نتمنى الوفاء من عشرة النا

نتمنى الوفاء من عشرة النا

س فتلقى القلوب ما يعيبها

س فتلقى القلوب ما يعيبها

We long for loyalty in people's company,

We wish for loyalty from the people of affection

yet hearts encounter what shames them.

Yet hearts find in them what displeases them

عيرونا بالصمت والحمد لل

عيرونا بالصمت والحمد لل

ه على شكر نعمة نحن فيها

ه على شكر نعمة نحن فيها

They reproached us for silence; praise be to

They blamed us for silence, and praise be to God

God, in thanks for a blessing we enjoy.

For the gratitude of the blessing we are in

ان تكن زلة مجانبة الهز

ان تكن زلة مجانبة الهز

ل فللّه زلة نجتنيها

ل فللّه زلة نجتنيها

If shunning jest is a lapse,

If turning away was a misstep

then, by God, what a lapse we reap!

Then to God belongs the misstep that saved me

او تكن غفلة كما زعم

او تكن غفلة كما زعم

الغير فباحب غفلة نشتهيها

الغير فباحب غفلة نشتهيها

Or if it is heedlessness, as alleged

Or if it was neglect as others claimed

by others—then how dear is the heedlessness we desire!

Then with a beloved one I desire neglect

ان خير الكلام ما كان جزلا

ان خير الكلام ما كان جزلا

وافاد النفوس ما يعنيها

وافاد النفوس ما يعنيها

Indeed, the best speech is that which is weighty

Verily the best of speech is that which is concise

and imparts to souls what concerns them.

And benefits souls with what concerns them

ولقدر الفتى مع الناس موقو

ولقدر الفتى مع الناس موقو

ف على قدر قولة يبديها

ف على قدر قولة يبديها

And indeed a young man's standing among people depends

A man's stance with people matches

on the worth of an utterance he voices.

The worth of his words that express it

انما المرء لفظة من فم الد

انما المرء لفظة من فم الد

هر إلى كل مسمع يلقيها

هر إلى كل مسمع يلقيها

A person is but a word from the mouth of Time,

Man is but a word from the mouth of fate

which it casts into every ear.

Cast to every listener that conveys it

فاحذر القول ان تقول قيحا

فاحذر القول ان تقول قيحا

واتق الناس ان يروك كريها

واتق الناس ان يروك كريها

So beware, in speaking, lest you utter pus,

So beware of words that would spew malice

and beware lest people see you as repulsive.

And beware of people that would see you as vile

أمن الرشد بعد ما يسجد

أمن الرشد بعد ما يسجد

السمع لقولي ان اسمع التمويها

السمع لقولي ان اسمع التمويها

Is it wisdom, after hearing bows

Can there be guidance after hearing yields

before my words, that I should listen to deception?

To my words if I were to relay delusion?

ان تفل الغرار مني المعاني

ان تفل الغرار مني المعاني

وانا المشرفي في هاديها

وانا المشرفي في هاديها

That meanings should blunt my edge,

If the ideas poured from me

while I am the Mashrafi sword at their necks?

While I at their guide remained

واذا المرء ضل عن سنن الع

واذا المرء ضل عن سنن الع

قل اقتفى بالضلال عجبا وتيها

قل اقتفى بالضلال عجبا وتيها

And when a person strays from reason's path,

And if man strays from reason’s path

he follows conceit and arrogance in his error.

Bewildered and lost he blindly wanders

فتراه وهو العليم جهولاً

فتراه وهو العليم جهولاً

وتراه وهو الحليم سفيها

وتراه وهو الحليم سفيها

Then you see him, though learned, utterly ignorant,

You would see the learned man as ignorant

and you see him, though forbearing, foolish.

And see the forbearing man as imprudent

رب عوراء قد تعشقها المغر

رب عوراء قد تعشقها المغر

ور حتى يقال قال بديها

ور حتى يقال قال بديها

Many a shameful remark the deluded man has adored,

Many an ugly one whom the foolish desire

so that it may be said, 'He spoke extempore.'

Until it is said she cast her spell

ونكات ولو تأملها القا

ونكات ولو تأملها القا

ئل يوما عضّ البنان عليها

ئل يوما عضّ البنان عليها

And quips—if their speaker reflected on them

There are subtle points which if the speaker

one day, he would bite his fingertips in regret over them.

Were to contemplate would bite his fingers

تحتها الخزي والملامة والذم

تحتها الخزي والملامة والذم

فماذا يفيد من يعنيها

فماذا يفيد من يعنيها

Beneath them lie disgrace, blame, and censure;

Beneath them lies disgrace, blame, and censure

so what does one gain by making them his concern?

So of what use is one who voices them?

انتم الشاهدو براءة نفسي

انتم الشاهدو براءة نفسي

من نكات نفوسهم ترتضيها

من نكات نفوسهم ترتضيها

You bear witness that my soul is free

You are witness to the innocence of my soul

of quips their souls approve.

From insinuations their souls approve