سلِ اللهَ الغَنِيَّ تَسْأَلْ جَوادا

سلِ اللهَ الغَنِيَّ تَسْأَلْ جَوادا

أمِنتَ على خزائِنِه النَّفادا

أمِنتَ على خزائِنِه النَّفادا

Ask God, the Self-Sufficient: you ask a generous giver;

Ask God the Rich, do not ask any man

you need not fear that His treasuries will run dry.

Have you trusted in His endless treasures?

وإن أصفاكَ سُلطانٌ بقُرب

وإن أصفاكَ سُلطانٌ بقُرب

فلا تُغْفِلْ تَرقُّبَكَ البِعادا

فلا تُغْفِلْ تَرقُّبَكَ البِعادا

And if a ruler favors you with closeness,

Though a ruler draws you near in intimacy

then do not neglect to anticipate estrangement.

Be not neglectful, beware the distance!

فقدْ تدني المُلوكُ لدى رضاها

فقدْ تدني المُلوكُ لدى رضاها

وتُبعِدُ حين تَحتَقِدُ احتِقادا

وتُبعِدُ حين تَحتَقِدُ احتِقادا

For kings draw you near when pleased,

Kings approach when they are pleased with you

and drive you away when they harbor deep resentment.

And spurn you when they bear you hatred

كَما المِرِّيخ بالتَّثليثِ يُعطي

كَما المِرِّيخ بالتَّثليثِ يُعطي

وبالتَّربيعِ يَسلُبُ ماأفادا

وبالتَّربيعِ يَسلُبُ ماأفادا

Just as Mars gives through a trine,

Like Mars in trine, he grants you gifts

and through a square takes away what it bestowed.

In square, withdraws all he once gave.