1. إِذا اِختَلَفَ الناسُ في مَدرَكٍ

    وَلَم يحتمل غَير وَجهي خِلاف

    When people disagree over a question,

    and it admits only two opposing views,

  2. فَما الحَقُ فيهِ سِوى واحِدٍ

    وَفكرٍ لتبصِرَهُ غَير خاف

    then the truth in it can only be one;

    and reflect, that you may see it plainly.

  3. وَإِن يَحتَمِل أَوجُهاً نَطَقُوا

    بِقَولينِ مِن نظرٍ غَيرِ شاف

    But if it admits several views, while they offer

    two opinions based on inconclusive reasoning,

  4. فَقد يَظهَرُ الحَقُ في ثالثٍ

    وَوَلاهُم صادرٌ عَن خِراف

    the truth may emerge in a third,

    and their [unclear term] springs from folly.

  5. وَلا تَعتَبِر كَثرَةَ القائِلين

    فَهُم حُمُرٌ ما لَها مِن أُكاف

    And do not judge by the number of speakers:

    for they are asses without pack-saddles.

  6. يناقِضُ بعضُهُم بَعضَهُم

    فَقولُهُم لَم يَزل ذا اِختِلاف

    Some of them contradict the others,

    so their words remain marked by disagreement.

  7. وَلَو أَنعَموا فكرَهُم أَنصَفُوا

    وَكانَ مَقالُهُم ذا اِئتِلاف

    Had they thought deeply, they would have judged fairly,

    and their discourse would have been harmonious.

  8. وَإِياكَ وَالبَحثَ مَع مُبتَدٍ

    بليدٍ يَقولُ بِغَيرِ اِنتِصاف

    And beware of debating with a novice,

    a dullard who speaks without fairness.