يا أيُّها الدارس عِلماً ألا
تَلتَمس العون عَلى دَرسِه
O you who study science, do not
Seek help in your lesson
لَن تَبلُغ الفرع الَّذي رُمته
إِلّا بِبَحث مِنكَ عَن أسه
You will not reach the branch you aimed for
Except by searching for its root yourself
فَاِسمَع لِأَمثال اِذا أنشدَت
ذَكرت الحزم وَلَم تَنسَه
So listen to the proverbs when they are recited
They remind you of wisdom, do not forget them
إِنا وَجَدنا في كِتاب خِلت
لَهُ دهور لاحَ في طرسه
We found in an ancient book
With eras that left no trace on its pages
أَتقنه الكاتِب وَاِختارَه
مِن سائِر الاِمثالِ من حَدَسه
The author perfected and selected it
From all the proverbs he guessed
لَن تَبلُغ الاِعداء مِن جاهِل
ما يَبلُغ الجاهِل مِن نَفسه
The ignorant cannot reach the enemies
Like the ignorant reaches himself
وَالجاهِل الآمن ما في غَد
لِحِفظِه في اليَوم او أَمسِهِ
The unaware ignorant - there is nothing for tomorrow
To protect him or yesterday to guide him
وَخير مَن شاوَرت ذو خِبرَة
في واضِح الأَمرِ وَفي لِبسِه
The best advisor is one with experience
In clear and confusing matters
لا يَقبَسن العِلم إِلّا اِمرؤ
يُعانِ بِاللُبِ عَلى قَبسِه
No one receives knowledge unless
His mind helps him receive it
وَإِن من أَدبته في الصبا
كَالعودِ يَسقى الماء في غرسه
He whom you discipline in youth
Is like a sapling nourished as you plant it
حَتى تَراهُ مورِقاً ناضِراً
بَعد الَّذي قَد كانَ من يبسه
Until you see it fresh and thriving
After it had been dried up
وَالشَيخُ لا يَترُك اِخلاقه
حَتّى يُواري في ثَرى رمسه
An old man does not leave his ways
Until he is buried under soil
اِذا اِرعوى عاد اِلى جَهلِهِ
كَذي الضنا عادَ اِلى نَكسِه
If he prospers he returns to his ignorance
Like a stingy man returns to his meanness
وَالحَمق داء ما له حيلَة
تُرجى كَبعد النَجم عَن لَمسِه
Folly is an illness with no stratagem
Like a star is beyond reach
وَالق اخا الضَعن بِإيناسِه
لِتُدرك الفُرصَة في أُنسِه
Deploy the weak with his strength
To seize opportunities in his comfort
كَاللَيث لا يَعدو عَلى قُرنِه
الا عَلى الأَمكان من فرسه
Like a lion that does not leap
Except what is possible for his jump
