1. شَوائل العَقارب

    خَير مِن الأَقارب

    The upraised tails of scorpions

    Are better than relatives.

  2. فدارِهم بِاللطف

    وَخذهم بِالعُنف

    So humor them gently,

    And handle them harshly.

  3. مبرة في جفوه

    وَقربة مِن قَسوه

    Kindness lies in aloofness,

    And closeness comes through harshness.

  4. إِياكَ أَن تطمعهم

    فيكَ وَأن تشبعهم

    Beware of arousing their greed

    Toward you, and of giving them their fill.

  5. إِنكَ إِن بسطهم

    في المال أَو سلطتهم

    For if you give them free rein

    With money, or grant them authority,

  6. تَبسطوا عَلَيكا

    وَاصفروا يَديكا

    They presume upon you,

    And leave both your hands empty,

  7. وَذكروا الأَرحاما

    وَأكثروا الملاما

    And invoke the ties of kinship,

    And multiply their reproaches,

  8. وَاِحتَقَروا السُلطانا

    وَأَوحشوا الأَعوانا

    And scorn the ruler,

    And alienate the aides,

  9. وَخَربوا الأَعمالا

    وَضَيعوا الأَموالا

    And ruin the undertakings,

    And squander the funds,

  10. وَامنعوا عقابكا

    وَاِحتَقَروا ثَوابكا

    And thwart your punishment,

    And scorn your rewards,

  11. وَخالفوكَ أَمرا

    وَاِحتَقَروكَ زجرا

    And disobey your commands,

    And despise you when you rebuke them,

  12. وَفَعلوا ما شاءوا

    وَذاكَ فَاِعلم داء

    And do whatever they please.

    And that—know this—is a disease.

  13. وَاِطرَحوا المُراقبه

    وَتقبح المُعاقبه

    And they cast aside all regard;

    And punishment becomes odious,

  14. وَتسمج المُعاتبه

    وَتُكثر المُغالبه

    And reproach becomes distasteful,

    And struggles for mastery multiply.

  15. فَاِستعمل البَعيدا

    الناصح الوَدودا

    So employ someone not of your kin,

    Sincere in counsel and affectionate,

  16. وَمن إِذا عاقبته

    ظَنكَ قَد راقَبته

    And one who, when you punish him,

    Thinks you have shown him consideration.