إذا كنت عن تدبير حالك عاجزا

إذا كنت عن تدبير حالك عاجزا

ولم تأتمر يا ذا لمن لك ناصح

ولم تأتمر يا ذا لمن لك ناصح

If you are incapable of managing your affairs,

If you are unable to manage your own affairs,

And do not heed, O you, one who counsels you,

And do not heed, O you, the advice of those counseling you,

فلا شك أن الرشد أخطاك نفعه

فلا شك أن الرشد أخطاك نفعه

وأضداده طبعا اليك تصافح

وأضداده طبعا اليك تصافح

Then surely the benefit of sound judgment has eluded you,

Then there is no doubt that what is right has evaded benefiting you,

And its opposites naturally reach out to shake your hand.

And its opposites have certainly embraced you.