Sol 6.1

  1. احذر جليسَ السَّوءِ والبَس دونَهُ

    ثَوبَ التَّقِيَّة جاهدا وتَدَرَّعِ

    Beware an evil companion, and against him don

    the cloak of caution, sparing no effort, and put on armor.

  2. لا تحقِرنَ لِينَ العدوِّ فربّما

    قَتَلَ الكَمِيَّ النَّدبَ لِينُ المِبضَعِ

    Do not underestimate an enemy's softness, for sometimes

    a lancet's softness has slain a valiant armored warrior.

  3. والصّدقُ أسلمُ فاتّخذهُ جُنَّةً

    فالكذِبُ يفضحُ ربَّهُ في المَجمعِ

    And truthfulness is safer, so take it as a shield;

    for lying disgraces its teller in the gathering.

  4. والكِذبُ شَينٌ فاجتنبهُ دائما

    والبَغيُ فاحذرهُ وخيمُ المصرعِ

    And lying is a disgrace, so always avoid it;

    and beware oppression: it brings a dreadful fall.

  5. حدِّثهُمُ إن أمسكَوُا فإذا هُمُ

    ذكروا الحديثَ فأَصغِ جهدكَ واسمعِ

    Speak to them if they keep silent; but when they

    tell a tale, give your fullest attention and listen.

  6. وإذا همُ سألوا النّوالَ فأعطِهم

    وإذا هُمُ لم يَسألوا فتبرَّعِ

    And if they ask for bounty, give to them;

    and if they do not ask, give of your own accord.

  7. لا تحِرصَنَّ فإنّ حرصَكَ باطلٌ

    واصرف بعزِّ اليأسِ ذُلَّ الَمطمعِ

    Do not be covetous, for your covetousness is futile;

    and ward off craving's humiliation with the dignity of expecting nothing.

  8. ولقد تعبتُ وما ظفِرتُ وكم أتى

    ظفَرق عَقيبَ تَرفُّهٍ وتَودُّعِ

    And indeed, I have toiled without success; yet how often has there come

    success after ease and repose!

  9. ولكم توقّعتُ الغنى فحُرمتُه

    ولقَيتُه من حيثُ لم أتوقَّعِ

    And how often have I expected wealth, only to be denied it,

    and found it where I did not expect it.