عَصا في يَدِ الأَعمى يَرومُ بِها الهُدى

عَصا في يَدِ الأَعمى يَرومُ بِها الهُدى

أَبَرُّ مِن كُلِّ خِدنٍ وَصاحِبِ

أَبَرُّ مِن كُلِّ خِدنٍ وَصاحِبِ

A staff in a blind man's hand, with which he seeks guidance,

A staff in a blind man's hand, with which he seeks guidance,

is more loyal than any close friend or companion.

Is more righteous than any boon companion or friend.

فَأَوسِع بَني حَوّاءَ هَجراً فَإِنَّهُم

فَأَوسِع بَني حَوّاءَ هَجراً فَإِنَّهُم

يَسيرونَ في نَهجٍ مِنَ الغَدرِ لاحِبِ

يَسيرونَ في نَهجٍ مِنَ الغَدرِ لاحِبِ

So utterly shun the children of Eve, for they

So shun the sons of Eve as much as you can, for they

walk a broad, clear path of treachery.

Walk a path of betrayal that is not loving.

وَإِن غَيَّرَ الإِثمُ الوُجوهَ فَما تَرى

وَإِن غَيَّرَ الإِثمُ الوُجوهَ فَما تَرى

لَدى الحَشرِ إِلّا كُلَّ أَسوَدَ شاحِبِ

لَدى الحَشرِ إِلّا كُلَّ أَسوَدَ شاحِبِ

And if sin changes faces, you will see

And if sin altered faces, at the Gathering

at the Resurrection none but the blackened and pallid.

You would see none but the ashen-faced, dark and wan.

إِذا ما أَشارَ العَقلُ بِالرُشدِ جَرَّهُم

إِذا ما أَشارَ العَقلُ بِالرُشدِ جَرَّهُم

إِلى الغَيِّ طَبعٌ أَخذُهُ ساحِبِ

إِلى الغَيِّ طَبعٌ أَخذُهُ ساحِبِ

Whenever reason points toward right guidance, they are dragged

When reason points to righteousness, their nature

into error by a nature whose grip pulls them along.

Drags them to error, a nature that pulls and ensnares.