1. فَقالَت الأيكيَّه

    مَقالة سريَّه

    Then the woodland dove spoke

    a noble utterance:

  2. إِن علو الهمه

    متعبة وَنقمه

    Indeed, lofty ambition

    is a burden and a curse.

  3. قَد قالَ أَهل الحكمه

    إِن الخُمول نعمه

    The wise have indeed said:

    indeed, obscurity is a blessing.

  4. إِذا وَلَيت فَاِعدل

    فَالعَدل دَأب المقبل

    If you take office, be just,

    for justice is the way of the fortunate;

  5. وَهوَ مَلاك العمل

    بِه بَقاء الدول

    and it is the mainstay of action;

    through it states endure.

  6. الملك بِالرجال

    وَالجُند بِالأَموال

    Kingship depends on men,

    and troops depend on wealth.

  7. وَالمال بِالعمارَه

    يحصل كَالتِّجاره

    And wealth, through cultivation,

    is obtained, as it is through trade.

  8. وَإِنَّما العُمران

    بِالعَدل يا إِنسان

    And prosperity comes only

    through justice, O man.

  9. عمارة البِلاد

    والرفق بِالعِباد

    Cultivating the lands

    and kindness toward the people

  10. مِن عادة المُلوك

    وَالنهب للصعلوك

    are the custom of kings;

    and plunder is for the vagabond.

  11. وَإِنَّما لا يعدل

    مُستهدم مُستَعجل

    And the only one who fails to act justly

    is a man facing ruin, in haste,

  12. يَحوش قَبل العَزل

    ذُخراً لِوَقت الأَزَل

    hoarding before his dismissal

    a reserve for times of hardship—

  13. كَسارِقٍ أَو سالب

    أَو غاصِبٍ أَو ناهب

    like a thief or robber,

    or a usurper or plunderer.

  14. وَلا يُبالي ما خرب

    مِن البِلاد وَعطب

    And he cares nothing what falls to ruin

    and lies wasted in the land.

  15. أَما الَّذي بِلاده

    يَرثها أَولاده

    As for the man whose lands

    his children inherit,

  16. وَملكه كَملكه

    مُستَهجن في فَتكه

    and whose kingdom is like his own property,

    he is blameworthy for his violence;

  17. وَهوَ جَدير بِالغَضَب

    من عامل إِذا نَهَب

    and he is entitled to be angry

    at an official when he plunders.

  18. فَأدِّب العمالا

    وَهذَّب الأَعمالا

    So discipline the officials,

    and reform their conduct;

  19. تكثر لَكَ الأَموال

    حَيثُ بِها تَنال

    wealth will increase for you,

    for through it you attain your ends.

  20. لا تخدَع الرِّجال

    إِلا إِذا ما نالوا

    You cannot deceive men

    unless they have gained something,

  21. أَو رَغِبوا أَو رهِبوا

    أَو أَدرَكوا ما طَلبوا

    or desire something, or fear,

    or have attained what they sought.

  22. أَرغب فَما بِالرَّهبه

    تَصفو لَكَ المَحبه

    Offer inducements: it is not through fear

    that affection for you becomes sincere.

  23. وَالحَرب بِالإِكراه

    مِن أَعظَم الدواهي

    And war waged under compulsion

    is among the greatest calamities.

  24. هَزل المُلوك جد

    سَهو المُلوك عَمد

    Kings' jesting is serious business;

    kings' lapses are deliberate.