لَأَوصِيَنَّ بِما أَوصَت بِهِ أُمَمٌ

في الدَهرِ وَالقَولُ مِثلَ الشُربِ مَعلولُ

I will advise with what nations have advised

Through the ages, and words are like drinks when they overflow

لا تَأمَنَنَّ أَخا داءٍ وَلا ضَمَنٍ

قَد يُحدِثُ السَيفُ كَلماً وَهوَ مَفلولُ

Do not feel safe from a brother of ill-intent or a guarantor

The sword can speak even when sheathed

وَلا يَغُرَّنكَ مِمَّن قَلبُهُ أَحِنٌ

صَمتٌ فَإِنَّ حُسامَ الغِمرِ مَسلولُ

And do not be fooled by one whose heart is soft

Silence, for the swords of war are drawn

وَإِن دُلِلتَ عَلى شَرٍّ لِتَأتِيَهُ

فَأَنتَ مِنهُ عَلى ما ساءَ مَدلولُ

And if you are led to evil in order to commit it

You are responsible for the evil you have wrought

مَفعولُ خَيرِكَ في الأَفعالِ مُفتَقَدٌ

كَما تَعَذَّرَ في الأَسماءِ فَعلولُ

The object of your good deeds in actions goes missing

As objects are impossible in verb forms

وَلا يَصُدَنّكَ عَن مَجدٍ وَلا شَرِفٍ

تَبغيهِ أَنَّكَ طَلقُ الوَجهِ بُهلولُ

And do not let your quest for glory or nobility

Be hindered by your easy smile or jest

وَلا تُجِلَنَّ ما الأَحلامُ تَحظُرُهُ

فَقَد عَلِمتَ بِأَنَّ الرِمسَ مَحلولُ

And do not forbid what dreams bring

For you know well that spearheads are unlocked

وَقَد يَطِلُّ دِماءً غَيرَ هَيِّنَةٍ

دَمٌ مِنَ الذارِعِ الزِنجِيِّ مَطلولُ

And it can shed blood other than insignificant

The blood of the dark-skinned warrior flows

ذاكَ الأَسيرُ كَفانا غُلُّهُ عَنَتاً

فَلَيتَهُ آخِرَ الأَيّامِ مَغلولُ

That captive, his chains bothered him

If only his last days were bound