إِذا جارَيتَ في خُلُقٍ دَنيئاً

فَأَنتَ وَمَن تُجاريهِ سَواءُ

When you act with a base nature

You and the one you act with are equal

رَأَيتُ الحُرَّ يَجتَنِبُ المَخازي

وَيَحميهِ عَنِ الغَدرِ الوَفاءُ

I have seen the free man avoid dishonor

And protect himself from treachery through loyalty

وَما مِن شِدَّةٍ إِلّا سَيَأتي

لَها مِن بَعدِ شِدَّتِها رَخاءُ

There is no hardship without respite after

Its intensity passes and comfort comes

لَقَد جَرَّبتُ هَذا الدَهرَ حَتّى

أَفادَتني التَجارِبُ وَالعَناءُ

I have experienced time until

Experiences and tribulations have taught me

إِذا ما رَأسُ أَهلِ البَيتِ وَلّى

بَدا لَهُمُ مِنَ الناسِ الجَفاءُ

When the head of a household leaves

The people's indifference appears to them

يَعيشُ المَرءُ ما اِستَحيا بِخَيرٍ

وَيَبقى العودُ ما بَقِيَ اللِحاءُ

One lives well as long as he lives with honor

And wood remains as long as its bark remains

فَلا وَاللَهِ ما في العَيشِ خَيرٌ

وَلا الدُنيا إِذا ذَهَبَ الحَياءُ

No, by God, there is no good in life

When modesty is gone from the world

إِذا لَم تَخشَ عاقِبَةَ اللَيالي

وَلَم تَستَحيِ فَاِفعَل ما تَشاءُ

If you do not fear the consequences of nights

And are not shy, then do as you wish

لَئيمُ الفِعلِ مِن قَومٍ كِرامٍ

لَهُ مِن بَينِهِم أَبَداً عُواءُ

Vile deeds from a noble people

Will bring them eternal disgrace amongst their own