شاوِر سِواكَ إِذا نابَتكَ نائِبَةٌ

شاوِر سِواكَ إِذا نابَتكَ نائِبَةٌ

يَوماً وَإِن كُنتَ مِن أَهلِ المَشوراتِ

يَوماً وَإِن كُنتَ مِن أَهلِ المَشوراتِ

Consult someone other than yourself when a calamity befalls you

Consult your inner self when misfortune befalls,

one day, even if you are among those versed in counsel.

Even if you are accustomed to seeking counsel.

فَالعَينُ تَلقى كِفاحاً ما نَأى وَدَنا

فَالعَينُ تَلقى كِفاحاً ما نَأى وَدَنا

وَلا تَرى شَخصَها إِلّا بِمِرآةِ

وَلا تَرى شَخصَها إِلّا بِمِرآةِ

For the eye beholds directly what is far and near,

The eye encounters much distress from afar and near,

yet sees its own form only in a mirror.

And sees not itself except in the mirror.