1. لا تصحبنّ اميراً

    ولا غنيا قديرا

    Never keep company with an emir,

    nor with a rich and powerful man,

  2. يطاع فيك إذا ما

    جنيت ذنبا يسيرا

    whose word against you is obeyed whenever

    you commit a slight offense.

  3. أحكامهُ فيك تحري

    بغيا وظلما وزورا

    His judgments concerning you pursue

    oppression, injustice, and falsehood.

  4. ولا ترى لك خلفا

    يكون منه محيرا

    And you will find no substitute for yourself

    who would be left bewildered by him.

  5. إن التعزّز ذلّ

    فلا ترده ظهيرا

    Seeking might is humiliation,

    so do not seek him as a supporter.

  6. وكن مع البهم واقنع

    ترى القليل كثيرا

    And be with the flock, and be content:

    you will see little as much.

  7. تكون فيهم طليقا

    وفي يديه أسيرا

    Among them you will be free,

    and in his hands a captive.

  8. متى تعدّى نظير

    عليك كنت نظيرا

    Whenever an equal transgresses

    against you, you stand as his equal.

  9. فإن تناول زقّا

    أخذت دلوا كبيرا

    So if he takes up a wineskin,

    you take a large bucket.

  10. والصلح من بعد هذا

    وقد أمنت الغرورا

    And reconciliation comes after this,

    with you now safe from deception.

  11. إن الخمول سرورٌ

    لمن أراد السرورا

    Indeed, obscurity is happiness

    for whoever desires happiness.