العَيشُ ماضٍ فَأَكرِم والِدَيكَ بِهِ

وَالأُمُّ أَولى بِإِكرامٍ وَإِحسانِ

Life passes, so be kind to your parents while they are here

And a mother deserves the most kindness and affection

وَحَسبُها الحَملُ وَالإِرضاعُ تُدمِنُهُ

أَمرانِ بِالفَضلِ نالا كُلَّ إِنسانِ

Bearing children and nursing are lifelong favors

Not every person can attain such nobility

وَاِخشَ المُلوكَ وَياسِرها بِطاعَتِها

فَالمَلكُ لِلأَرضِ مِثلُ الماطِرِ الساني

Respect kings and obey their ministers

For a king is to the land like rain is to the thirsty plain

إِن يَظلِموا فَلَهُم نَفعٌ يُعاشُ بِهِ

وَكَم حَمَوكَ بِرَجلٍ أَو بِفُرسانِ

If they wrong you, benefit comes from enduring it

And think of all the times steeds or horsemen protected you

وَهَل خَلَت قَبلُ مِن جورٍ وَمَظلَمَةٍ

أَربابُ فارِسَ أَو أَربابُ غَسّانِ

Has there been a time without injustice and oppression?

Whether lords of Persia or lords of Ghassan

خَيلٌ إِذا سُوِّمَت وَما حُبِسَت

إِلّا بِلُجمٍ تُعَنّيها وَأَرسانِ

Horses are only reined in when needed

By bits guiding them and by reins restraining