صاحِبُ الشُرطَةِ إِن أَنصَفَني

فَهوَ خَيرٌ لِيَ مِن عَدلٍ ظَلَم

The chief of police—if he treats me justly—

is better for me than a devout worshipper who wrongs me.

مَن أَرادَ الخَيرَ فَليَعمَل لَهُ

فَعَلَيهِ لِذَوي اللُبِّ عَلَم

Whoever desires the good, let him labor for it;

to those of understanding, its mark is upon him.

حَكَم الناسَ غُواةٌ مِثلَ ما

حَكَمَت قَبلُ حَصاةٌ وَزَلَم

Wayward men have passed judgment on people, just as

a pebble and a divining arrow once passed judgment.

لا تُهاوِن بِصَغيرٍ مِن عِدىً

فَقَديماً كَسَرَ الرُمحُ القَلَم

Never make light of a lowly enemy;

long ago, the spear broke the pen.

وَتَرَقَّب مِن سَليلٍ صُنعَهُ

فَمِنَ البَيعِ قِياضٌ وَسَلَم

And await from a great one his young—or newly arising—issue;

for among sales are barter and salam, the advance sale.

يَجمَعُ الجِنسُ شَريفاً وَلَقىً

كَحَديدٍ مِنهُ سَيفٌ وَجَلَم

A single kind embraces both the noble and the base,

as iron yields both sword and shears.

خالِدٌ غاوٍ وَنَصرٌ صالِحٌ

وَمِنَ الأَشجارِ نَخلٌ وَسَلم

Khalid is wayward, while Nasr is forbearing;

and among trees are the date palm and the salam tree.

فَاِزجِرِ النَفسَ إِذا ما أَسرَفَت

فَمَتى لَم يُقصِصِ الظُفرُ كَلَم

So rebuke the soul whenever it exceeds its bounds;

for when the claw is not pared, it wounds.

رُبَّ شَيخٍ ظَلَّ يَهديهِ إِلى

سُبُلِ الحَقِّ غُلامٌ ما اِحتَلَم

Many a learned elder is guided

to the paths of truth by a boy not yet come of age.

وَكَأَنَّ الشَرَّ أَصلٌ فيهُمُ

وَكَذا النورُ حَديثٌ في الظُلَم

It is as though evil were rooted within them,

and light, likewise, were a newcomer amid the darknesses.

أَعجَبَ العَضبُ لِما هَذَّ فَقَد

كَلَّ أَو صادَفَ بُؤساً فَاِنثَلَم

Marvel at the keen blade when it hews, and then say:

“It has grown dull, or met adversity and become notched.”

وَمَعَ الضَيرِ بُلوغٌ لِلمُنى

وَمَعَ النَفعِ شَكاةٌ وَأَلَم

With hardship comes the attainment of desires,

and with benefit come complaint and pain.