إِذا ما أَرادَ الأَمرَ ناجَى ضَميرَهُ

فَناجَى ضَميراً غَيرَ مُختلِفِ العَقلِ

When a man resolved upon a matter, he took counsel with his conscience,

And thus consulted a conscience whose reason was undivided.

وَلَم يُشرِكِ الأدنين في جُلِّ أَمرِهِ

إِذا اِختَلَفَت بالأضعَفينَ قوى الحَبلِ

He did not involve the two lesser men in the greater part of his affair,

When, through two weak men, the rope’s strands pull apart.