مَنwhoever خافَfeared سوءevil العاقِبهthe outcome
مَن خافَ سوء العاقِبه
لَمdid not يَترُكabandon المُراقبهvigilance
لَم يَترُك المُراقبه
Whoever fears an evil outcome
He who feared an evil end, did not neglect to watch
Does not abandon vigilance.
He who feared blame, did not go near what was unlawful
مَنwhoever خَشِيَfeared الملاماblame
مَن خَشِيَ الملاما
لَمdid not يقربapproach الحَراماthe forbidden
لَم يقرب الحَراما
Whoever fears blame
He who disliked answering, did not speak much
Does not approach what is forbidden.
He who honored his brothers, had helpers for himself
منwhoever كَرِهَdisliked الجَواباthe reply
من كَرِهَ الجَوابا
لَمdid not يُكثرprolong الخِطاباspeech
لَم يُكثر الخِطابا
Whoever dislikes a reply
He who reformed his livelihood, attained the wishes he lived for
Does not prolong his speech.
He who was content with enough, had merchandise for himself
مَنwhoever أَكرَمhonored الإِخواناthe brethren
مَن أَكرَم الإِخوانا
كانواthey were لَهُfor him أَعواناhelpers
كانوا لَهُ أَعوانا
Whoever honors his brethren
He who kept his friend, had a companion through him
Finds them his helpers.
He who stuck to good luck, had easy living for himself
مَنwhoever أَصلَحput in order المَعاشاlivelihood
مَن أَصلَح المَعاشا
نالَattained المُنىwishes ماas long as عاشاhe lived
نالَ المُنى ما عاشا
Whoever puts his livelihood in order
He whose capital was well led, his state fared well
Attains his wishes as long as he lives.
He who practiced good politics, his leadership lasted
مَنwhoever لَزمheld fast to القَناعهcontentment
مَن لَزم القَناعه
كانَتit was لَهُfor him بِضاعهstock-in-trade
كانَت لَهُ بِضاعه
Whoever holds fast to contentment
He who befriended a sultan, was not safe from tyranny
Has it as his stock-in-trade.
He who feared blame, his safety lasted
مَنwhoever حَفِظَcherished الصَّديقاthe friend
مَن حَفِظَ الصَّديقا
كانَhe was بِهِtoward him رَفيقاgentle
كانَ بِهِ رَفيقا
Whoever cherishes a friend
He who feared consequences, did not feel safe from calamities
Is gentle with him.
He who consulted the wise, was guided aright by him
مَنwhoever لَزِمَadhered to المياسرهleniency
مَن لَزِمَ المياسره
صفتbecame harmonious لَهُfor him المُعاشرهsocial dealings
صفت لَهُ المُعاشره
Whoever practices leniency
Finds his dealings with others harmonious.
منwhoever ربnurtured رَاسprincipal مالهhis wealth
من رب رَاس ماله
كانَthere was صَلاحsoundness حالهhis condition
كانَ صَلاح حاله
Whoever nurtures his capital
Finds his circumstances in good order.
منwhoever أَحسنpracticed well السياسهgovernance
من أَحسن السياسه
دامَتendured لهُfor him الرِّئاسهleadership
دامَت لهُ الرِّئاسه
Whoever governs well
Remains in leadership.
مَنwhoever صَحِبkept company with السلطاناthe ruler
مَن صَحِب السلطانا
لَمdid not يَأمنfeel safe from الطُغياناtyranny
لَم يَأمن الطُغيانا
Whoever keeps company with the ruler
Is not safe from tyranny.
مَنwhoever خَشيَfeared الملامهblame
مَن خَشيَ الملامه
دامَتendured لهُfor him السلامهsafety
دامَت لهُ السلامه
Whoever fears blame
Remains safe.
مَنwhoever أَمنfelt safe from العَواقِباconsequences
مَن أَمن العَواقِبا
لَمdid not يَأمَنfeel safe from النوائِباcalamities
لَم يَأمَن النوائِبا
Whoever feels safe from consequences
Is not safe from calamities.
مَنwhoever شاوَرَconsulted اللبيباthe wise man
مَن شاوَرَ اللبيبا
كانَhe was بِهِthrough him مُصيباcorrect
كانَ بِهِ مُصيبا
Whoever consults a wise man
Reaches the right judgment through him.
Partial English translation: 14 of 28 Arabic lines translated.