قضى اللّه فيما بيننا بقرابة

وودٍّ وإشفاقٍ فلا نتنكَّبُ

God has ordained kinship between us

With affection and compassion, so we do not turn away

فلا حَطَّتِ الدنيا بناءً لكم ولا

فُقِدْتُم وإن طال المدى والتَّجنُّبُ

Neither has the world weakened our structure for you all

Nor have you been lost, however lengthy the estrangement

ولا فَقَدَت أفواهُنا ذكركم ولا

ذكرناكمُ إلا بخير ونُطْنِبُ

Neither have our mouths ceased to mention you

Nor do we mention you except with goodness as we compose poetry

وإن بَعُدَت دار وطالت مسافةٌ

وحالت صحارى دوننا ثم أسهُبُ

And if a house became distant and a journey lengthy

And deserts separated us, then poured forth

فلا البُعدُ يمحق ودَّنا وودادنا

قديمٌ ولا قُرْبُ المزار يُقَرِّبُ

Neither does distance erase our love and affection

Ancient, nor does proximity of pilgrimage bring us closer

وربَّ صديق لا يزور من النَّوَى

وربَّ عدوٍّ بالدنا يتقرَّبُ

And how many friends do not visit from afar

Yet how many enemies draw near to our homes

وكم من محبٍّ ليس يُظهِرُ حبه

لديك وكم ذي قِلىً يتحبَّبُ

And how many lovers do not show their love to you

And how many with little sincerity enamour you

وحاذر القُرْبَى إذا ما جفوتهم

فأَعْدَى أعاديك الذي هو أقربُ

And beware of relatives when you have been unjust to them

For your greatest enemies become those closest to you

وإياك أن تدنى جهولاً فإنه

يفعل الدنايا للبِلَى يتسبَّبُ

And beware that you not draw near an ignorant one

For he makes the world decay and causes tribulation

وقبِّل يد الأقوى ولا تعصينه

فإنك إن قاوَمْتَه فهو يغلِبُ

And kiss the hand of the strong and do not disobey him

For if you resist him, he will overcome you

وسلِّمْ إليه لا تُخالف مُراده

فإنك إن خالفْتَ فالضرَّ يجلِبُ

And surrender to him, do not oppose his will

For if you oppose, calamity will be brought

ولا تجفُه مهما بَدَت منه زَلةٌ

وكن ذا صَفاءِ إن تكدَّر مشربُ

And do not spurn him no matter how many slips he makes

And be of clear character if his waters become muddy

فإنك إن جازيته عِشْتَ نادماً

على فعلك الماضي كأنك مُذنِبُ

For if you repay him, you will live regretting

Your past deed as if you were a sinner

وقل قوله إن وافَقَ الحق والهدى

وإن لم يوافق فالتجنب أصوبُ

And speak his words if they accord with truth and guidance

And if they do not accord, avoidance is best

وحاذر من الزلات في النطق غِيبة

فإنك مأخوذٌ بما كنت تكسبُ

And beware of slips of the tongue and of backbiting

For you will be seized for what you used to earn

ولا تك في إنفاقٍ مالك مُسرفاً

فإن أخا الإسرافِ بالمال يذهَبُ

And do not be wasteful in spending your money

For the brother of extravagance with wealth will be destroyed

ولاتك جَمَّاعاً لمالك خازِناً

لغيرك مَنَّاعاً تِشحُّ وتسلُبُ

And do not hoard your wealth, depriving others

While you withhold, and plunder, and grab

ولاتك مِخْلافاً لوَعْدِك يَجترى

عليك سفيه أو إلى الخلف تُنْسَبُ

And do not break your promise, so it is attributed

That you are foolish or inclined to go back on your word

ولا تعص سلطاناً ولا قاضَي الورى

ولا وَالياً واغضب له حين يغضَبُ

And do not disobey a sultan, nor the judge of the land

Nor a governor, but be angry when he is angry

ودَارِهم لو كان في القلبِ جَمرةٌ

من الغيظ في وسط الحَشا تتلَهَّبُ

And reconcile with them if your heart holds

Amber of anger amidst arid wastes aflame

فإنك إن دارَيْتَهُم فُزْتَ بالذي

أردتَ وإن خالفتهم يتصلَّبُوا

For if you reconcile with them, you will attain what

You desire, but if you oppose them, they will harden

ولا تغشينْ أسرارهم واخْفِ قولهم

لئلا يجدُّوا في قِلاك ويغضبوا

And do not conceal their secrets but hide their words

Lest they feel malice in your heart and become angry

وقس كل قولٍ إن أردت مَقالةً

فإنك مسئولٌ وقولك يكتَبُ

And examine every word if you desire speech

For you are accountable and your words recorded

وسارع إلى الخير ما عشت جاهِداً

فإنك مجزىٌّ وأنت المهذَّبُ

And hasten to goodness as long as you live striving

For you will be rewarded and you are the one refined