجبت لمبتاع الضلالة بالهدى

عنادا وهل ذو الغي غير معاند

عنادا وهل ذو الغي غير معاند

I marveled at one who buys misguidance in exchange for guidance,

I am amazed at the misguided one claiming guidance,

Out of obstinacy—and is one astray anything but obstinate?

Stubbornly, though is not the lost always stubborn?

فكم جاهل يبدو بامراط عالم

فكم جاهل يبدو بامراط عالم

وكم كافر مستصحب اسم عابد

وكم كافر مستصحب اسم عابد

For many an ignorant man appears in a scholar's robes,

How many an ignorant man appears learned,

And many an unbeliever bears the name of a worshipper.

And how many an unbeliever bears the name of devout.

وكم ناقص يختال في طور كامل

وكم ناقص يختال في طور كامل

وكم من حريص لابس ثوب زاهد

وكم من حريص لابس ثوب زاهد

And many an imperfect man struts in the manner of a perfect one,

How many a deficient one struts about perfectly complete,

And many a greedy man wears an ascetic's robe.

And how many a greedy one wears the garb of an ascetic.

تميز بالافعال اعراق امة

تميز بالافعال اعراق امة

ويعرف بالاخلاق سبر المشاهد

ويعرف بالاخلاق سبر المشاهد

A people's lineages are discerned by deeds,

The lineages of a people are distinguished by their deeds,

And the nature of the person observed is known by his conduct.

And their morals are known to the observant.

فما عادة الاشراف الا شريفة

فما عادة الاشراف الا شريفة

وعادات اهل الشرشر العوائد

وعادات اهل الشرشر العوائد

For the custom of the noble is nothing but noble,

For noble manners are the habit of the noble,

And the customs of evil folk are the worst of customs.

While baseness is what the lowly are used to.