لا تجزعن لنائت

لا تجزعن لنائت

فَهوَ مِن المَعايب

فَهوَ مِن المَعايب

Never lose composure at a calamity;

Do not despair of reproach

for that is a fault.

It is one of the flaws

لِكُل رفع خَفض

لِكُل رفع خَفض

لكل بان نَقض

لكل بان نَقض

For every rise there is a fall;

For each elevation, a descent

for every builder, a demolition.

For each structure, a destruction

الجد في المُحاربه

الجد في المُحاربه

خَير من المؤاربه

خَير من المؤاربه

Earnestness in battle

Being serious in fighting

is better than guile.

Is better than being deceitful

كَم مِن بَعيد نسبه

كَم مِن بَعيد نسبه

وداده يقربه

وداده يقربه

Many a man distant in lineage

How many a distant lineage

is brought close by his affection;

His love brings nearer

وَمن قَريب مَولده

وَمن قَريب مَولده

عقوقه يبعده

عقوقه يبعده

and one close by birth

And one of close birth

is driven away by his disloyalty.

His ingratitude takes farther

قُبولك النميمة

قُبولك النميمة

خَليقة ذَميمة

خَليقة ذَميمة

Your acceptance of malicious gossip

Your acceptance of slander

is a blameworthy trait.

Is an evil trait

ما كُلُّ ما قالَ صدق

ما كُلُّ ما قالَ صدق

ما كل ما بيع نَفق

ما كل ما بيع نَفق

Not everything he said is true;

Not all that is said is true

not everything offered for sale finds a buyer.

Not everything sold is expensive

كَم قائل بالقَصد

كَم قائل بالقَصد

للبغض أَو للود

للبغض أَو للود

Many a speaker speaks with intent,

Many a speaker with sincerity

out of hatred or affection.

Out of hatred or love

فَابحَث عَن الأَخبار

فَابحَث عَن الأَخبار

تَقف عَلى الأَسرار

تَقف عَلى الأَسرار

So investigate the reports;

So investigate the news

you will discover the secrets.

To uncover the secrets

كَم كادَ ساع بخبر

كَم كادَ ساع بخبر

لزوره حَتّى ظَهَر

لزوره حَتّى ظَهَر

Many a tale-bearer has schemed with a report,

Many have almost perished with news

owing to his falsehood, until it surfaced

Until its falsehood became apparent

وَشاعَ في سُلطانه

وَشاعَ في سُلطانه

مِن غَيرِهِ لِشانه

مِن غَيرِهِ لِشانه

and spread within his dominion,

And spread in his sultanate

through another, for his own purpose;

Without involving him although it was about him

فَنالَ مِنهُ ما طَلَب

فَنالَ مِنهُ ما طَلَب

وَكذبه كان السبب

وَكذبه كان السبب

then he obtained from him what he sought,

So he got from it what he wanted

and his lie was the cause.

And its falsehood was the reason

كَم أعجز الناس الحل

كَم أعجز الناس الحل

كَم كذب أردى دول

كَم كذب أردى دول

How often a solution has baffled people!

How many times did the solution elude people

Many a lie has brought states to ruin!

How many times did a lie ruin dynasties

وَتقبل النميمه

وَتقبل النميمه

إِن وافقت سَخيمه

إِن وافقت سَخيمه

And malicious gossip is accepted

And you accept slander

if it accords with rancor.

If it agrees with your evil assumption

فَزن كَلام الناس

فَزن كَلام الناس

فَالعَقل كَالقسطاس

فَالعَقل كَالقسطاس

So weigh people's words;

So weigh people's words

for reason is like a balance.

For the mind is like a balance

وَلا تَكُن بِغافل

وَلا تَكُن بِغافل

لِكُل قَول قائل

لِكُل قَول قائل

And do not be heedless

And do not be oblivious

of any speaker's words,

To every word from a speaker

من جارح أَو مادح

من جارح أَو مادح

يَأتيك مثل الناصح

يَأتيك مثل الناصح

from one who wounds or praises,

Whether it is from a critic or a praiser

who comes to you like a sincere adviser.

That comes to you like an advisor

فَما يَقول أَحَد

فَما يَقول أَحَد

إِلا لأَمر يقصد

إِلا لأَمر يقصد

For no one speaks

For no one speaks

except for a purpose he intends.

Unless for a purpose they intend

الجور في القَضيه

الجور في القَضيه

مِن عظم البَليه

مِن عظم البَليه

Injustice in judgment

Injustice in the judgment

is among the gravest afflictions.

Is among the greatest afflictions

الرفق بالرعيه

الرفق بالرعيه

مِن كَرَم السجيه

مِن كَرَم السجيه

Gentleness toward subjects

Being gentle with the subjects

comes from nobility of character.

Is from the generosity of the noble