أَلاَ في الأَوَّلِ الماضي اعِتبارُ

أَلاَ في الأَوَّلِ الماضي اعِتبارُ

لِذي عَقلٍ أَخي فَهمٍ بَصيرِ

لِذي عَقلٍ أَخي فَهمٍ بَصيرِ

Surely there is a lesson in the one who went before,

Alas! Lessons from the past for one with intellect,

for a discerning person of reason and understanding.

My wise and insightful brother.

تَخَيَّرَ لِلوزارةِ مَن رعَاه

تَخَيَّرَ لِلوزارةِ مَن رعَاه

بإِشفاقٍ ونُصحٍ في الأُمورِ

بإِشفاقٍ ونُصحٍ في الأُمورِ

He chose as minister one who cared for him

He appointed ministers who served with care

with compassion and sincere counsel in affairs.

And gave good counsel in all affairs,

وَحِصنٍ سَرَّهُ فَعَلاَ مَهيباً

وَحِصنٍ سَرَّهُ فَعَلاَ مَهيباً

يُجازي القُلَّ بالَحجمِ الكَثيرِ

يُجازي القُلَّ بالَحجمِ الكَثيرِ

And a fortress delighted him, rising high and imposing.

And a fortress whose secret he exalted;

He rewards a little with a great measure

It stands imposing, matching great with small

مِنَ الإِحسانِ والإِكرامِ فِعلاً

مِنَ الإِحسانِ والإِكرامِ فِعلاً

يُزانُ بهِ إلَى يَومِ النُّشُورِ

يُزانُ بهِ إلَى يَومِ النُّشُورِ

of kindness and honor—a deed

In kindness and honor, deeds recorded

by which he is adorned until the Day of Resurrection.

To be weighed on Resurrection Day.

وأَنفَقَ ما أَفادَ بِحُسنِ هَديٍ

وأَنفَقَ ما أَفادَ بِحُسنِ هَديٍ

وتَقديرٍ بِلا سَرَفٍ مُبيرِ

وتَقديرٍ بِلا سَرَفٍ مُبيرِ

And he spent what he gained with sound guidance

He spent what he gained, guided well,

and due measure, without ruinous extravagance.

With due measure, never to excess.

وأَجمَلُ في الرَّعيَّةِ منهُ رَأياً

وأَجمَلُ في الرَّعيَّةِ منهُ رَأياً

كَفَاهُ عِلمَ أَخبارِ الخَبيرِ

كَفَاهُ عِلمَ أَخبارِ الخَبيرِ

And one among the subjects, finer in judgment than he,

Noblest among the flock his vision:

spared him the task of learning the expert's reports.

Knowledge of the news of The Expert sufficed.

يُلاِحظُ مَن دَنَا بِثَبَاتِ ذِهنٍ

يُلاِحظُ مَن دَنَا بِثَبَاتِ ذِهنٍ

فيَعلَمُ بِالضَّميرِ هَوَى الضَّميرِ

فيَعلَمُ بِالضَّميرِ هَوَى الضَّميرِ

He watches whoever draws near with a steady mind,

He observed those brought near with steady mind

and through inward thought knows the heart's desire.

And so learned the heart’s longing for the heart.

وواتاهُ الزَّمَانُ فعاشَ دَهراً

وواتاهُ الزَّمَانُ فعاشَ دَهراً

مَنيعاً في السُّهولِ وفي الوُعور

مَنيعاً في السُّهولِ وفي الوُعور

And time favored him, so he lived an age,

Time attended him, and he lived long,

unassailable on the plains and in rugged terrain.

Impregnable in the easy and the rough,

ولَم يَمنَعهُ تَدبيرٌ وحَزمٌ

ولَم يَمنَعهُ تَدبيرٌ وحَزمٌ

مِنَ الَموتِ الُمَنغِّص للسُّرور

مِنَ الَموتِ الُمَنغِّص للسُّرور

Yet planning and resolve did not shield him

Unprotected by cunning and caution

from death, the spoiler of joy.

Against death that sours all joy.

ومَا يَبقَى عَلَى الأَيَّامِ باقٍ

ومَا يَبقَى عَلَى الأَيَّامِ باقٍ

سِوىَ ذي العِزَّةِ الرَّبِّ القَديرِ

سِوىَ ذي العِزَّةِ الرَّبِّ القَديرِ

And none endures through all the passing days

Of all that remains across days remaining

except the Possessor of Might, the Lord Almighty.

Only The Mighty Lord, The Almighty, endures.