1. جرب الناس مراراً

    واخبر الأوفى ذماما

    Test people time and again,

    and try the one most faithful to his pledge.

  2. فإذا صافيت ندبا

    كنت ندبا وهماما

    So if you befriend a noble man,

    you will be noble and valiant.

  3. وإذا حاولت غمراً

    صرت غمراً وغلاما

    And if you deal with a novice,

    you become a novice and a boy.

  4. وإذا خاطبك الجاهل

    جهلاً قل سلاما

    And if the ignorant man addresses you

    ignorantly, say, “Peace.”

  5. واصحب الصبر وان

    مج شرابا وطعاما

    And keep company with patience, even if

    it is spat out as drink and food.

  6. والزم الياس كريما

    ترد القوم الكراما

    And nobly give up hope of others;

    you will come among noble people.

  7. فأرى الذل سؤالا

    لم نجز فيه كلاما

    For I see humiliation in begging;

    we have allowed no discussion of it.

  8. إنما العيش مزال

    فأغنم التقوى اغتناما

    Life is but transient;

    so seize piety as your gain.

  9. رحم الرحمن عبدا

    غير ما صلى وصاما

    May the Most Merciful have mercy on a servant

    who, besides praying and fasting,

  10. طلق الدنيا بتاتا

    ورضى الأخرى مقاما

    divorced this world irrevocably

    and was content with the hereafter as his abode.