1. أَعرِض عَنِ العَوراءِ إِن أُسمِعتَها

    وَاِقعُد كَأَنَّكَ غافِلٌ لا تَسمَعُ

    Turn away from the offensive remark if you are made to hear it.

    And sit as though unaware, hearing nothing.

  2. وَدَعِ السُؤالَ عَنِ الأُمورِ وَبَحثَها

    فَلَرُبَّ حافِرِ حُفرَةٍ هُوَ يُصرَعُ

    Leave off questioning about affairs and probing them.

    For many a pit-digger is himself brought down.

  3. وَاِلزَم مُجالَسَةَ الكِرامِ وَفِعلَهُم

    وَإِذا اِتَّبَعتَ فَأَبصِرَن مَن تَتبَعُ

    Keep company with the noble and follow their deeds.

    And when you follow, look carefully at whom you follow.

  4. لا تَتبَعَنَّ غَوايَةً لِصَبابَةٍ

    إِنَّ الغَوايَةَ كُلَّ شَرٍّ تَجمَعُ

    Do not follow error out of passionate longing.

    Indeed, error gathers every evil.

  5. وَالقَومُ إِن نَزَروا فَزِد في نَزرِهِم

    لا تَقعُدَنَّ خِلالَهُم تَتَسَمَّعُ

    And if the company speak sparingly, be still more sparing.

    Do not sit among them eavesdropping.

  6. وَالشُربُ لا تُدمِن وَخُذ مَعروفَهُ

    تُصبِح صَحيحَ الراسِ لا تَتَصَدَّعُ

    Do not make drinking a habit; take its proper measure.

    You will wake clear-headed, without a splitting headache.

  7. وَاِكدَه لِنَفسِكَ لا تُكَلِّف غَيرَها

    فَبِدَينِها تُجزى وَعَنها تَدفَعُ

    And toil for yourself; do not burden another soul.

    For you are requited for its debt, and ward off harm on its behalf.

  8. وَالمَوتُ أَعدادُ النُفوسِ وَلا أَرى

    مِنهُ لِذي هَرَبٍ نَجاةً تَنفَعُ

    Death is the souls' unfailing watering places, and I see no

    Escape from it that avails one who flees.