1. تجربة المرء عن يقين

    عون على أمره كبيرُ

    A person's experimentation, grounded in certainty,

    Is a great aid in his undertaking.

  2. ومن يجرّب بغير علم

    ولا نصيح له مشيرُ

    And whoever experiments without knowledge,

    And has no sincere adviser to counsel him,

  3. فقد غدا في الطريق يمشي

    لا هو أعمى ولا بصير

    Has come to walk along the road,

    Neither blind nor sighted.

  4. فأحكمِ العلم ثم جرّب

    فإنما يفلح الخبيرُ

    So master knowledge, then experiment,

    For only the expert succeeds.

  5. فظاهر الكتب ليس فيه

    نفع وتضليله كثيرُ

    For the outward sense of books holds no

    Benefit, and its misdirection is great.

  6. والحجر الأصل والأداة ال

    فرع وتدبيره يسيرُ

    And the stone is the root, and the instrument the

    Branch, and its preparation is easy.

  7. وحكمة هذا الستار سر

    وأمر ميزانه عسيرُ

    And the wisdom of this veil is a secret,

    And the matter of its balance is difficult.

  8. فاصبر إذا ما طلبت واصبر

    فإنه المطلب الخطيرُ

    So be patient when you seek, and be patient,

    For it is the momentous quest.

  9. واسترزق الله بابتهال

    فإنه الواحد القديرُ

    And ask God for sustenance with fervent prayer,

    For He is the One, the All-Powerful.