أَمِنتُ عَلى السِرِّ امرَءً غَيرَ حازِمٍ

أَمِنتُ عَلى السِرِّ امرَءً غَيرَ حازِمٍ

وَلَكِنَّهُ في النُصحِ غَيرُ مَريبِ

وَلَكِنَّهُ في النُصحِ غَيرُ مَريبِ

I trusted a man lacking prudence with a secret,

I trusted with a secret a man who lacked caution,

yet his sincerity was beyond suspicion.

Yet in counseling he was free of guile.

أَذاعَ بِهِ في الناسِ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ

أَذاعَ بِهِ في الناسِ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ

بِعَلياءَ نارٌ أُوقِدَت لِثقوبِ

بِعَلياءَ نارٌ أُوقِدَت لِثقوبِ

He spread it among the people, until it was like

He spread it among the people till it seemed

a fire kindled on a height to blaze.

Like a fire kindled on the mountain tops.

وَكُنتَ مَتى لا تَرعَ سِرَّكَ تَنتِشر

وَكُنتَ مَتى لا تَرعَ سِرَّكَ تَنتِشر

فَوارِعُهُ مِن مُخطىءٍ وَمُصيبِ

فَوارِعُهُ مِن مُخطىءٍ وَمُصيبِ

And whenever you fail to guard your secret, there spread

Whenever you don't guard your secret, it spreads;

its offshoots, from those who err and those who get it right.

So beware of both errors and triumphs.

فَما كُلُّ ذي لُبٍّ بِمؤتيكَ نُصحَهُ

فَما كُلُّ ذي لُبٍّ بِمؤتيكَ نُصحَهُ

وَما كُلُّ مؤتٍ نَصحَهُ بِلبيبِ

وَما كُلُّ مؤتٍ نَصحَهُ بِلبيبِ

For not everyone with understanding gives you his sincere counsel,

Not everyone with a mind gives you sincere counsel,

nor is everyone who gives his sincere counsel wise.

Nor does every counsel-giver have a mind.

وَلَكِن إِذا ما استَجمَعا عِندَ واحِدٍ

وَلَكِن إِذا ما استَجمَعا عِندَ واحِدٍ

فَحقٌّ لَهُ مِن طاعَةٍ بِنَصيبِ

فَحقٌّ لَهُ مِن طاعَةٍ بِنَصيبِ

But when the two are united in one person,

But when the two unite in one person,

then he rightly deserves a measure of obedience.

He deserves some obedience from you.

وَإِنَّ امرَءً قَد جَرَّبَ الناسَ لَم يَخف

وَإِنَّ امرَءً قَد جَرَّبَ الناسَ لَم يَخف

تَقَلُّبَ عَصرَيهِ لَغَيرُ لَبيبِ

تَقَلُّبَ عَصرَيهِ لَغَيرُ لَبيبِ

And a man who has tested people, yet does not fear

A man who has tested people will not be unaware

the reversals of his nights and days, is surely unwise.

Of the turns of fate for one lacking in sense.

فَلا تَيأَسَنَّ الدَهرَ مِن ودِّ كاشِحٍ

فَلا تَيأَسَنَّ الدَهرَ مِن ودِّ كاشِحٍ

وَلا تَأمَنَنَّ الدَهرَ صَرمَ حَبيبِ

وَلا تَأمَنَنَّ الدَهرَ صَرمَ حَبيبِ

So never despair of a foe's affection,

So do not despair of affection from one who has parted from you,

nor ever feel safe from a loved one's estrangement.

Nor feel safe from one who is your bosom friend.

إِذا المَرءُ أَعيا رَهطَهُ في شبابِهِ

إِذا المَرءُ أَعيا رَهطَهُ في شبابِهِ

فَلا تَرجُ مِنهُ الخَيرَ عِندَ مَشيبِ

فَلا تَرجُ مِنهُ الخَيرَ عِندَ مَشيبِ

If a man has wearied his kin in his youth,

When a man wearies his own tribe in his youth,

then expect no good from him when his hair turns gray.

You should not expect any good from him in his old age.