1. وظائف الإنسان في دنياه

    أن يعبد الله وأن يخشاه

    A person's duties in his worldly life:

    To worship God and to fear Him,

  2. وأن يكون راضياً بما قضى

    ولم يكن لحكمه معترضا

    And to be content with what He has decreed,

    And not oppose His judgment.

  3. واعلم بأن لعلم نور وهدى

    والجهل لا يأتي بخير أبدا

    And know that knowledge has light and guidance,

    And ignorance never brings good.

  4. سبحان من منّ علينا بالقلم

    وعلّم الإنسان ما لم يعلم

    Glory be to Him who favored us with the pen,

    And taught humankind what it did not know.

  5. من مارس العلوم والعرفانا

    يجني ثمار المجد حيث كانا

    Whoever pursues the sciences and understanding

    Reaps the fruits of glory wherever he is.

  6. والزهد في العلم من الحرمان

    والمرء بالقلب واللسان

    And indifference to knowledge is a form of deprivation,

    And a person's worth lies in his heart and tongue.

  7. من لم تهذبه فنون الوقت

    لا زال ملحوظاً بعين المقت

    Whoever has not been refined by time's varied ways

    Remains regarded with an eye of loathing.

  8. والبحث عن طبائع الزمان

    من الضروريات للانسان

    And inquiry into the nature of the times

    Is among the necessities for humankind.

  9. من لم تحنكه يد التجريب

    يعيش في دنياه كالغريب

    Whoever has not been seasoned by the hand of experience

    Lives in this world like a stranger.

  10. وعزة المرء من رأس المال

    فلا تهن نفسك بالسؤال

    And a person's dignity is part of his capital,

    So do not humiliate yourself by begging.

  11. وتبتغي من فضله تعالى

    رزقاً هنيئاً طيّباً حلالا

    And seek from His bounty—exalted is He—

    Pleasant, wholesome, lawful sustenance.

  12. وأقرب الناس إلى الحرمان

    من قطع الأيام بالأماني

    And the person nearest to deprivation

    Is one who passes his days in wishful thinking.

  13. فانهض بخير حسب الاستطاعة

    ونعم كنز المؤمن القناعة

    So rise to do good as much as you can,

    And contentment is an excellent treasure for the believer.

  14. والقصد في العيش من التدبير

    والمال لا يبقى مع التبذير

    And moderation in living is part of prudent management,

    And wealth does not last amid wastefulness.

  15. كما تدين في الورى تدان

    ومن أهان غيره يُهان

    As you treat people, so you are treated,

    And whoever humiliates another is humiliated.

  16. ولا تَردِ موردَ الشقاق

    والزور والبهتان والنفاق

    And do not approach the watering place of discord,

    And of falsehood, slander, and hypocrisy.

  17. فربنا جلَّ عظيم الشان

    يأمر بالعدل والإحسان

    For our Lord, exalted and great in majesty,

    Commands justice and benevolence.

  18. واستعمل الرفق تجد رفيقاً

    ولا تجد لأحمق صديقاً

    And practice gentleness; you will find a companion,

    And you will find no friend for a fool.