1. تعلّمْ العلمَ حقّاً يا فتَى عمرِ

    ولا تدَع فصله ما دمْتَ في الصغرِ

    Learn knowledge in earnest, O ʿUmar's lad.

    And do not neglect its chapter while you are young.

  2. فالعلم سهلٌ إذا ما كنتَ في صِغَرِ

    وغيرُ سَهْلٍ إذا ما كنت في الكِبَرِ

    For knowledge is easy when you are young,

    And not easy when you are old.

  3. والعِلْم أثبتُ للفتيانِ مَنفعةً

    قد كان تعليمُهم كالنقش في الحجرِ

    And knowledge gives young men a more lasting benefit;

    Teaching them has indeed been like engraving in stone.

  4. وإنّ في العلم آداباً وتذكرةً

    للغافلين وتذكيراً لِمدّكِرِ

    And in knowledge are good manners and a reminder

    For the heedless, and admonition for one who takes heed;

  5. وعبرةً وعظاتٍ ثم منفعةً

    للسائلين وأفكاراً لمعتبِرِ

    And a lesson and exhortations, and then benefit

    For those who ask, and reflections for one who draws lessons.

  6. فصاحبُ الجَهل موضوعٌ ولا عَجَبٌ

    وصاحب العِلم عند الخلق ذُو قَدَرِ

    For the ignorant man is held low, and no wonder;

    And the man of knowledge is esteemed among people.

  7. ينالُ منزلةَ الأحرارِ عبدُهمُ

    بالعلمِ والحرُّ يغدُو أشرفَ القَدرِ

    Their slave attains the rank of free men

    Through knowledge; and the free man becomes nobler in rank.

  8. إنى نصحتكَ فاسْتمسِكْ بنصحِ فتَى

    مُشَافِق مُشْفِق صافٍ مِن الكَدَرِ

    Indeed, I have advised you; hold fast to a young man's counsel:

    Sympathetic and compassionate, pure and free of taint.

  9. فلا تجالسْ أُهيلَ السوء يا وَلَدى

    وفرَّ عنهم وكن مِنهم عَلَى حَذَرِ

    So do not keep company with evil folk, my son,

    And flee from them, and be on your guard against them.

  10. ولا تجَالسْ كثيرَ الضحكِ ذَا رِيَبٍ

    ولا تُجَالسْ كثيرَ القولِ ذَا هَدَرِ

    And do not sit with one who laughs much, a man of dubious ways,

    Nor sit with one who talks much, a man of idle chatter.

  11. وَلا تُصاحب أخَا كذِبٍ وكنْ فطِناً

    في الفِعل والقول والأخبار والأثرِ

    Nor befriend a liar, and be discerning

    In deed and word, in reports and transmitted accounts.

  12. ودَع مجالسةَ المغتابِ مُجتهداً

    وكنْ حليما جَليس العالمٍ الحذرِ

    And diligently shun the company of the backbiter.

    And be forbearing, keeping company with the cautious scholar.

  13. فإن مجلس أَهل العلم مرتبةٌ

    ومجلسَ السوءِ عِندي أعظم الضررِ

    For the company of the learned is a distinction,

    And evil company, in my view, is the greatest harm.

  14. إنّي أمينٌ صَفِيٌّ الودِّ ذُو مِقَةٍ

    مُعلمٌ لك هادٍ فاستمع خبَرِى

    Indeed, I am trustworthy, sincere in affection, and loving,

    A teacher and guide for you; so listen to my words.

  15. أخُصُّ بالنصح محمودَ اللقاء لنا

    أعنى بذاكَ سليماناً فتَى عِبرِ

    I single out for advice one whose company we welcome:

    By that I mean Sulayman, a youth of insight.

  16. كنْ في المساجدِ ذا صمتٍ وذَا فكرٍ

    مرتِّلَ الذكرِ والآيات والسورِ

    Be silent and thoughtful in the mosques,

    Reciting the Reminder, the verses, and the surahs in measured tones.

  17. وبرَّ يا سيِّدى بالوالدين وكنْ

    محافظاً لهمَا في مدة العُمُرِ

    And honor your parents, my master, and be

    Watchful over them both throughout your life.

  18. ورَاعِ حقهما في كلِّ منزلةٍ

    فإنّ برَّهما من أطيبِ السَّيَرِ

    And respect their rights in every circumstance,

    For dutifulness to them is among the finest forms of conduct.

  19. إيَّاكَ والكبرَ لا تسلك لهُ طرُفاً

    إنَّ ابن آدم مخلوقٌ مِن المَدَرِ

    Beware of pride; do not tread along its fringes.

    Indeed, the son of Adam is created from clay.

  20. لا تُشغِل القلبَ بالدنيا وزُخرفها

    فإنَّ طالبَها مِنها عَلى خطّرِ

    Do not preoccupy your heart with this world and its finery,

    For one who pursues it is in danger from it.

  21. هي الغَرُور فلا يَغْرُرك ظاهرُها

    وليس يختارُها إلا ذُوو غررِ

    It is the deceiver, so do not let its appearance deceive you.

    And none choose it except the deluded.

  22. واصرفْ هُمومَك للأخرى وكُنْ حذِراً

    تَلْق السرورَ بجناتٍ على سُررِ

    And turn your concerns toward the hereafter, and be wary;

    You will find joy in gardens, upon couches.

  23. واقْفُ المعلمَ فيما قال من أَدبٍ

    واجعلْ محلّته في أرفعِ القدَرِ

    And follow the teacher in what he says of proper conduct,

    And give him a place of the highest honor.

  24. ولا تخالفْه في قولٍ وفي عملِ

    ولا تخالفْه واحذرْ صولةَ البطرِ

    And do not oppose him in word or deed,

    And do not oppose him; beware the onslaught of insolence.

  25. فإنه ناصحٌ لا شخصَ يُشْبُهه

    لكلّ مَن جاء من بَدو ومن حَضر

    For he is a sincere adviser—no one resembles him—

    To all who come, whether nomads or townsfolk.

  26. واخفضْ جناحَك دأْباً للمعلمِ فَهْو

    الوالدُ المُشْفِق المشهور في الخبرِ

    And always lower your wing to the teacher, for he is

    The compassionate father, well known in tradition.

  27. والقَ العدوّ بوجهِ غير ذِي كدرٍ

    وإن رَماك بفحشِ القول فاصطبِر

    And meet the enemy with an unclouded face,

    And if he hurls foul speech at you, endure patiently.

  28. كنْ راضياً بقضاءِ اللهِ ذَا عِبرٍ

    في النفع والضُّرِّ والإعسار واليسرِ

    Be content with God's decree, taking lessons to heart,

    In benefit and harm, in poverty and prosperity.

  29. وإن حبيت فلا تُقْرط لذاكَ وإنْ

    أبغضت فالحبُّ والبغضا على قَدَر

    And if you love, do not go to excess in it; and if

    You hate, let love and hatred be in due measure.

  30. ولا تسافرْ مع الأنذالِ في طُرُق

    وكنْ مع المرتضى إن كنتَ ذَا سفِر

    And do not travel with base men along the roads,

    And be with a worthy companion if you undertake a journey.

  31. فدمْ وعشْ وابقَ في خيرٍ وعافية

    وفي معاشٍ رغيدٍ مدة العُمُرِ

    So may you live long and remain in goodness and well-being,

    And in a comfortable livelihood throughout your life.