ذر التخليط واجتنب الرفاعه

ذر التخليط واجتنب الرفاعه

ولا ترد الوسائل والشفاعه

ولا ترد الوسائل والشفاعه

Leave muddling aside, and shun lofty pretensions;

Abandon mixing and avoid pretense

and do not seek means of access or intercession.

Do not reject means and intercession

فأكبرُ شافع لك شيخ كيس

فأكبرُ شافع لك شيخ كيس

مليح نقشه حسن الصناعه

مليح نقشه حسن الصناعه

For your greatest intercessor is an old man of the purse,

For the greatest intercessor for you is a wise elder

handsome in his engraving, fine in his workmanship.

Of fine character and good craftsmanship

يلوح بوجهه الراضي ويرضى

يلوح بوجهه الراضي ويرضى

به من جئت مبتاعا متاعه

به من جئت مبتاعا متاعه

Al-Radi gleams upon his face, and pleased

His pleased face shines and he is pleased

with him is the man whose wares you came to buy.

With whoever comes to him seeking wares

فإن لم تلقهُ لاقيتَ ذُلّا

فإن لم تلقهُ لاقيتَ ذُلّا

وبؤسا محدثا في كلّ ساعه

وبؤسا محدثا في كلّ ساعه

For if you do not find him, you will meet humiliation

For if you do not find him, you will find

and fresh misery at every hour.

Humiliation and misery at every hour