ولقد وليت إمارةً فرجَعتُها

ولقد وليت إمارةً فرجَعتُها

في المال سالمةً ولم أتموّلِ

في المال سالمةً ولم أتموّلِ

And indeed I held a governorship, then handed it back,

I was once granted rule, but I returned it,

With its funds intact, and I did not enrich myself.

Leaving the treasury intact, taking nothing for myself.

ولقد منَعت النصح من متقبلٍ

ولقد منَعت النصح من متقبلٍ

ولقد رفدت النصح من لم يقبل

ولقد رفدت النصح من لم يقبل

And indeed I withheld counsel from one willing to accept it,

I offered advice though none would take it,

And indeed I offered counsel to one who would not accept it.

And gave counsel though none wished to accept.

فبأيّ لمسةِ لامسٍ لم التَمِس

فبأيّ لمسةِ لامسٍ لم التَمِس

وبأيّ حيلةِ حائلٍ لم أحتل

وبأيّ حيلةِ حائلٍ لم أحتل

So what touch of any toucher have I not sought?

By what sly touch did I ever take what wasn't mine?

And what stratagem of any schemer have I not tried?

By what crooked ways did I seek to gain?

يا طالب الحاجات يرجو نجحَها

يا طالب الحاجات يرجو نجحَها

ليس النجاح مع الأخفّ الأعجل

ليس النجاح مع الأخفّ الأعجل

O seeker of goals, hoping to achieve them,

O seeker of needs, hoping they'll be met-

Success does not favor the flightiest and hastiest.

Success comes not to the hasty and rushed.

فاصدق إذا حدّثتَ تكتب صادقاً

فاصدق إذا حدّثتَ تكتب صادقاً

وإذا حلفت ممارياً فتحلّل

وإذا حلفت ممارياً فتحلّل

So be truthful when you speak: you will be recorded as truthful.

Speak truthfully and you will be called truthful;

And if you swear an oath in a dispute, seek release from it.

Swear falsely and you will be known a liar.

وإذا رأيت الباهشين إلى العلا

وإذا رأيت الباهشين إلى العلا

غُبراً كفُّهُم برَيث فاعجل

غُبراً كفُّهُم برَيث فاعجل

And if you see those reaching eagerly toward lofty heights,

When you see climbers rising high,

Dust-covered, hold them back with delay, and hasten yourself.

Though their hands be dust, make haste away.

واحذر مكان السوء لا تحلل به

واحذر مكان السوء لا تحلل به

وإذا نبا بك منزلٌ فتحَوَّلِ

وإذا نبا بك منزلٌ فتحَوَّلِ

And beware a place of evil; do not settle there.

Beware places of evil- do not stay there.

And if a dwelling proves inhospitable to you, move on.

If a house brings you ill, turn and go.

وإذا ابن عمك لجّ بعض لجاجةٍ

وإذا ابن عمك لجّ بعض لجاجةٍ

فانظر به عدة ولا تستعجل

فانظر به عدة ولا تستعجل

And if your cousin persists in some obstinacy,

If your cousin comes to you in great need,

Give him a while, and do not act in haste.

Consider his state and do not rush to judge.

وإذا افتقرت فلا تكن متَخَشِّعاً

وإذا افتقرت فلا تكن متَخَشِّعاً

ترجو الفواضلَ عند غير المفضلِ

ترجو الفواضلَ عند غير المفضلِ

And if you become poor, do not abase yourself,

If you become impoverished, do not beg cringingly,

Hoping for favors from one who is no benefactor.

Seeking favors from those who give grudgingly.

واستغنِ ما اغناك ربّك بالغنى

واستغنِ ما اغناك ربّك بالغنى

وإذا تكون خصاصةٌ فتجمل

وإذا تكون خصاصةٌ فتجمل

And be self-sufficient while your Lord enriches you with wealth;

Be content with the wealth your Lord has given you through bounty,

And if poverty comes, bear yourself with dignity.

And if you are lacking, then endure it with grace.