1. يا أَيُّها الرَجُلُ المُعَلِّمُ غَيرَهُ

    هَلا لِنَفسِكَ كانَ ذا التَعليمُ

    O you man who teaches others,

    Why was this teaching not for yourself?

  2. تَصِفُ الدَّواءَ لِذي السَّقامِ وَذي الضَّنا

    كيما يَصحّ بِهِ وَأَنتَ سَقيمُ

    You prescribe medicine for the sick and those wasting away,

    So they may recover through it, while you are sick.

  3. وَتَراكَ تُصلِحُ بالرشادِ عُقولَنا

    أَبَداً وَأَنتَ مِن الرَّشادِ عَديمُ

    And you see yourself setting our minds right with guidance,

    Always, while you yourself are devoid of guidance.

  4. فابدأ بِنَفسِكَ فانهَها عَن غَيِّها

    فَإِذا اِنتَهَت عَنهُ فأنتَ حَكيمُ

    So begin with your own soul, and restrain it from its waywardness;

    Then, when it desists from that, you are wise.

  5. فَهُناكَ يُقبَلُ ما تَقولُ وَيَهتَدي

    بِالقَولِ منك وَينفَعُ التعليمُ

    Then what you say is accepted, and others find guidance

    Through your words, and teaching brings benefit.

  6. لا تَنهَ عَن خُلُقٍ وَتأتيَ مِثلَهُ

    عارٌ عَلَيكَ إِذا فعلتَ عَظيمُ

    Do not forbid a vice while practicing its like;

    If you do, great is the shame upon you.