وَطّن بشُكرك ما أوليت من نعَم
ولا تنفّره بالكفران ينقصم
With gratitude provision what boons you've been granted,
And alienate Him not with thanklessness adamant.
ما اعتدت يطلبه منك اللسانفلا
تُعودنه بغير الصدق يستقم
For that which your tongue is wont to request constantly,
Return it not falseness that it may go aslant.
لا تنظرنّ إلى مَن من قال مُحتقراً
وانظُر سلمت إلى ما قال من حِكَم
Look you not down on whoso said in contempt,
Rather look peaceful to what the wise have opined.
فالمرء في الناس مخبوّ ومستتر
تحت اللسان إذا لم يُبلَ بالكَلم
Man among men lies hidden and obscured
If words his tongue have not revealed and defined
ومَن حلا كَلما لسانه كَثُرت
إخوانه وسما فيهم بذا وسُمي
Whoso's tongue is loosed, numerous become
His brothers, and he is marked by this and named.
يا جامع المال بُخلاً ذُب ومُت أسفاً
لِوَارث ما ترى أو حادث عَمم
O hoarder of riches, stingily passing away,
For heir what you see, or mishap enveloped.
لا راحة لسحود في معيشته
وليس يظفر ذو بغي بمُغتَنَم
No comfort has one who bows in his livelihood,
Nor profits the covetous with spoils and gains.
إياك والكبر إذ أهلوه قد حُرموا
حُسن الثنا وقد باؤوا بخزيهم
Beware haughtiness, for its folk are forbidden
Fair praise, and they've merited shame and disdain.
شاور سواك تُصب في كل حادثة
ولا تُمَار مُحبّاً تُرمَ بالسّأم
Consult other than you, succeeding in each event,
Contend not with a lover, to be discarded.
مَن أكثر المدح في الناس استُخفّ به
وليس يسلم من آفات حقدهم
Whoso praises the people overly is scorned by them,
And escapes not the harms of their rancor implanted.
ما أضمر المرء يبدو من شمائله
قولاً وفعلاً وأمسى غيرُ مكتتم
What a man conceals appears from his features,
In speech and acts, not remaining concealed.
تصدقنّ إذن لَعَلقت مُتّهجراً
مع الإله تَنَل من فضله الرِزّم
Expend sincerely, though you be abandoned,
With God you'll obtain of His bounty not mean.
اللَه يرحم نفساً قدرها عرفت
لم تَعدُ عن طورها والكبرَ لم تَرُم
God's mercy on a soul who knew her measure,
Turned not from her mien, refused not pride's regime.
