إِذا نَصَبت عامِلاً

إِذا نَصَبت عامِلاً

فَاِختَر أَميناً عاقِلا

فَاِختَر أَميناً عاقِلا

If you appoint an official,

When you appoint an official,

choose one trustworthy and wise.

choose one who is trustworthy and wise.

وَفَوض الأُمورا

وَفَوض الأُمورا

كَيما تَرى مَعذورا

كَيما تَرى مَعذورا

And delegate affairs

Entrust him with affairs,

so that you may be held excused.

so that you may be deemed excused.

لا تنصبنَّ مسرفا

لا تنصبنَّ مسرفا

عَلَيهِ إِن تَخَلفا

عَلَيهِ إِن تَخَلفا

Never appoint a spendthrift

Do not appoint one who goes to excess

over them, lest he break faith.

over him if he falls short;

فَيُكثر الخِيانة

فَيُكثر الخِيانة

للأمن بِالأَمانة

للأمن بِالأَمانة

For he will multiply betrayal

he will multiply his treachery,

of the trust by means of the trust itself.

feeling safe through being trusted.

ثُم بِهِ يَحتج

ثُم بِهِ يَحتج

في ظُلمِهِ فَيَنجو

في ظُلمِهِ فَيَنجو

Then he uses it as his plea

Then he invokes it

and escapes amid his wrongdoing.

in his oppression, and so escapes.

فَلَيسَ في الإِسراف

فَلَيسَ في الإِسراف

شَيء سِوى الإجحاف

شَيء سِوى الإجحاف

Nothing lies in extravagance

For in excess

except injustice.

there is nothing but injustice.

ثُمَ احتجاج العامل

ثُمَ احتجاج العامل

بِهِ لِكُل باطل

بِهِ لِكُل باطل

Then the official’s pleading

Then the official pleads

serves him in every falsehood.

it in defense of every wrong.

تَفقد الرِّجالا

تَفقد الرِّجالا

وَقَلب الأَحوالا

وَقَلب الأَحوالا

Examine the men

Examine the men,

and turn their circumstances over.

and turn circumstances over in your mind.

مَن كانَ ذا سِياسة

مَن كانَ ذا سِياسة

فَوله الرِّئاسه

فَوله الرِّئاسه

Whoever possesses political judgment,

Whoever is skilled in governance,

grant him leadership.

give him leadership.

وَمَن تَرى في حالِه

وَمَن تَرى في حالِه

إِصلاح رَأس ماله

إِصلاح رَأس ماله

And whoever you see whose condition

Whoever you see, in his affairs,

is to set his capital aright,

managing his capital well,

فَولِّه الخراجا

فَولِّه الخراجا

تحمد بِهِ العِلاجا

تحمد بِهِ العِلاجا

appoint him over the land tax;

put him in charge of land revenue;

you will praise the cure achieved through him.

you will praise his handling of it.

مَن كانَ ذا عماره

مَن كانَ ذا عماره

فَهَب لَهُ إِماره

فَهَب لَهُ إِماره

Whoever is skilled in cultivation,

Whoever is skilled in cultivation,

give him an emirate.

grant him a governorship.

وَولِّه الضياعا

وَولِّه الضياعا

تَأمَن بِهِ الضياعا

تَأمَن بِهِ الضياعا

Put him over the estates,

Put him in charge of estates;

and through him be safe from losing them.

through him you will be safe from loss.

مَن كانَ ذا بَيان

مَن كانَ ذا بَيان

عِندَ التِباس الشان

عِندَ التِباس الشان

Whoever possesses eloquence

Whoever has eloquence

when affairs are confused,

when a matter grows confused,

طباً بَصيراً بِالحيل

طباً بَصيراً بِالحيل

ما شاءَ مِن شَيء فعل

ما شاءَ مِن شَيء فعل

a clever man versed in stratagems,

skilled and discerning in stratagems,

who can accomplish whatever he wills,

doing whatever he wishes,

فوله الرَّسائِلا

فوله الرَّسائِلا

إِن كانَ شَهماً عاقِلا

إِن كانَ شَهماً عاقِلا

put him over the letters,

put him in charge of correspondence,

if he is keen and intelligent.

if he is spirited and wise;

أَو كانَ ذا تَلطف

أَو كانَ ذا تَلطف

في كُل أَمر متلف

في كُل أَمر متلف

Or if he possesses tact

or if he has a deft touch

in every ruinous affair,

in every perilous affair,

وَهوَ أَمين الغَيب

وَهوَ أَمين الغَيب

عفّ نَقي الجَيب

عفّ نَقي الجَيب

and is trustworthy when unseen,

and is trustworthy in your absence,

chaste, with an unstained purse.

chaste, with a spotless bosom.

وَإِن للكتابه

وَإِن للكتابه

شرطاً وَلِلخطابه

شرطاً وَلِلخطابه

Writing has

Writing indeed has

conditions, as does oratory:

a requirement, as does public speaking:

خَط وَلفظ وَأَدب

خَط وَلفظ وَأَدب

وَعفة عَن الربب

وَعفة عَن الربب

script, diction, and refinement,

handwriting, expression, and cultivation,

and abstention from corruption;

and abstinence from dubious dealings (word uncertain),

وَالعَقل وَالكتمان

وَالعَقل وَالكتمان

وَالقَلب وَاللسان

وَالقَلب وَاللسان

intelligence and discretion,

reason and discretion,

heart and tongue.

heart and tongue.

فَكاتب الرَّسائل

فَكاتب الرَّسائل

وال عَلى المقاتل

وال عَلى المقاتل

Then let him write the letters

For the writer of letters

and preside over the offices,

holds sway over the vital spots,

إِذ عِنده الأَسرار

إِذ عِنده الأَسرار

أجمعُ وَالأَخبار

أجمعُ وَالأَخبار

for with him are the secrets

since he holds the secrets,

and all the reports.

all of them, and the news.

يقلب القُلوبا

يقلب القُلوبا

وَيَفعل الغَريبا

وَيَفعل الغَريبا

He turns hearts

He turns hearts about

and accomplishes wonders

and does extraordinary things,

بِلَفظَةٍ قَبيحة

بِلَفظَةٍ قَبيحة

أَو نكتَةٍ مَليحة

أَو نكتَةٍ مَليحة

with an ugly phrase

with an ugly word

or a graceful witticism.

or a charming turn of wit.

فَمصلح وَمُفسد

فَمصلح وَمُفسد

مُقَرب وَمبعد

مُقَرب وَمبعد

Thus he may mend or corrupt,

Thus he reforms and corrupts,

bring near or cast far away.

brings near and drives away.

مَن كانَ طَلق الوَجه

مَن كانَ طَلق الوَجه

حر قَليل الجبه

حر قَليل الجبه

Whoever is open-faced,

Whoever has an open face,

freeborn and not overbearing,

is noble and sparing of rebuffs,

مُمَيزاً لِلناس

مُمَيزاً لِلناس

بِاللطف وَالإِيناس

بِاللطف وَالإِيناس

discerning among people

discerning in dealing with people,

through gentleness and sociability,

with gentleness and friendliness,

فَوله الحِجابا

فَوله الحِجابا

وَاستكفه الأَبوابا

وَاستكفه الأَبوابا

appoint him chamberlain

put him in charge as chamberlain,

and entrust the doors to him.

and let him take care of the doors.

من حجب الخَرائِطا

من حجب الخَرائِطا

وَالبردَ كانَ غالِطا

وَالبردَ كانَ غالِطا

Whoever withholds the dispatch-pouches

Whoever holds back the dispatch bags

and the courier-post is mistaken.

and the couriers has erred.

تَأَخر الأَخبار

تَأَخر الأَخبار

يُؤذن بِالبوار

يُؤذن بِالبوار

Delay in the reports

A delay in news

heralds ruin.

portends ruin.

وَصاحب الدواة

وَصاحب الدواة

أَيضاً مِن الكفاة

أَيضاً مِن الكفاة

The keeper of the inkwell

The keeper of the inkwell,

is also one of the capable.

too, is among the capable.

لَهُ شُروط فَاِعلم

لَهُ شُروط فَاِعلم

لا تجهلن تَغنم

لا تجهلن تَغنم

He has conditions—know them;

He has requirements, so know them;

do not ignore them, and you will prosper:

do not remain ignorant: you will profit.

العَقل وَالأَمانة

العَقل وَالأَمانة

وَكَثرَة الدّيانه

وَكَثرَة الدّيانه

reason and honesty,

Reason and trustworthiness,

abundant piety,

and abundant piety—

وَذاكَ مِن أَجل القصص

وَذاكَ مِن أَجل القصص

وَحفظ صَك إِن خَلَص

وَحفظ صَك إِن خَلَص

for the sake of the petitions,

that is for the sake of petitions,

and preserving a deed when sound;

and safeguarding a deed if it is finalized.

نَظافة الأَطراف

نَظافة الأَطراف

وَخفة الأَعطاف

وَخفة الأَعطاف

clean extremities,

Cleanliness of the limbs,

lightness of movement,

and nimbleness of the flanks,

وَسُرعة وَفهم

وَسُرعة وَفهم

وَخبرة وَعلم

وَخبرة وَعلم

speed and understanding,

speed and understanding,

experience and knowledge.

experience and knowledge.

مَن كانَ ذا مروه

مَن كانَ ذا مروه

شيمته الفتوَّه

شيمته الفتوَّه

Whoever possesses manly virtue,

Whoever has noble character,

whose nature is chivalry,

whose disposition is chivalry,

وَفيهِ أَيضاً عفه

وَفيهِ أَيضاً عفه

وَفطنة وَخفه

وَفطنة وَخفه

and who also has chastity,

and who also has chastity,

shrewdness and nimbleness,

intelligence and agility,

وَهمة وَعَقل

وَهمة وَعَقل

وَنَخوة وَفَضل

وَنَخوة وَفَضل

high resolve and reason,

resolve and reason,

pride and excellence—

noble pride and merit,

فَنط أُمور الدار

فَنط أُمور الدار

بِهِ وَلا تمار

بِهِ وَلا تمار

entrust the household’s affairs to him,

entrust the household's affairs

and do not dispute it.

to him, and do not dispute,

لِيفصل الأُمورا

لِيفصل الأُمورا

مِن غَير أَن تشيرا

مِن غَير أَن تشيرا

Let him settle affairs

so he may settle matters

without your having to advise,

without your directing him,

مخففاً عَن قَلبكا

مخففاً عَن قَلبكا

مروحاً عَن كربكا

مروحاً عَن كربكا

easing the burden on your heart

easing the burden on your heart,

and relieving your distress.

bringing relief from your distress.

وَإِنَّما يراجعك

وَإِنَّما يراجعك

في الأَمر أَو يُطالعك

في الأَمر أَو يُطالعك

He should consult you only

He should consult you only

on a matter or seek your view

about a matter, or report to you,

في النابه الخَطير

في النابه الخَطير

لا الخامل الحَقير

لا الخامل الحَقير

on something momentous and grave,

in what is notable and grave,

not something lowly and petty.

not obscure and paltry.

لِكُل شغل رَجل

لِكُل شغل رَجل

لِكُل قَوم عَمَل

لِكُل قَوم عَمَل

For every task, a man;

For every task, a man;

for every people, a work.

for every group, a task.

وَإِنَّما البَلاء

وَإِنَّما البَلاء

وَالصيلم الصَّماء

وَالصيلم الصَّماء

The true affliction,

The real calamity,

the deafening calamity,

and the deaf, crushing disaster,

نَصبك ذا مَكان ذا

نَصبك ذا مَكان ذا

مِن غَير رُشد يُحتَذى

مِن غَير رُشد يُحتَذى

is appointing this man in that man’s place

is your appointing this man in that one's place

without sound judgment to follow.

without sound judgment to follow.

لا تكحل السِّباعا

لا تكحل السِّباعا

لا تُحجم الضِّباعا

لا تُحجم الضِّباعا

Do not apply kohl to lions;

Do not put kohl on beasts of prey;

do not cup hyenas.

do not perform cupping on hyenas.

لِكُلِّ قَوم صنعه

لِكُلِّ قَوم صنعه

لكل جَنب صَرعه

لكل جَنب صَرعه

Every people have their craft,

Every group has its craft;

and every flank its place of falling.

every flank has its fall.

لا تَأمنن موتورا

لا تَأمنن موتورا

لا تَدَعه مُشيرا

لا تَدَعه مُشيرا

Never trust one burning for revenge,

Never trust one nursing a grievance;

nor take him as counselor.

do not let him serve as an adviser.

إِذا نَكبت أَحداً

إِذا نَكبت أَحداً

فَلا تَعد مُعتَمدا

فَلا تَعد مُعتَمدا

If you have struck someone down,

If you bring someone low,

do not again rely

do not again rely

عَلَيهِ في الملم

عَلَيهِ في الملم

لا سيما المُهم

لا سيما المُهم

upon him in adversity,

on him in a calamity,

especially in grave affairs.

especially a grave one.

علله بِالأَماني

علله بِالأَماني

وَاخدعه بِالتَّواني

وَاخدعه بِالتَّواني

Distract him with hopes

Put him off with hopes,

and deceive him with delay.

and deceive him by delaying.

وَوله حَقيرا

وَوله حَقيرا

يعش بِه أَميرا

يعش بِه أَميرا

Give him some petty office,

Give him a lowly office,

and through it he will live like a prince.

that he may live by it as an emir.

فَكَثرَة البَطاله

فَكَثرَة البَطاله

ضَرّارة قَتاله

ضَرّارة قَتاله

For abundant idleness

For excessive idleness

is a deadly harm.

is harmful and deadly.

وَإِن أَمنت جانبه

وَإِن أَمنت جانبه

فَجانب المجانبه

فَجانب المجانبه

If you trust his disposition,

If you feel safe from his side,

then cease avoiding him.

then avoid shunning him.

وَوله ما يَنبغي

وَوله ما يَنبغي

وَاشغله عَنكَ وَافرغِ

وَاشغله عَنكَ وَافرغِ

Give him what befits him,

Appoint him to what is fitting,

and keep him occupied away from you.

keep him occupied away from you, and free yourself.

سيادة السادات

سيادة السادات

قِيادة القادات

قِيادة القادات

Mastering the masters

Ruling over the lords,

and leading the leaders

leading the leaders,

أحسن من قتلهم

أحسن من قتلهم

للخوف مِن جَهلهم

للخوف مِن جَهلهم

is better than killing them

is better than killing them

for fear of their ignorance.

for fear of their folly.

إِذا مَضى الأَعيان

إِذا مَضى الأَعيان

وَذَهَبَ الأَقران

وَذَهَبَ الأَقران

Once the notables are gone,

When the notables have passed,

and their peers have departed,

and peers have gone,

وَعَدم الأَمثال

وَعَدم الأَمثال

وَفَقَد الأَشكال

وَفَقَد الأَشكال

equals are absent

and equals are no more,

and counterparts lost,

and counterparts are lost,

لَم تحسن الرِّئاسه

لَم تحسن الرِّئاسه

لَم تَطب السِّياسه

لَم تَطب السِّياسه

governance cannot be sound,

leadership is no longer good,

nor policy wholesome.

governance is no longer pleasant.

لا تُكمل السِّياده

لا تُكمل السِّياده

حَتّى تَسود الساده

حَتّى تَسود الساده

Sovereignty is not complete

You do not perfect your lordship

until you master the masters.

until you rule over lords.

استبقهم لِيكمدوا

استبقهم لِيكمدوا

إِن الفَتى مَن يحسد

إِن الفَتى مَن يحسد

Keep them alive, that they may smolder.

Keep them alive so they may pine;

A true man is one who is envied;

for the man of merit is the one who is envied.

يَقبح عِندَ السائس

يَقبح عِندَ السائس

مَجد بِلا مُنافس

مَجد بِلا مُنافس

he appears ugly in the ruler’s eyes.

Unseemly, in a ruler's eyes,

Glory stands without a rival

is glory without a rival.

ما لَم يذل الحاسد

ما لَم يذل الحاسد

وَيخضع المعاند

وَيخضع المعاند

only when the envier is humbled,

Unless the envier is humbled,

the obstinate made to submit,

and the obstinate opponent submits,

وَيضرع الشريف

وَيضرع الشريف

وَيخشع المُنيف

وَيخشع المُنيف

the noble made to plead,

and the nobleman humbles himself,

and the lofty made to bow.

and the exalted bows,

فَما بَلَغت أَمَلا

فَما بَلَغت أَمَلا

وَلا سَمَوت في العُلا

وَلا سَمَوت في العُلا

Otherwise you have attained no hope

then you have not attained your hope,

and have not risen to the heights.

nor risen to the heights.

وَصاحب الأَخبار

وَصاحب الأَخبار

يعد في الأَشرار

يعد في الأَشرار

The intelligence officer

The keeper of intelligence

is counted among the wicked;

is counted among the wicked;

وَهوَ إِذا ما صَدقا

وَهوَ إِذا ما صَدقا

في قَولِهِ وَحَققا

في قَولِهِ وَحَققا

yet when he is truthful

yet, if he speaks truth

in his speech and verifies it,

in what he says, and verifies it,

من أَنفَع الأَعوان

من أَنفَع الأَعوان

للملك وَالسُّلطان

للملك وَالسُّلطان

he is among the most useful aides

he is among the most useful helpers

to king and sovereign.

to the king and the sultan.

فَولها أَمينا

فَولها أَمينا

لا فاسِقاً ضَنينا

لا فاسِقاً ضَنينا

Appoint over it one trustworthy,

So entrust it to a trustworthy man,

not a sinful miser

not an immoral, miserly one

يَجعَلها للمكسبه

يَجعَلها للمكسبه

فَإِنَّ ذاكَ معطبه

فَإِنَّ ذاكَ معطبه

who makes it a source of gain,

who turns it into a source of profit,

for that is destruction.

for that is a cause of ruin.

وَقَلد المَعونه

وَقَلد المَعونه

مِن طَبعِهِ الخُشونه

مِن طَبعِهِ الخُشونه

And entrust coercive authority

Entrust police authority

to one harsh by nature,

to one whose nature is harsh:

الدائم الجُلوس

الدائم الجُلوس

الظاهر العَبوس

الظاهر العَبوس

ever present at his post,

constant in his seat,

plainly scowling,

plainly scowling,

الحَسَن السياسه

الحَسَن السياسه

الجَيد الفَراسه

الجَيد الفَراسه

sound in policy,

sound in governance,

excellent in discernment,

keen in reading character,

الطيب الآباء

الطيب الآباء

الحازِم الحَوباء

الحازِم الحَوباء

of noble forebears,

of honorable ancestry,

resolute in grave affairs,

resolute of soul,

فَظاً قَليل الرَّحمه

فَظاً قَليل الرَّحمه

صَلباً كَثير الحشمه

صَلباً كَثير الحشمه

stern and sparing in mercy,

harsh and little given to mercy,

unyielding and commanding great awe.

unyielding, commanding great awe.

المحنة الكَبيره

المحنة الكَبيره

إِن كُنتَ ذا بَصيره

إِن كُنتَ ذا بَصيره

The great ordeal,

The great trial,

if you are discerning,

if you have insight,

حر كَبير الشان

حر كَبير الشان

يُصلح للسلطان

يُصلح للسلطان

is a free man of high standing

is a freeborn man of high standing,

fit for the sultan,

fit to serve the sultan.

ترمقه الأَبصار

ترمقه الأَبصار

تحمده الأَحرار

تحمده الأَحرار

whom eyes watch,

Eyes look toward him,

whom free men praise,

noble men praise him,

وَتعقد الخَناصر

وَتعقد الخَناصر

عَلَيهِ وَالضَّمائر

عَلَيهِ وَالضَّمائر

and upon whom fingers

and little fingers are folded

and thoughts are fixed.

in his honor, and hearts bound to him.

إِن قيلَ مَن ذا يصلح

إِن قيلَ مَن ذا يصلح

لِدَفع خَطب يفدح

لِدَفع خَطب يفدح

If it is asked, “Who is fit

If it is asked, "Who is fit

to repel a crushing calamity,

to repel an overwhelming crisis,

يَسُد ما قَد سَده

يَسُد ما قَد سَده

وَهوَ الرَّئيس بَعدَه

وَهوَ الرَّئيس بَعدَه

to close what has been breached,

to fill the place he has filled,

and be chief after him?”

and be the leader after him?"

قيل لَهُ فُلان

قيل لَهُ فُلان

فَرضي السُّلطان

فَرضي السُّلطان

the answer is, “So-and-so,”

He is told, "So-and-so,"

and the sultan approves.

and the sultan is satisfied.

مُعتَزل لعملك

مُعتَزل لعملك

يَخفي خَفايا زللك

يَخفي خَفايا زللك

He remains apart from your service,

He is aloof from your employ,

concealing the hidden faults of your lapses.

concealing the hidden details of your lapses.

لَيسَ عَلَيهِ حجه

لَيسَ عَلَيهِ حجه

يَرى بِها مَحَجه

يَرى بِها مَحَجه

No charge lies against him

There is no charge against him

by which a way against him may be seen.

by which a clear path can be seen.

فَاِحتَل عَلَيهِ بِالعَمَل

فَاِحتَل عَلَيهِ بِالعَمَل

وَوله بَعضَ الشغل

وَوله بَعضَ الشغل

So contrive against him through employment;

So scheme against him through employment,

assign him some task.

and assign him some work.

تَحط من رتبته

تَحط من رتبته

تَغض مِن حشمته

تَغض مِن حشمته

You will lower his rank

You will lower his rank

and diminish his retinue.

and diminish his prestige,

إِذ صارَ مِن عمالكا

إِذ صارَ مِن عمالكا

وَعد مِن رجالكا

وَعد مِن رجالكا

Once he becomes one of your officials

since he has become one of your officials

and is counted among your men,

and is counted among your men.

وَانكبه حَتّى يَخملا

وَانكبه حَتّى يَخملا

فَقَد وَجَدت السُّبلا

فَقَد وَجَدت السُّبلا

strike him down until he sinks into obscurity;

Bring him low until he falls into obscurity;

then you will have found the means.

you have indeed found the ways.