العقل معدوم فلا عقل

فصحّ عقل معه جهل

Reason is nonexistent, for no reason

can be sound while ignorance accompanies it.

وإنما العاقل من لم يكن

يحفظ عنه في الخطا فعل

And the rational person is only one who has never

had a mistaken deed recorded of him.

ويدّعي العقل جميع الورى

صغيرهم والشيخ والكهل

All humankind claims reason—

their young, the old, and the middle-aged.

والجهل في الإنسان قبل الحجى

فالعقل فرع والغبا الأصل

And ignorance precedes understanding in the human being;

so reason is a branch, and stupidity the root.

والعقل مأسور بكف الهوى

مضطهد يتبعه الفضل

And reason is captive in desire's hand,

oppressed, with virtue following it.

وأي عقل صحّ من عاقل

يحتاج في فعل إلى عذل

And what reason has proved sound in a rational person

who needs reproach for a deed?

لا بدّ للعاقل من زلة

يسقط فيها ذلك الفضل

A rational person cannot escape a lapse

in which that virtue falls away.

والناس كاثنين فذو فطنة

وحكمة في رايه حزل

And people are of two kinds: one endowed with discernment

and wisdom, sound in his judgment;

وجاهل قد ادعى حكمة

برُدّه عن جهله النعل

and an ignorant one who has claimed wisdom,

whom a sandal turns back from his ignorance.