اعتزلْ ذكرَ الأغاني والغزلْ

اعتزلْ ذكرَ الأغاني والغزلْ

وقلِ الفصلَ وجانبْ مَنْ هزلْ

وقلِ الفصلَ وجانبْ مَنْ هزلْ

Shun mention of songs and love poetry.

Abandon the mention of songs and love poems,

And speak decisively, and shun whoever jests.

And say what is appropriate and avoid jesting.

ودعِ الذكرى لأيامِ الصِّبا

ودعِ الذكرى لأيامِ الصِّبا

فلأيامِ الصِّبا نجمٌ أفلْ

فلأيامِ الصِّبا نجمٌ أفلْ

Leave aside memories of youthful days,

Leave the memories of the days of youth,

For the star of youthful days has set.

For the days of youth have set like stars.

إنَّ أحلى عيشةٍ قضيتُها

إنَّ أحلى عيشةٍ قضيتُها

ذهبتْ لذاتُها والإثمُ حلْ

ذهبتْ لذاتُها والإثمُ حلْ

Indeed, the sweetest life I ever lived—

The sweetest life I have spent

Its pleasures have passed, while sin remains.

Has passed for its own sake, and the sin is resolved.

واتركِ الغادةَ لا تحفلْ بها

واتركِ الغادةَ لا تحفلْ بها

تُمْسِ في عزٍّ وتُرْفَعْ وتُجَلْ

تُمْسِ في عزٍّ وتُرْفَعْ وتُجَلْ

Leave the lovely maiden; pay her no heed,

And leave frivolity, do not care for it,

And you will live in dignity, be exalted, and revered.

It is possessed in glory, raised and revered.

والهَ عنْ آلةِ لهوٍ أطربَتْ

والهَ عنْ آلةِ لهوٍ أطربَتْ

وعنِ الأمردِ مرتجِّ الكفلْ

وعنِ الأمردِ مرتجِّ الكفلْ

Turn away from a musical instrument that brings delight,

And distract yourself from the instruments of vanity that enthralled you,

And from the beardless youth with quivering buttocks.

And from the silk clothes and fluttering locks of hair.

إن تبدّى تنكسفْ شمسُ الضّحى

إن تبدّى تنكسفْ شمسُ الضّحى

وإذا ما ماسَ يزري بالأسلْ

وإذا ما ماسَ يزري بالأسلْ

If he appears, the morning sun is eclipsed;

If the sun of morn appeared it would be eclipsed,

And whenever he sways, he puts spears to shame.

And if it touched, it would bloom with nightshade.

زادَ إنْ قسناهُ بالبدرِ سنا

زادَ إنْ قسناهُ بالبدرِ سنا

وعدلناهُ بغصنٍ فاعتدلْ

وعدلناهُ بغصنٍ فاعتدلْ

If we compare him with the full moon, he surpasses it in radiance;

If we compared it to the full moon it would age,

And we liken him to a branch, and he stands straight.

And if we matched it to a branch it would straighten.

وافتكرْ في منتهى حسنِ الذي

وافتكرْ في منتهى حسنِ الذي

أنتَ تهواهُ تجدْ أمراً جلَلْ

أنتَ تهواهُ تجدْ أمراً جلَلْ

Reflect on the final fate of the beauty of the one

And think about the utmost beauty of the one

You love, and you will find something grave.

Whom you love, you will find a momentous matter.

واتّقِ اللهَ فتقوى اللهِ ما

واتّقِ اللهَ فتقوى اللهِ ما

جاوزَتْ قلبَ امرئٍ إلاّ وصلْ

جاوزَتْ قلبَ امرئٍ إلاّ وصلْ

Fear God, for fear of God has never

And fear God, for fearing God, nothing

Passed through a person's heart without his reaching his goal.

Has ever entered a person's heart except and reached its destination.

ليسَ مَنْ يقطعُ طرقاً بطلاً

ليسَ مَنْ يقطعُ طرقاً بطلاً

إنما مَنْ يتّقِ اللهَ بطلْ

إنما مَنْ يتّقِ اللهَ بطلْ

He who robs on the roads is no hero;

Not everyone who travels roads is a hero,

Only he who fears God is a hero.

Rather, he who fears God is the brave one.

واهجرِ الخمرةَ إنْ كنتَ فتىً

واهجرِ الخمرةَ إنْ كنتَ فتىً

كيفَ يسعى في جنونٍ مَنْ عقلْ

كيفَ يسعى في جنونٍ مَنْ عقلْ

Forsake wine if you are a gallant young man;

And abandon wine if you are a young man,

How can a sane man strive for madness?

How can one in frenzy progress if he is reasonable?

صدِّقِ الشرعَ ولا تركنْ إلى

صدِّقِ الشرعَ ولا تركنْ إلى

رجلٍ يرصدُ بالليلِ زحلْ

رجلٍ يرصدُ بالليلِ زحلْ

Believe the sacred law, and do not lean upon

Believe in the Shariah and do not incline

A man who watches Saturn by night.

To a man who observes Saturn at night.

حارتِ الأفكارُ في قدرةِ مَنْ

حارتِ الأفكارُ في قدرةِ مَنْ

قدْ هدانا سبْلنا عزَّ وجلْ

قدْ هدانا سبْلنا عزَّ وجلْ

Thoughts are bewildered by the power of Him

Minds are confused about the power of Him

Who has guided us along our paths—mighty and majestic is He.

Who has guided us, the Almighty and Majestic.

كتبَ الموتَ على الخلقِ فكمْ

كتبَ الموتَ على الخلقِ فكمْ

فلَّ مِنْ جَمْعٍ وأفنى منْ دُولْ

فلَّ مِنْ جَمْعٍ وأفنى منْ دُولْ

He decreed death for creation; how many

He has prescribed death upon creation, so how many

Hosts has He shattered, and dynasties has He destroyed!

Have departed from assemblies and passed away from leadership.

أينَ نمرودُ وكنعانُ ومَنْ

أينَ نمرودُ وكنعانُ ومَنْ

ملكَ الأمرَ وولّى وعزَلْ

ملكَ الأمرَ وولّى وعزَلْ

Where are Nimrod and Canaan, and those who

Where is Nimrod, and Canaan, and those

Held command, appointed men, and dismissed them?

Who ruled matters and was appointed and dismissed?

أينَ عادٌ أينَ فرعونُ ومَنْ

أينَ عادٌ أينَ فرعونُ ومَنْ

رفعَ الأهرامَ مَنْ يسمعْ يخلْ

رفعَ الأهرامَ مَنْ يسمعْ يخلْ

Where is ʿAd? Where is Pharaoh, and whoever

Where is Aad, where is Pharaoh and those

Raised the pyramids? Whoever hears can imagine.

Who built the pyramids - who hears this is enlightened?

أينَ مَنْ سادوا وشادوا وبنوا

أينَ مَنْ سادوا وشادوا وبنوا

هلكَ الكلُّ ولمْ تغنِ القللْ

هلكَ الكلُّ ولمْ تغنِ القللْ

Where are those who ruled, raised lofty works, and built?

Where are those who dominated and constructed and built?

All have perished; the lofty summits availed them nothing.

All have perished, and mountains did not avail.

أينَ أربابُ الحجا أهلُ النّهى

أينَ أربابُ الحجا أهلُ النّهى

أينَ أهلُ العلمِ والقومُ الأُوَلْ

أينَ أهلُ العلمِ والقومُ الأُوَلْ

Where are the masters of reason, the people of wisdom?

Where are the mosque patrons and the people of prohibition?

Where are the learned, and the peoples of old?

Where are the people of knowledge and the foremost nation?

سيعيدُ اللهُ كلاًّ منهمُ

سيعيدُ اللهُ كلاًّ منهمُ

وسيجزي فاعلاً ما قدْ فعلْ

وسيجزي فاعلاً ما قدْ فعلْ

God will bring each of them back,

God will resurrect each one of them,

And repay each doer for what he has done.

And will recompense the doer for what he has done.

أيْ بنيَّ اسمعْ وصايا جَمعتْ

أيْ بنيَّ اسمعْ وصايا جَمعتْ

حكماً خُصَّتْ بها خيرُ المللْ

حكماً خُصَّتْ بها خيرُ المللْ

My dear son, hear counsels that contain

O my son, listen to commandments that comprise

Wisdom granted especially to the best of faiths.

Wisdom specific to the best of religions.

اطلبِ العلمَ ولا تكسلْ فما

اطلبِ العلمَ ولا تكسلْ فما

أبعدَ الخيرَ على أهلِ الكسلْ

أبعدَ الخيرَ على أهلِ الكسلْ

Seek knowledge and do not be lazy, for how

Seek knowledge and do not be lazy, for nothing

Distant goodness is from the lazy!

Has distanced good from the people of laziness.

واحتفلْ للفقهِ في الدينِ ولا

واحتفلْ للفقهِ في الدينِ ولا

تشتغلْ عنهُ بمالٍ أوْ خَوَلْ

تشتغلْ عنهُ بمالٍ أوْ خَوَلْ

Devote yourself to understanding religion, and do not

And celebrate jurisprudence in religion, and do not

Be distracted from it by wealth or servants.

Be distracted from it by money or fantasies.

واهجرِ النومَ وحصِّلْهُ فَمَنْ

واهجرِ النومَ وحصِّلْهُ فَمَنْ

يعرفِ المطلوبَ يحقرْ ما بذلْ

يعرفِ المطلوبَ يحقرْ ما بذلْ

Forsake sleep and acquire knowledge, for whoever

And avoid sleep, and obtain it, for he who

Knows what he seeks makes light of what he expends.

Knows what is sought belittles what is spent.

لا تقلْ قدْ ذهبَتْ أربابُهُ

لا تقلْ قدْ ذهبَتْ أربابُهُ

كلُّ مَنْ سارَ على الدربِ وصلْ

كلُّ مَنْ سارَ على الدربِ وصلْ

Do not say, 'Its masters have departed';

Do not say its experts have passed away,

Everyone who follows the path reaches the goal.

For all who traversed the path have arrived.

في ازديادِ العلمِ إرغامُ العِدى

في ازديادِ العلمِ إرغامُ العِدى

وجمالُ العلمِ يا صاحِ العملْ

وجمالُ العلمِ يا صاحِ العملْ

Increasing knowledge humiliates one's enemies;

In the proliferation of knowledge is subjugation of enemies,

And knowledge's adornment, my friend, is action.

And the beauty of knowledge, O man of action.

جمِّلِ المنطقَ بالنَّحوِ فَمَنْ

جمِّلِ المنطقَ بالنَّحوِ فَمَنْ

يُحرمِ الإعرابَ في النطقِ اختبلْ

يُحرمِ الإعرابَ في النطقِ اختبلْ

Adorn your speech with grammar, for whoever

Adorn speech with grammar, for whoever

Lacks grammatical inflection in speech becomes confused.

Is deprived of syntax in speech goes senile.

وانظمِ الشعرَ ولازمْ مذهبي

وانظمِ الشعرَ ولازمْ مذهبي

فاطراحُ الرفدِ في الدنيا أقلْ

فاطراحُ الرفدِ في الدنيا أقلْ

Compose poetry, and adhere to my way,

And compose poetry and adhere to my creed,

For foregoing gifts is rarer in this world.

For the lavishness of rhymed prose in life is paltry.

فهْوَ عنوانٌ على الفضلِ وما

فهْوَ عنوانٌ على الفضلِ وما

أحسنَ الشعرَ إذا لمْ يُبتذلْ

أحسنَ الشعرَ إذا لمْ يُبتذلْ

For it is a sign of excellence; and how

For it is a sign of virtue, and how wonderful poetry is when not debased.

Beautiful poetry is when it is not debased!

The noble have died, none remains but

ماتَ أهلُ الجودِ لم يبقَ سوى

ماتَ أهلُ الجودِ لم يبقَ سوى

مُقرفٍ أوْ مَنْ على الأصلِ اتكلْ

مُقرفٍ أوْ مَنْ على الأصلِ اتكلْ

The generous have died; none remain except

The vulgar or one who depends on his lineage.

A baseborn man, or one who relies on his ancestry.

I do not choose to kiss a hand,

أنا لا أختارُ تقبيلَ يدٍ

أنا لا أختارُ تقبيلَ يدٍ

قطعُها أجملُ مِنْ تلكَ القبلْ

قطعُها أجملُ مِنْ تلكَ القبلْ

I would not choose to kiss a hand

Cutting it off is more beautiful than those kisses.

Severing which is finer than those kisses.

If you spare me from my praises I would be

إنْ تُجِزْني عنْ مديحي صرتُ في

إنْ تُجِزْني عنْ مديحي صرتُ في

رقِّها أوْ لا فيكفيني الخجلْ

رقِّها أوْ لا فيكفيني الخجلْ

If you reward me for my praise, I enter

Shy, or else self-reproach suffices me.

Its bondage; if not, shame alone suffices me.

The sweetest words are my words to you, take them,

أعذبُ الألفاظِ قولي لكَ خذْ

أعذبُ الألفاظِ قولي لكَ خذْ

وأمرُّ القولِ قولي بِلَعَلْ

وأمرُّ القولِ قولي بِلَعَلْ

The sweetest words are my saying to you, 'Take';

And the most bitter words are my words, perhaps.

The bitterest speech is my saying, 'Perhaps.'

The kingdom of Chosroes does not make a cup suffice,

مُلْكُ كسرى عنهُ تغني كِسرةٌ

مُلْكُ كسرى عنهُ تغني كِسرةٌ

وعنْ البحرِ ارتشافٌ بالوشلْ

وعنْ البحرِ ارتشافٌ بالوشلْ

A crust of bread suffices instead of Chosroes' kingdom,

And a sip by a ladle does not quench thirst from the sea.

And instead of the sea, a sip from a trickle.

Take heed, we have divided between them,

اعتبرْ نحنُ قَسَمْنا بينَهُمْ

اعتبرْ نحنُ قَسَمْنا بينَهُمْ

تلقَهُ حقاً وبالحقِّ نَزَلْ

تلقَهُ حقاً وبالحقِّ نَزَلْ

Consider 'We have apportioned among them';

Receive truthfully and with truth it has descended.

You will find it true, and in truth it was revealed.

Nothing detains a young man from his resolve,

ليسَ ما يحوي الفتى عَنْ عزمِهِ

ليسَ ما يحوي الفتى عَنْ عزمِهِ

لا ولا ما فاتَ يوماً بالكسلْ

لا ولا ما فاتَ يوماً بالكسلْ

What a young man possesses does not come from his resolve,

Neither "no" nor what has passed with laziness.

No, nor is what he ever missed due to laziness.

And leave this world, for among its habits

واتركِ الدنيا فمِنْ عاداتِها

واتركِ الدنيا فمِنْ عاداتِها

تخفضُ العالي وتعلي مَنْ سَفلْ

تخفضُ العالي وتعلي مَنْ سَفلْ

Leave the world, for among its habits is

Is degrading the noble and elevating the lowly.

To lower the high and raise those who were low.

The life of an ascetic in attaining it

عيشةُ الزاهدِ في تحصيلِها

عيشةُ الزاهدِ في تحصيلِها

عيشةُُ الجاهِدِ بلْ هذا أزلْ

عيشةُُ الجاهِدِ بلْ هذا أزلْ

The ascetic's livelihood, when seeking worldly goods,

Is the life of a warrior, rather, this is more difficult.

Is the same as the striver's—indeed, the latter is worse off.

How many ignorant ones, though bearing fruit abundantly,

كم جهولٍ وهْوَ مثرٍ مكثرٌ

كم جهولٍ وهْوَ مثرٍ مكثرٌ

وحكيمٍ ماتَ منها بالعللْ

وحكيمٍ ماتَ منها بالعللْ

How many an ignoramus is wealthy and well supplied,

And wise ones have died from illnesses.

While a wise man has died of the world's afflictions!

How many courageous ones have not attained any wealth from it,

كم شجاعٍ لم ينلْ منها غنى

كم شجاعٍ لم ينلْ منها غنى

وجبانٍ نالَ غاياتِ الأملْ

وجبانٍ نالَ غاياتِ الأملْ

How many a brave man has gained no wealth from it,

And cowards attained the hopes completely.

While a coward has attained the utmost of his hopes!

So abandon cunning in it, and be steadfast,

فاتركِ الحيلةَ فيها واتّئدْ

فاتركِ الحيلةَ فيها واتّئدْ

إنما الحيلةُ في تركِ الحيلْ

إنما الحيلةُ في تركِ الحيلْ

So abandon scheming for it, and be deliberate;

As cunning therein is to abandon cunning.

The only stratagem is to abandon stratagems.

What palm has not attained wishes from it?

أيُّ كفٍّ لمْ تنلْ منها المنى

أيُّ كفٍّ لمْ تنلْ منها المنى

فبلاها اللهُ منهُ بالشللْ

فبلاها اللهُ منهُ بالشللْ

Any hand from which wishes are not fulfilled—

So may God afflict it with paralysis.

May God afflict it with paralysis from Him!

Do not say I have lineage and ancestry,

لا تقلْ أصلي وفصلي أبدا

لا تقلْ أصلي وفصلي أبدا

إنما أصلُ الفتى ما قدْ حصلْ

إنما أصلُ الفتى ما قدْ حصلْ

Never say, 'My lineage and my distinction';

Rather, the lineage of a young man is what he himself attains.

A young man's true lineage is only what he has achieved.

One may gain prominence without a father,

قدْ يسودُ المرءُ منْ غيرِ أبٍ

قدْ يسودُ المرءُ منْ غيرِ أبٍ

وبحسنِ السبكِ قَدْ يُنْفى الزغلْ

وبحسنِ السبكِ قَدْ يُنْفى الزغلْ

A man may rise to eminence without a noble father,

And with excellent conduct base birth is concealed.

And through skillful smelting the dross may be removed.

Just as roses grow from thorns and

وكذا الوردُ منَ الشوكِ وما

وكذا الوردُ منَ الشوكِ وما

ينبتُ النرجسُ إلا منْ بصلْ

ينبتُ النرجسُ إلا منْ بصلْ

Likewise, the rose comes from thorns, and

The narcissus only sprouts from a bulb.

The narcissus grows only from a bulb.

Despite that I thank God for

معَ أني أحمَدُ اللهَ على

معَ أني أحمَدُ اللهَ على

نسبي إذْ بأبي بكرِ اتصلْ

نسبي إذْ بأبي بكرِ اتصلْ

Though I praise God for

My lineage, as it connects to Abu Bakr.

My lineage, since it is connected to Abu Bakr.

The value of a human being is what he is proficient in,

قيمةُ الإنسانِ ما يحسِنُهُ

قيمةُ الإنسانِ ما يحسِنُهُ

أكثرَ الإنسانُ منهُ أوْ أقلْ

أكثرَ الإنسانُ منهُ أوْ أقلْ

A person's worth is what he does well,

However much the human being increases it or diminishes it.

Whether he does much of it or little.

And conceal the two matters: poverty and riches,

واكتمِ الأمرينِ فقراً وغنىً

واكتمِ الأمرينِ فقراً وغنىً

واكسبِ الفلسَ وحاسبْ مَنْ بَطَلْ

واكسبِ الفلسَ وحاسبْ مَنْ بَطَلْ

Conceal both conditions: poverty and wealth;

And earn your living and audit the one who slackened.

Earn the penny, and hold the idle man to account.

And dress intensely and labor hard, and avoid

وادّرعْ جداً وكداً واجتنبْ

وادّرعْ جداً وكداً واجتنبْ

صحبةَ الحمقى وأربابِ البخلْ

صحبةَ الحمقى وأربابِ البخلْ

Arm yourself with earnestness and toil, and avoid

The company of fools and misers.

The company of fools and the masters of stinginess.

Between extravagance and miserliness there is a position,

بينَ تبذيرٍ وبخلٍ رتبةً

بينَ تبذيرٍ وبخلٍ رتبةً

فكلا هذينِ إنْ زادَ قتلْ

فكلا هذينِ إنْ زادَ قتلْ

Keep a middle station between extravagance and stinginess,

For if either of them exceeds, it kills.

For either, when excessive, kills.

Do not engage in vilifying noble ones who have passed away,

لا تخضْ في سبِّ ساداتٍ مضَوا

لا تخضْ في سبِّ ساداتٍ مضَوا

إنهمْ ليسوا بأهلٍ للزللْ

إنهمْ ليسوا بأهلٍ للزللْ

Do not indulge in reviling departed leaders;

They are not deserving of any lapse.

They are not people prone to error.

And overlook matters, for he who is

وتغافلْ عنْ أمورٍ إنَّهُ

وتغافلْ عنْ أمورٍ إنَّهُ

لمْ يفزْ بالرفدِ إلاّ مَنْ غفلْ

لمْ يفزْ بالرفدِ إلاّ مَنْ غفلْ

Overlook certain things, for

Distracted by nonsense does not attain any gains.

None wins gifts except one who looks the other way.

It is not devoid of its opposite, and if

ليسَ يخلو المرُْ عنْ ضدٍّ وإنْ

ليسَ يخلو المرُْ عنْ ضدٍّ وإنْ

حاولَ العزلةَ في رأسِ جبلْ

حاولَ العزلةَ في رأسِ جبلْ

A person is never without an adversary, even if

One attempts isolation at the top of a mountain.

He seeks solitude on a mountaintop.

Keep away from the gossiper and shun him, for

غبْ عنِ النمّامِ واهجرْهُ فما

غبْ عنِ النمّامِ واهجرْهُ فما

بلَّغَ المكروهَ إلاّ مَنْ نقلْ

بلَّغَ المكروهَ إلاّ مَنْ نقلْ

Keep away from the tale-bearer and abandon him, for none

None conveyed disapproval except one who transmitted.

Conveys unwelcome tidings except the one who passes them on.

Leave the neighbor of your house if he is unneighborly,

دارِ جارَ الدارِ إنْ جارَ وإنْ

دارِ جارَ الدارِ إنْ جارَ وإنْ

لمْ تجدْ صبراً فما أحلى النقلْ

لمْ تجدْ صبراً فما أحلى النقلْ

Humor your neighbor if he acts unjustly; and if

And if you do not find patience then relocation is beautiful.

You find no patience, how sweet it is to move!

Keep away from the sultan and beware his tyranny,

جانبِ السلطانَ واحذرْ بطشَهُ

جانبِ السلطانَ واحذرْ بطشَهُ

لا تخاصمْ مَنْ إذا قالَ فعلْ

لا تخاصمْ مَنْ إذا قالَ فعلْ

Keep clear of the ruler, and beware his violence;

Do not dispute with one who if he spoke, acted.

Do not quarrel with one who acts when he speaks.

Do not accept governance, even if they ask

لا تلِ الحكمَ وإنْ همْ سألوا

لا تلِ الحكمَ وإنْ همْ سألوا

رغبةً فيكَ وخالفْ مَنْ عذَلْ

رغبةً فيكَ وخالفْ مَنْ عذَلْ

Do not take up judging, even if they ask,

Out of desire for you, and oppose those who were foreceful.

Out of preference for you; defy whoever reproaches you.

Half the people are enemies of one who

إنَّ نصفَ الناسِ أعداءٌ لمَنْ

إنَّ نصفَ الناسِ أعداءٌ لمَنْ

وليَ الأحكامَ هذا إنْ عدلْ

وليَ الأحكامَ هذا إنْ عدلْ

Half the people are enemies to whoever

Assumes judgments - this is if he is just.

Presides over judgments—and that is if he is just.

For he is like one imprisoned from his pleasures,

فهْوَ كالمحبوسِ عنْ لذّاتِهِ

فهْوَ كالمحبوسِ عنْ لذّاتِهِ

وكلا كفَّيْهِ في الحشرِ تُغَلْ

وكلا كفَّيْهِ في الحشرِ تُغَلْ

He is like one imprisoned away from his pleasures,

And both his hands bound on the Day of Resurrection.

And both his hands will be shackled at the Gathering.

Deficiency and resentment are only in

إنما النقصُ والاستثقالُ في

إنما النقصُ والاستثقالُ في

لفظةِ القاضي لوعظٍ ومثلْ

لفظةِ القاضي لوعظٍ ومثلْ

Defectiveness and heaviness lie only in

The words of the judge, for preaching and examples.

The word 'judge,' as a warning and a proverb.

The pleasures of rule cannot be compared with

لا توازى لذَّةُ الحكمِ بما

لا توازى لذَّةُ الحكمِ بما

ذاقَها المرءُ إذا المرْ انعزلْ

ذاقَها المرءُ إذا المرْ انعزلْ

The pleasure of judging cannot compare with what

What a person tastes when the matter is undone.

A man tastes when he leaves office.

And governance, even if agreeable to one who tastes it,

والولاياتُ وإنْ طابتْ لمَنْ

والولاياتُ وإنْ طابتْ لمَنْ

ذاقَها فالسمُّ في ذاكَ العسلْ

ذاقَها فالسمُّ في ذاكَ العسلْ

Offices, though pleasant to those

Poison is in that honey.

Who taste them—there is poison in that honey.

Appointment to office has made me weaker

نَصَبُ المنصبِ أوهى جَلَدي

نَصَبُ المنصبِ أوهى جَلَدي

وعنائي منْ مداراةِ السفلْ

وعنائي منْ مداراةِ السفلْ

The toil of office has weakened my endurance,

And busier than appeasing the lowly.

And my suffering comes from humoring the base.

Shorten hopes in this world and you will succeed,

قصِّرِ الآمالَ في الدنيا تفزْ

قصِّرِ الآمالَ في الدنيا تفزْ

فدليلُ العقلِ تقصيرُ الأملْ

فدليلُ العقلِ تقصيرُ الأملْ

Shorten your worldly hopes, and you will succeed;

For the mark of intellect is shorten one's hopes.

For the sign of reason is to shorten hope.

Whoever death seeks suddenly

إنَّ مَنْ يطلبهُ الموتُ على

إنَّ مَنْ يطلبهُ الموتُ على

غرّةٍ منهُ جديرٌ بالوجلْ

غرّةٍ منهُ جديرٌ بالوجلْ

Indeed, one whom death pursues while

Deserves anxiety and fear.

He is unaware has good reason for fear.

Stay away and frequent your beloved ones rarely,

غِبْ وزُرْ غِبّاً تزدْ حباً فَمَنْ

غِبْ وزُرْ غِبّاً تزدْ حباً فَمَنْ

أكثرَ التردادَ أضناهُ المللْ

أكثرَ التردادَ أضناهُ المللْ

Stay away, and visit sparingly; love for you will grow, for whoever

For whoever repeats his visits wearies his beloved.

Visits too often is worn out by boredom.

Take the blade of the sword and leave its scabbard,

خذْ بنصلِ السيفِ واتركْ غِمْدَهُ

خذْ بنصلِ السيفِ واتركْ غِمْدَهُ

واعتبرْ فضلَ الفتى دونَ الحللْ

واعتبرْ فضلَ الفتى دونَ الحللْ

Take the sword's blade and leave its sheath;

And consider the excellence of the young man apart from his garb.

Judge a young man's excellence apart from his robes.

Your love of homelands is evident incapacity,

حبُّكَ الأوطانَ عجزٌ ظاهرٌ

حبُّكَ الأوطانَ عجزٌ ظاهرٌ

فاغتربْ تلْقَ عنِ الأهلِ بدلْ

فاغتربْ تلْقَ عنِ الأهلِ بدلْ

Your love of homelands is plain weakness;

So travel far from family in exchange.

So travel abroad; you will find a substitute for your kin.

For by the remaining of water it stays stale,

فبمكثِ الماءِ يبقى آسناً

فبمكثِ الماءِ يبقى آسناً

وسُرى البدرِ بهِ البدرُ اكتملْ

وسُرى البدرِ بهِ البدرُ اكتملْ

For water, by remaining still, becomes stagnant,

And the cycling of the moon, it by it becomes full.

And through the moon's nightly journey, the moon attains its fullness.

O critic, say my words are nonsense,

أيها العائبُ قولي عبثاً

أيها العائبُ قولي عبثاً

إنَّ طيبَ الوردِ مؤذٍ بالجُعَلْ

إنَّ طيبَ الوردِ مؤذٍ بالجُعَلْ

O you who fault my words in vain,

For the scent of roses harms beetles.

The scent of roses is harmful to dung beetles.

Ignore the arrows of my words and take cover,

عدِّ عَنْ أسهمِ لفظي واستترْ

عدِّ عَنْ أسهمِ لفظي واستترْ

لا يصيبنَّكَ سهمٌ مِنْ ثُعَلْ

لا يصيبنَّكَ سهمٌ مِنْ ثُعَلْ

Turn away from the arrows of my speech and take cover,

Lest an arrow from my quiver strike you.

Lest an arrow from Thuʿal strike you.

Let not the softness of a young man deceive you,

لا يغرنَّكَ لينٌ مِنتْ فتى

لا يغرنَّكَ لينٌ مِنتْ فتى

إنَّ للحيّاتِ لينٌ يُعتزَلْ

إنَّ للحيّاتِ لينٌ يُعتزَلْ

Do not let a young man's softness deceive you;

For snakes have a deceptive gentleness to be avoided.

For snakes have a softness one should avoid.

I am like water, easy flowing,

أنا مثلُ الماءِ سهلٌ سائغٌ

أنا مثلُ الماءِ سهلٌ سائغٌ

ومتى سُخِّنَ آذى وقتلْ

ومتى سُخِّنَ آذى وقتلْ

I am like water, gentle and easy to swallow,

And when heated I harm and kill.

But whenever heated, it harms and kills.

I am like glass, difficult to break,

أنا كالخيزورِ صعبٌ كسرُهُ

أنا كالخيزورِ صعبٌ كسرُهُ

وهْوَ لدْنٌ كيفما شئتَ انفتلْ

وهْوَ لدْنٌ كيفما شئتَ انفتلْ

I am like bamboo: difficult to break,

Yet pliable however you wish it to bend.

Yet supple, bending whichever way you wish.

Except I am in a time in which whoever possesses

غيرَ أني في زمانٍ مَنْ يكنْ

غيرَ أني في زمانٍ مَنْ يكنْ

فيهِ ذا مالٍ هوَ المولى الأجلْ

فيهِ ذا مالٍ هوَ المولى الأجلْ

Yet I am in an age when whoever

Wealth is the revered master.

Possesses wealth is the most exalted lord.

And it is a duty among people to honor him,

واجبٌ عندَ الورى إكرامُهُ

واجبٌ عندَ الورى إكرامُهُ

وقليلُ المالِ فيهمْ يُستقلْ

وقليلُ المالِ فيهمْ يُستقلْ

People consider honoring him obligatory,

While the poor among them are deemed insignificant.

While one with little wealth is deemed insignificant among them.

All the people of this age are immersed, and I

كلُّ أهلِ العصرِ غمرٌ وأنا

كلُّ أهلِ العصرِ غمرٌ وأنا

منهمُ فاتركْ تفاصيلَ الجملْ

منهمُ فاتركْ تفاصيلَ الجملْ

All the people of this age are ignorant, and I

Am one of them, so leave the details of perfection.

Am among them; leave aside the details of these general statements.