قالوا أقمتَ وما رُزقتَ وإنّما

قالوا أقمتَ وما رُزقتَ وإنّما

بالسير يكتسِبُ اللبيبُ وَيُرزَقُ

بالسير يكتسِبُ اللبيبُ وَيُرزَقُ

They said, “You stayed and received no sustenance; only

They said you stayed put and were not provided for, yet

by traveling does the wise man earn and receive provision.”

The perceptive person gains through travelling and is provided for

فأجبتهم ما كلُّ سيرٍ نافعاً

فأجبتهم ما كلُّ سيرٍ نافعاً

الحظُّ ينفع لا الرحيلُ الُمقِلقُ

الحظُّ ينفع لا الرحيلُ الُمقِلقُ

So I answered them, “Not every journey is beneficial;

So I answered them not all travelling is beneficial

good fortune helps, not unsettling departure.

Luck, not wandering anxiously, is beneficial

كم سفرةٍ نفعت وأخرى مثلُها

كم سفرةٍ نفعت وأخرى مثلُها

ضرّت ويكتسِبُ الحريصُ ويُخفِقُ

ضرّت ويكتسِبُ الحريصُ ويُخفِقُ

Many a journey has brought benefit, and another like it

How many journeys were beneficial while others like them

has caused harm; the eager man gains and fails,

Were harmful, and the greedy person gains but also fails

كالبدرِ يكتسبُ الكمالَ بسيرهِ

كالبدرِ يكتسبُ الكمالَ بسيرهِ

وبه إذا حُرِمَ السعادةَ يُمحَق

وبه إذا حُرِمَ السعادةَ يُمحَق

like the full moon, which attains perfection through its course,

Like the moon gaining perfection through its journey

and through that course, when denied good fortune, is blotted out.”

And through it, when deprived of fortune, is shattered