إِن الفَقير مُمتحن
مستقبح مِنه الحَسَن
Indeed, the poor man is put to the test;
the fair in him is deemed foul.
جَميعه عُيوب
وَكُلهُ ذُنوب
His whole being is faults,
all of him sins.
وَوَجههُ مَمقوت
وَجده مَكبوت
His face is despised,
his ardor stifled.
إِحسانه إِساءه
عَلاؤه دَناءه
His kindness is an offense,
his loftiness, baseness.
سَماحه تبذير
تَدبيره تَدمير
His generosity is waste,
his prudence, ruin.
إِقدامه تَهور
إِحجامه تَقهقر
His boldness is recklessness,
his restraint, retreat.
عِفته فسوق
وَبره عُقوق
His chastity is debauchery,
his dutiful goodness, disobedience.
صَوابه خَطاء
صَلاتهُ رِياء
His right judgment is error,
his prayer, ostentation.
تَحقيقهُ جُنون
وَرَأيهُ مأفون
His pursuit of truth is madness,
his opinion, addled.
إِن قالَ لَم يَصدق
أَو رامَ لَم يوفق
If he speaks, he is not believed;
if he strives, he finds no success.
إِن زارَ رد وَحجب
إِن لَم يَزر قيل غَضب
If he visits, he is turned away and barred;
if he does not visit, they say he is angry.
رامحه كَالأعزل
وَرمحهُ كَالمغزل
His lancer is like one unarmed,
and his lance is like a spindle.
أَعراسهُ مآتم
لَيسَ لَها مَباسم
His weddings are mourning rites,
with not a smile among them.
لا تَحقر الوساطه
لا بُدّ مِن مشاطه
Do not scorn mediation;
some combing is indispensable.
إِن السخاء فطنه
إِن النساء فتنه
Generosity is astuteness;
women are a trial.
لِكُلِّ حَي مَيته
مَكتوبة مَوقوته
Every living being has a death,
written and appointed.
لَو قامَت القِيامه
لَزالت الظلامه
Were the Resurrection to rise,
injustice would vanish,
وَاِنقَطَعَت هَذي المحن
وَأَصبح السر علن
these ordeals would end,
and the secret become public.
الحُر عَبد إِن طَمع
وَالعَبد حُر إِن قَنع
The free man is a slave if he covets;
the slave is free if he is content.
الوَغد لَيث إِن شَبع
وَهوَ كَكَلب إِن جشع
The ignoble man is a lion when full,
but like a dog when avaricious.
مَن خَدَم اللَّه خدم
مَن لَزم الصَّمت سَلم
Whoever serves God is served;
whoever keeps silent is safe.
مَن رَحم الناس رحم
مَن فَعل الشر نَدم
Whoever shows people mercy is shown mercy;
whoever does evil repents.
إِذاعة الأسرار
سَجية الأَشرار
Broadcasting secrets
is the nature of villains.
رَبٌّ كَريم في خرق
الماء رَيٌ وَشَرق
Many a noble soul goes clad in rags;
water is quenching—and choking.
ما أَحسن الإِحسانا
ما أَقبح العُدوانا
How beautiful benevolence is!
How ugly aggression is!
بئس المهاد العجز
ود الكَريم كَنز
Incapacity is a wretched bed;
a noble person’s affection is a treasure.
فَأحسنا إِذ خطبا
لَقَد سَمعت عَجَبا
How well the two spoke when they gave their addresses!
I have indeed heard a wonder.
حَتّى إِذا ما فَرَغا
وَوَعظا فَأبلغا
Then, when the two had finished
and delivered their counsel most eloquently,
اِنقَضَت الأَيكيه
تَودع البَريه
the tale of the grove came to its end.
The creatures bade one another farewell;
فَاِعتَنَقا طَويلا
وَأكثرا التَعويلا
the two embraced for a long while
and wailed abundantly,
وَذَكَرا وصايا
تهذب السَّجايا
recalling counsels
that refine the character.
