ذَهَبتُ مُسائِلاً عَن خَيرِ شَيءٍ

لِأَعرِفَ كُنهَ أَخلاقِ البَرِيَّه

I went around asking what is the best thing

I went inquiring about the finest thing,

To know the nature of mankind's morals

To understand the true essence of creation's character.

فَقالَت لِيَ الكَنيسَةُ خَيرُ شَيءٍ

هُوَ الزُهدُ الَّذي يَمحو الخَطِيَّه

The church told me the best thing

The Church said to me: "The finest thing

Is asceticism that blots out sins

Is the asceticism that obliterates sin."

وَقالَت لِيَ الشَريعَةُ خَيرُ شَيءٍ

شُمولُ العَدلِ أَبناءَ الرَعِيَّه

The law told me the best thing

The Law said to me: "The finest thing

Is justice encompassing the commoners

Is justice encompassing all children of the realm."

وَقالَ الشُهرَةُ الجُندِيُّ خَيرٌ

وَإِن كانَت تَقودُ إِلا المَنِيَّه

The famous soldier said the best

The Soldier said: "Renown is best,

Even if it leads only to perdition

Even if it leads to nothing but death."

وَقالَ أَخو الحَصافَةِ خَيرُ شَيءٍ

هُوَ الحَقُّ المُبينُ بِلا مَرِيَّه

The brother of wisdom said the best thing

The man of prudence said: "The finest thing

Is the clear truth without doubt

Is the manifest truth, devoid of doubt."

وَقالَ أَخو الجَهالَةِ خَيرُ شَيءٍ

سُرورُ النَفسِ في الدُنيا الدَنِيَِه

The brother of ignorance said the best thing

The man of ignorance said: "The finest thing

Is the pleasure of the soul in this lowly world

Is the pleasure of the self in this base world."

وَقالَ لِيَ الفَتى وَصلُ الصَبايا

وَقالَت لِيَ الهَوى البِنتُ الصَبِيَّه

The youth told me intimacy with maidens

The youth said to me: "It is the union with maidens,"

And passion told me the young girl

And the young girl said to me: "It is love."

وَلَمّا أَن خَلَوتُ سَأَلتُ نَفسي

لِأَعرِفَ رَأيَها في ذي القَضِيَّه

When I was alone I asked myself

But when I was alone, I asked my own soul,

To know its opinion on this issue

To know its opinion on this matter.

فَقالَت لا أَرى خَيراً وَأَبقى

مِنَ الإِحسانِ لِلنَفسِ الشَقِيَّه

It said I see no better and more lasting

It replied: "I see nothing better nor more enduring

Than being kind to the wretched soul

Than showing kindness to a wretched soul."