1. سافر إلى نَيلِ المَعَزَّ

    ةِ إنَّ في السفَرِ الظفَر

    Travel to attain honor;

    indeed, in travel lies success.

  2. وانفِر لنَيلِ المجدِ فيمَن

    للمعالي قَد نَفَر

    And set forth to attain glory among those

    who have set forth toward lofty heights.

  3. واعلَم بأنَّ المكثَ في الأوط

    انِ يدعو للضَجَر

    And know that staying in one's native lands

    invites weariness,

  4. ويُوَرِّثُ الأخلاطَ والأجس

    امَ أنواعَ الضَرَر

    and brings upon the humors and bodies

    various kinds of harm.

  5. أوَما رأيتَ الما لطُو

    لِ المكثِ يَعروهُ الكَدَر

    And have you not seen water, through prolonged

    standing, become turbid?

  6. والبدرَ لو لزِمَ الإقا

    مةَ في محلِّ ما بدَر

    And the full moon, had it kept to dwelling

    in one place, would never have risen.

  7. والدُرَّ لو أبقَوهُ في

    قَعرِ البحارِ لما افتخَر

    And the pearl, had they kept it in

    the depths of the seas, would never have boasted.

  8. والتِبرُ تُربٌ في المعا

    دنِ وهو أفخَرُ مدخَر

    And raw gold is dust in the mines,

    yet it is the most prized treasure.

  9. والعودُ مَعدودٌ لدى الغابا

    ت من جِنسِ الشَجَر

    And aloeswood is counted, amid the forests,

    as a kind of tree.

  10. والباتِرُ المَغمودُ لَو

    لم يُخرِجوهُ لما بَتَر

    And the keen, sheathed sword, if

    they had not drawn it, would never have cut.

  11. هذا وكَم مثَلٍ سَرَى

    في الناس من هذي العِبَر

    So it is—and how many a proverb has spread

    among people from these lessons!

  12. أبدى البدائعَ منهُ من

    نظَمَ القريضَ ومن نَثَر

    Marvels from it were revealed by those

    who composed poetry and those who wrote prose.

  13. عن وجهِها في غالبِ الأس

    فار أسفَرَ من سَفَر

    Their face, in most journeys,

    was unveiled by whoever traveled.

  14. فادأُب على الترحال في

    الأحوالِ أجمَعِها تُسَرُ

    So persevere in traveling through

    every circumstance, and you will be glad.

  15. واعلَم بأنَّ البُعدَ عن

    وطنٍ به تمّ الوطَر

    And know that by going far from

    a homeland, one's desire is fulfilled.

  16. واغرُب بشرقٍ واشرُقَن

    في الغَربِ إن تكُ ذا نَظَر

    And go westward in the East, and eastward

    in the West, if you have discernment.

  17. واجعل جميعَ الناس أز

    رَكَ والثرى طوراً وَزَر

    And make all people your support,

    and the earth, at times, your refuge.

  18. لا تختَرن بدواً ولا

    حَضَراً وكُن مع مَن حَضَر

    Choose neither desert life nor

    city life; be with whoever is present.

  19. فالبدو عزٌّ واللطا

    فَةُ والظرافةُ في الحَضَر

    For desert life is honor, while grace

    and refinement belong to city life.

  20. فإذا بَدَوتَ فكل عزّ

    باذخٍ فيكَ استَقَر

    Then, if you live in the desert, every honor

    that is lofty settles within you.

  21. وإذا حَضَرتَ فكلُّ ظَر

    فٍ ظَرفُهُ لك مُستَقَر

    And if you live in town, every refined person's

    refinement is yours to keep.

  22. لا تبكِ إلفاً لا ولا

    داراً ولا رَسما دَثَر

    Do not weep for a beloved—no—nor

    for a home, nor a trace that has faded.

  23. فالناسُ إِلفُكَ كلهم

    والأرضُ أجمَعُها مَقَر

    For all people are your companions,

    and the whole earth is a place to dwell.

  24. فمتَى وجدتَ العزّ

    والعيشَ الهنيَّ أقِم تُبَر

    So whenever you find honor

    and a pleasant life, stay; you will be treated kindly.

  25. وإذا رأيتَ الضدّ والصد

    الخفيّ فدَع وذَر

    And if you see the opposite, and rejection

    kept hidden, then leave and let it be.

  26. واجعل بضاعَتَكَ التُقى

    مع من أُسَرَّ ومن جَهَر

    And make piety your stock in trade,

    with those who act secretly and those who act openly.

  27. فإذا اتَّقيتَ اللَه فُز

    تَ بكلِّ كنزٍ مُدّخَر

    Then, if you fear God, you have won

    every stored-up treasure.