1. Deliver her wishes, O student
Though sustenance lies between uncertainty and nightfall

2. Do not let her radiant face frown, for no
Rest comes for a day to the sleepless

3. Her nights are spent in ceaseless vigil
Her mornings in deserted awakening

4. Her conversation among a traveling company is more gratifying to her
Than the barking of a shepherd or the cries of a rider

5. So her circumstances vary among the birds
From violence, separation, and startled flight

6. For the cowering in his den is darkness
While for the active and the earner is fruitfulness

7. Success comes to one who travels the paths of elevation
While conforming to time-honored ways

8. He is pleased by surplus in his money
If it is not resembled by a gift from the giver

9. That will be in the morning, while tomorrow eve
Corruption spreads - so steady your steps!

10. I fear the critic, yet for me survival
From harm is owed even to the critic

11. People are my comrades unless I
Weary, and my burdens rest upon their bearer

12. I remain only while independent of their provision
A skin between the eye and the brow

13. When it is exposed or need arises
The rope lies upon the absent one

14. How often a brother's day, not the
Coming morrow, differs from his vanished yesterday!

15. Once he and I for a time shared sweet converse
Like water mingled with coffee by the drinker

16. But he stretched his hands, leaving mine
Prey to the grasping, pulling palm

17. He passed by, turning not for love of youth
That drew near, nor duty of knowledge that was due

18. As though the affection I fixed with him
I had pledged to the overthrowing flood

19. By God! For the oppressed among you, against
His debtors - O party of the unjust!

20. To the misguided behind death I have said:
"Draw near with it, draw near with the ship!"

21. Restrain your mounts, for in traveling
Is but the madness of lying greed

22. Seek not sustenance from a source
Whose springs are other than my father the chosen

23. Whoever lags behind the sea
Will not be content with the streaming bucket

24. He who ventured in glory esteemed a youth
Who did not fear the power of the victor

25. He vied with the people in his benevolence
Yet was not bounded by the number of the recorder

26. When he is distinguished, his lofty origin
Returns to the noble line of his ancestors

27. He joined to what his soul had earned
An inherited and cultivated glory

28. So he continued undeterred by any side
Except that honor summoned him from that side

29. From a company whose oaths
Laugh should the lean year of dearth arrive

30. Their wealth is milked as a copious rain
While the udder is stroked by the milker

31. For them the fresh east wind blows from them
To every sought-after object of desire

32. No sleepy caravan by night, and no
Settled chamber-companion left inactive

33. They took charge of dynasties and gave counsel
To preserve the emotional bond and the ties

34. They are the swords of caliphs which
Instruct the hand of the striker in striking

35. They rose as stars, and their son's death
Bore witness to their setting

36. He donned ability, and his inherent strength increased,
While glory belongs to the inherited and to the earner

37. The excess of the full moon with its rays
Over the bright star's piercing beams

38. Would that for them eyes in the earth
Were darkened by binding fate

39. You see yourself seated in their ranks
Commanding the concurrent and the fixed

40. Until God should settle with it the one
Who was harmed by the firmly-binding cord

41. The minister has known since
You tread the path that cutting is for the executor

42. By your probity his authority appeared
Even as the ascetic differs from the desirous

43. You were virtuous, and no fair renown
Was soiled by the detractor and the defamer

44. So may you never lack near you from his length
What is present in him from your truthful view

45. Never empty of vessels, hordes, or startled beasts
Be your hands for smiting, oar, or startling

46. And for me from you be a spring like that
Which contents my garden with abundant showers

47. Should my barren garden cry out to me
In my life - no peace, so rise and fight!

48. For in my poverty what other defender have I
Besides you to guard my flanks?

49. In your love my youthful garb I donned
And in it I wrap myself in the cloak of old age

50. My heart I give to your safekeeping, its
Turning is restless atop its bending peg

51. Pure white is the garment of love upon
Both its surfaces, both agreeable and blamable

52. And whenever I forget your company
The time of companionship reminds me of you

53. Like pearls I sent them scattered
From every loving and escaping cord

54. Each maiden though concealed
Reveals the beauty of the wanton glancing eye

55. Glances from above your honorable limits
To the lowering, the winking, the ardent admirer

56. They traveled with the sun, and coupled with the
Rain, so who compares to that or this?

57. They cling to ears connected
Shamelessly without leave or veil

58. They raise banners for you, the course of which
In earth - so thank the banner's raiser!

59. The seasons repeat their counts
And festivals against the calendar

60. Until even the reader and the writer fear
The boredom of their excess