أولى عَدُوٍّ بان يطالِبَهُ

أولى عَدُوٍّ بان يطالِبَهُ

ذو العَقلِ دونَ الأعداءِ بالإحَنِ

ذو العَقلِ دونَ الأعداءِ بالإحَنِ

The foe most deserving of being pursued

The most worthy enemy for the wise man to challenge

by a man of reason, with hostility before all other foes,

Is himself, not external foes, with resolve

مَنْ لم تَغِبْ عنهُ حيثُ كانَ ومَنْ

مَنْ لم تَغِبْ عنهُ حيثُ كانَ ومَنْ

شاركْتَهُ في المَحلِّ والوَطَنِ

شاركْتَهُ في المَحلِّ والوَطَنِ

is one from whom you are never absent, wherever he is, and one

One whose faults never escape him wherever he is

with whom you share your dwelling and homeland,

And with whom he shares a homeland and abode

ومَنْ لهُ في اغتيالِهِ حِيَلٌ

ومَنْ لهُ في اغتيالِهِ حِيَلٌ

تحارُ منهُ غوائلُ الزَّمَنِ

تحارُ منهُ غوائلُ الزَّمَنِ

and one who has stratagems to assassinate that man,

One who has crafty ways to betray him

before whom the calamities of time stand bewildered.

That confuse even the machinations of time

فليسَ يُنجِيهِ مِن مكايدِهِ

فليسَ يُنجِيهِ مِن مكايدِهِ

حِصنٌ ولا جُنَّةً مِنَ الجُنَنِ

حِصنٌ ولا جُنَّةً مِنَ الجُنَنِ

For he cannot be saved from that foe's plots

No fortress or refuge from madness can save him

by any fortress, nor by any shield among shields.

From this one's schemes once they intertwine

وقَبلَمَ نفسُ الفتَى ففِتنَتُها

وقَبلَمَ نفسُ الفتَى ففِتنَتُها

إذا تأمَّلْتَ أعظمَ الفِتَنِ

إذا تأمَّلْتَ أعظمَ الفِتَنِ

And [opening unclear] the young man's self—for its temptation,

Before the self corrupts, it charms the soul

when you reflect, is the greatest of trials.

Look - this is the greatest of temptations!

فابعَتْ إلى حربِها العزيمَةَ والح

فابعَتْ إلى حربِها العزيمَةَ والح

زْمَ وجيشَ الآراء والفِطَنِ

زْمَ وجيشَ الآراء والفِطَنِ

So send to war against it resolve and firm-

It summons resolve, determination, an army of thoughts and wit

-ness, and the army of judgments and insights.

To subdue it, making it your captive

واحرِصْ على قَهرِها لتأسِرَها

واحرِصْ على قَهرِها لتأسِرَها

فقَهرُها فتَحُ أشرَفُ المُدُنِ

فقَهرُها فتَحُ أشرَفُ المُدُنِ

And strive to subdue it, that you may take it captive;

For conquering it opens the noblest of cities

for subduing it is the conquest of the noblest of cities.