اِذا كُنت في حاجَة مرسِلا

فَاِرسِل حَكيماً وَلا توصِه

When in need of sending a messenger

Send a wise one, and do not instruct him

وَإِن بابَ امر عَلَيكَ التَقوى

فَشاوِر لَبيباً وَلا تَعصه

And if the matter is up to you, piety

Consult an intelligent one, and do not disobey him

وَإِن ناصِح مِنكَ يَوماً دَنا

فَلا تَنَأ عَنهُوَلا تَقصه

And if an advisor comes near you one day

Do not distance yourself from him, and do not cut him short

وَذو الحَقِّ لا تَنقصن حقَّهُ

فَإِن القَطيعَة في نُقصِهِ

And one who has rights, do not diminish his rights

For estrangement is in its diminishment

وَلا تَدكر الدَهر في مَجلِس

حَديثاً اِذا اِنتَ لَم تَحصه

And do not mention the days gone in an assembly

When you have no knowledge of it, unprepared

وَنص الحَديثِ الى أَهلِهِ

فَإِنَّ الأَمانَةَ في نَصه

And confide the conversation to its people

For trustworthiness is in its confidentiality

فَكَم مِن فَتى عازِب لبه

وَقَد تَعجب العَين من شَخصِه

So many a lonely young man

Whose looks astonish the eye

وَآخر تَحسَبه أَنوكاً

وَيَأتيكَ بِالأَمرِ من نَصه

And another you think inexperienced

Yet he undertakes the matter completely