لم أشأ أن أفاجئَ القوم بالنص

لم أشأ أن أفاجئَ القوم بالنص

ح فجاريتهم لكي يألفوني

ح فجاريتهم لكي يألفوني

I did not wish to surprise the people with counsel,

I did not want to shock the people with the text

so I went along with them, that they might grow used to me.

But match their ways so they accept me

أنسوا بي فلمتهم في الضلالا

أنسوا بي فلمتهم في الضلالا

ت وجادلتهم برفق ولين

ت وجادلتهم برفق ولين

They grew at ease with me; then I reproached them for their errors,

They became accustomed to me though I led them astray

and reasoned with them gently and kindly.

And argued with them gently and softly

فتناءوا عني ولم يستطيعوا

فتناءوا عني ولم يستطيعوا

حولاً عن هوى وطبع مكين

حولاً عن هوى وطبع مكين

So they drew away from me and could not

They turned away from me yet could not

turn from passion and an ingrained disposition.

Turn from passion and ingrained nature

ما استفادوا من حكمتي مثل ما قل

ما استفادوا من حكمتي مثل ما قل

دتهم في غواية ومجون

دتهم في غواية ومجون

Their gain from my wisdom never matched my imitation

They did not benefit from my wisdom as much as I

of them in waywardness and debauchery.

Misled them in delusion and immorality

أنا لولا حرصي تناسيت طبعي

أنا لولا حرصي تناسيت طبعي

وتعودت كل أمر مشين

وتعودت كل أمر مشين

But for my vigilance, I would have put my own nature aside

If not for my restraint I would forget my nature

and grown accustomed to every shameful thing.

And get used to whatever is disgraceful

وعجيبٌ عيشُ الفتى وحده بال

وعجيبٌ عيشُ الفتى وحده بال

عقل في معشر شديد الجنون

عقل في معشر شديد الجنون

And how strange for a young man to live, alone with

Strange is the life of a reasonable man alone

reason, among a company utterly mad!

Among a horde deep in madness