أهل الزمان تميّزوا

أهل الزمان تميّزوا

وتقاطعوا إلا قليل

وتقاطعوا إلا قليل

The people of this age have grown divided,

The people of this age are distinguished

and severed their ties, save a few.

And cut off from one another except a few

إن كنت ترجى أو تخا

إن كنت ترجى أو تخا

ف فأنت عندهمُ جليل

ف فأنت عندهمُ جليل

If you are looked to with hope or feared,

If you hope or fear

then in their eyes you are esteemed.

Then you are esteemed by them

فمتى خلوت عن الجمي

فمتى خلوت عن الجمي

ل فأنت مهجور ذليل

ل فأنت مهجور ذليل

So whenever you have no kindness to offer,

So when you are alone from the masses

then you are forsaken and abased.

You are neglected and despised

والحظ كونك في الخمو

والحظ كونك في الخمو

ل عساه ينفعك الخمول

ل عساه ينفعك الخمول

Good fortune lies in your remaining in obscurity;

And your fortune is being withdrawn

perhaps obscurity will benefit you.

Perhaps withdrawal will benefit you

وتمام حظك أن تفا

وتمام حظك أن تفا

رقك العلائق والفضول

رقك العلائق والفضول

And your good fortune is complete when you are parted

And the pinnacle of your fortune is that

from attachments and excesses,

Superficial ties and curiosity leave you

ويكون فيك عن استما

ويكون فيك عن استما

حة فضل نائلهم عدول

حة فضل نائلهم عدول

and you turn away from soliciting

And you have from self-effacement

the surplus of their bounty.

A surplus that reaches the generous

فهناك يشكرك الجوا

فهناك يشكرك الجوا

د ولا ينافرك البخيل

د ولا ينافرك البخيل

Then the generous man will thank you,

For there the generous will thank you

and the miser will not shun you.

And the stingy will not reject you