ما وَعَظَ العاقِلَ مِن واعِظٍ

أَبلَغُ في العاقِلِ مِن نَفسِهِ

No preacher admonishes the wise man

More effectively than his own soul

قَد يَضرِبُ العاقِلُ أَمثالَهُ

في غَدِهِ يَوماً وَفي أَمسِهِ

The wise man may cite examples

From his tomorrow and his yesterday

فَمِنهُ ما يَنفَعُ أَهلَ الحِجى

مِن أَبعَدِ الناسِ وَمِن جِنسِهِ

That benefit the people of perception

From the furthest and the nearest of men

قَد يَستَشيرُ الشَيخُ أَبناءَهُ

وَيَقبِسُ الحِكمَةَ مِن عِرسِهِ

An old man may consult his sons

And gain wisdom from his bride

وَالعَقلُ مَقسومٌ فَلا تَزهَدَن

في طَلَبِ العِلمِ وَفي قَبسِهِ

Wisdom is apportioned, so do not neglect

To seek knowledge or grasp it

وَاسأَل فَقَد يَكشِفُ عَنكَ العَمى

سُؤالُكَ العالِمَ في أُنسِهِ

And ask, for your questioning of

The scholar may dispel your blindness