إِذا كُنتَ في حاجَةٍ مُرسِلاً

فَأَرسِل حَكيماً وَلا توصِهِ

If you are in need of a messenger

Then send a wise one, and do not describe him

وَإِن ناصِحٌ مِنكَ يَوماً دَنا

فَلا تَنأَ عَنهُ وَلا تُقصِهِ

And if an advisor comes your way one day

Then do not distance yourself from him, and do not cut him off

وَإِن بابُ أَمرٍ عَلَيكَ اِلتَوى

فَشاوِر لَبيباً وَلا تَعصِهِ

And if the door of a matter turns to you

Then consult an intelligent one, and do not disobey him

وَذو الحَقِّ لا تَنتَقِص حَقَّهُ

فَإِنَّ القَطيعَةَ في نَقصِهِ

And the one in the right, do not detract from his right

For estrangement lies in detracting from him

وَلا تَذكُرِ الدَهرَ في مَجلِسٍ

حَديثاً إِذا أَنتَ لَم تُحصِهِ

And do not mention fate in a gathering

Speaking of it, if you have not grasped it

وَنُصَّ الحَديثَ إِلى أَهلِهِ

فَإِنَّ الوَثيقَةَ في نَصِّهِ

And direct the speech to its people

For security lies in its preciseness

وَلا تَحرِصَنَّ فَرُبَّ اِمرِئٍ

حَريصٍ مُضاعٍ عَلى حِرصِهِ

And do not be greedy, for many a greedy man

Is wretched because of his greed

وَكَم مِن فَتىً ساقِطٍ عَقلُهُ

وَقَد يُعجَبُ الناسُ مِن شَخصِهِ

And how many young men have lost their minds

Yet people are impressed by their appearance

وَآخَرَ تَحسِبُهُ أَنوَكاً

وَيَأتيكَ بِالأَمرِ مِن فَصِّهِ

And another you reckon slow-witted

Yet he provides you the crux of the matter

لَبِستُ اللَيالي فَأَفنَينَني

وَسَربَلَني الدَهرُ في قُمصِهِ

I wore out the nights, so they destroyed me

And time dressed me in its shirt