صُنِ النَفسَ وَاِحمِلها عَلى ما يزيِنُها

صُنِ النَفسَ وَاِحمِلها عَلى ما يزيِنُها

تَعِش سالِماً وَالقَولُ فيكَ جَميلُ

تَعِش سالِماً وَالقَولُ فيكَ جَميلُ

Guard your soul and urge it toward what adorns it;

Guard your soul, and guide it rightly,

Guard your soul and compel it toward what brings it grace,

You will live unharmed and be spoken of well.

Then you will live in peace, and speak sincerely.

You shall live securely, and the speech regarding you will be fair.

وَلا تُرِينَّ الناسَ إِلّا تَجَمُّلاً

وَلا تُرِينَّ الناسَ إِلّا تَجَمُّلاً

نَبا بِكَ دَهرٌ أَو جَفاكَ خَليلُ

نَبا بِكَ دَهرٌ أَو جَفاكَ خَليلُ

And show people nothing but dignified composure,

Show people nothing but kindness,

And show people nothing but dignified composure,

Even if time turns against you or a close friend forsakes you.

Whether time treats you well, or friends act poorly.

Should time turn against you, or a close friend shun you.

وَإِن ضاقَ رِزقُ اليَومِ فَاِصبِر إِلى غَدٍ

وَإِن ضاقَ رِزقُ اليَومِ فَاِصبِر إِلى غَدٍ

عَسى نَكَباتِ الدَهرِ عَنكَ تَزولُ

عَسى نَكَباتِ الدَهرِ عَنكَ تَزولُ

And if today's livelihood is scant, be patient until tomorrow;

If today's provision feels too slight, have patience -

If the day's provision grows tight, be patient until the morrow,

Perhaps time's misfortunes will pass away from you.

Tomorrow may lift these heavy troubles easily.

For perhaps the calamities of fate will vanish from you.

يَعِزُّ غَنِيُّ النَفسِ إِن قَلَّ مالُهُ

يَعِزُّ غَنِيُّ النَفسِ إِن قَلَّ مالُهُ

ويَغنى غَنِيُّ المالِ وَهوَ ذَليلُ

ويَغنى غَنِيُّ المالِ وَهوَ ذَليلُ

One rich in spirit is honored, even if his wealth is scant;

One with a rich soul is made great, though money lacks -

The one rich in soul is honored, though his wealth be scant,

And one rich in money is wealthy, though he is lowly.

Yet moneyed men seem poor when greed rules stealthily.

While the one rich in coin is wealthy, yet remains abased.

وَلا خَيرَ في وِدِّ اِمرِئٍ مُتَلَّونٍ

وَلا خَيرَ في وِدِّ اِمرِئٍ مُتَلَّونٍ

إِذا الريحُ مالَت مالَ حَيثُ تَميلُ

إِذا الريحُ مالَت مالَ حَيثُ تَميلُ

And there is no good in the affection of a fickle man:

No good in befriending one who shifts like the wind,

There is no good in the affection of a fickle man,

When the wind veers, he turns wherever it veers.

Veering whatever way the gusts blow willy-nilly.

Who leans wherever the wind may blow, shifting as it shifts.

جَوادٌ إِذا اِستَغنَيتَ عَن أَخذِ مالِهِ

جَوادٌ إِذا اِستَغنَيتَ عَن أَخذِ مالِهِ

وَعِندَ اِحتِمالِ الفَقرِ عَنكَ بَخيلُ

وَعِندَ اِحتِمالِ الفَقرِ عَنكَ بَخيلُ

Generous when you have no need to take his wealth,

Give generously when you need nothing from others -

Generous only when you have no need of his substance,

Yet stingy when it comes to bearing poverty on your behalf.

Yet when in need, you're miserly, closed off, and chilly.

But when the burden of poverty falls, he is miserly toward you.

فَما أَكثَرَ الإِخوان حينَ تَعدّهُم

فَما أَكثَرَ الإِخوان حينَ تَعدّهُم

وَلَكِنَهُم في النائِباتِ قَليلُ

وَلَكِنَهُم في النائِباتِ قَليلُ

So many are the friends when you count them,

So many friends when life is easy, it seems -

How many are the brothers when you count them,

But in calamities they are few.

Yet in hard times, their number is slim, and quickly.

Yet in the face of misfortunes, they are few.