ما وَعَظَ العاقِلَ مِن واعِظٍ

ما وَعَظَ العاقِلَ مِن واعِظٍ

أَبلَغُ في العاقِلِ مِن نَفسِهِ

أَبلَغُ في العاقِلِ مِن نَفسِهِ

No admonisher has counseled the wise man

No preacher admonishes the wise man

More effectively than his own self.

More effectively than his own soul

قَد يَضرِبُ العاقِلُ أَمثالَهُ

قَد يَضرِبُ العاقِلُ أَمثالَهُ

في غَدِهِ يَوماً وَفي أَمسِهِ

في غَدِهِ يَوماً وَفي أَمسِهِ

The wise man may draw his examples

The wise man may cite examples

One day from his tomorrow and from his yesterday.

From his tomorrow and his yesterday

فَمِنهُ ما يَنفَعُ أَهلَ الحِجى

فَمِنهُ ما يَنفَعُ أَهلَ الحِجى

مِن أَبعَدِ الناسِ وَمِن جِنسِهِ

مِن أَبعَدِ الناسِ وَمِن جِنسِهِ

So from him comes what benefits the discerning

That benefit the people of perception

Among the most distant people and his own kind.

From the furthest and the nearest of men

قَد يَستَشيرُ الشَيخُ أَبناءَهُ

قَد يَستَشيرُ الشَيخُ أَبناءَهُ

وَيَقبِسُ الحِكمَةَ مِن عِرسِهِ

وَيَقبِسُ الحِكمَةَ مِن عِرسِهِ

An elder may consult his sons

An old man may consult his sons

And borrow wisdom’s light from his wife.

And gain wisdom from his bride

وَالعَقلُ مَقسومٌ فَلا تَزهَدَن

وَالعَقلُ مَقسومٌ فَلا تَزهَدَن

في طَلَبِ العِلمِ وَفي قَبسِهِ

في طَلَبِ العِلمِ وَفي قَبسِهِ

And intellect is apportioned, so never turn away

Wisdom is apportioned, so do not neglect

From seeking knowledge and borrowing its light.

To seek knowledge or grasp it

وَاسأَل فَقَد يَكشِفُ عَنكَ العَمى

وَاسأَل فَقَد يَكشِفُ عَنكَ العَمى

سُؤالُكَ العالِمَ في أُنسِهِ

سُؤالُكَ العالِمَ في أُنسِهِ

And ask, for blindness may be lifted from you

And ask, for your questioning of

By your questioning the scholar when he is at ease.

The scholar may dispel your blindness