مَنْ يقرَبِ النَّارَ لا يَسلمْ منَ الحَرَقِ

مَنْ يقرَبِ النَّارَ لا يَسلمْ منَ الحَرَقِ

فابعُدْ عنِ النَّاسِ واحذَرْهم ولا تَثِقِ

فابعُدْ عنِ النَّاسِ واحذَرْهم ولا تَثِقِ

Whoever approaches fire does not escape burning.

Whoever comes close to fire will surely burn,

So keep away from people, beware of them, and do not trust.

So keep your distance from people and beware of them; do not trust.

واُصبرْ على نَكَدِ الدُّنيا وكُنْ بطَلاً

واُصبرْ على نَكَدِ الدُّنيا وكُنْ بطَلاً

يَلقَى السُّيُوفَ غَداةَ الحربِ بالدَرَقِ

يَلقَى السُّيُوفَ غَداةَ الحربِ بالدَرَقِ

And bear the world's misery patiently, and be a hero

Be patient with the woes of this life, and be a hero

Who meets swords with shields on the morning of battle.

Who faces swords at the outbreak of war with armor.

إن كنتَ قد ضِقْتَ ذَرْعاً عن نوائِبها

إن كنتَ قد ضِقْتَ ذَرْعاً عن نوائِبها

فلا تَخَفْ إن لُطفَ اللهِ لم يَضِقِ

فلا تَخَفْ إن لُطفَ اللهِ لم يَضِقِ

If you have grown unable to bear its calamities,

If you are utterly frustrated with its calamities,

Then do not fear: God's kindness has not grown narrow.

Then do not fear, for God's kindness has no limit.

يَستدرِكُ المرْءُ ما يَبدُو لناظِرهِ

يَستدرِكُ المرْءُ ما يَبدُو لناظِرهِ

واللهُ يَصنعُ ما يَخَفى على الحَدَقِ

واللهُ يَصنعُ ما يَخَفى على الحَدَقِ

A person grasps what appears before his gaze,

A man will make up for what is apparent to the observer,

And God brings about what is hidden from the eyes.

While God does what is hidden from sight.

كم أرَعَدَ الجَوُّ فاهَتزَّتْ جَوانِبُهُ

كم أرَعَدَ الجَوُّ فاهَتزَّتْ جَوانِبُهُ

ثُمَّ انتَهَى الرَّعدُ لم يفَعَلْ سَوَى القَلَقِ

ثُمَّ انتَهَى الرَّعدُ لم يفَعَلْ سَوَى القَلَقِ

How often the sky has thundered and its reaches have shaken,

How often has the sky rumbled and its edges quaked,

Then the thunder ceased, having caused nothing but alarm.

Then the thunder ceased, doing no more than causing anxiety.

ورُبَّما أطبَقَتْ سُحْبٌ فما قَطَرَتْ

ورُبَّما أطبَقَتْ سُحْبٌ فما قَطَرَتْ

إلا كما يَنقضِي البُحرَانُ بالعَرَقِ

إلا كما يَنقضِي البُحرَانُ بالعَرَقِ

And sometimes clouds closed in, yet let fall no drops

At times thick clouds gather but they rain not

Except as a crisis of illness subsides with sweat.

Except as the two seas evaporate into vapor.

لا يَيْأسَنَّ مريضٌ من سَلامِتهِ

لا يَيْأسَنَّ مريضٌ من سَلامِتهِ

ما دامَ في جِسمهِ شيءٌ من الرَّمَقِ

ما دامَ في جِسمهِ شيءٌ من الرَّمَقِ

Let no sick person despair of recovery

Let no sick person despair of recovery

As long as a spark of life remains in his body.

As long as there is still some life left in his body.

كم ماتَ من كانَ يُرجَى عَيشُهُ فقَضَى

كم ماتَ من كانَ يُرجَى عَيشُهُ فقَضَى

وعاشَ من كانَ يَخَشى موتُهُ فبَقِي

وعاشَ من كانَ يَخَشى موتُهُ فبَقِي

How many whose survival was hoped for died and passed away,

Many have died though their lives were hoped prolonged, but met their fate;

And one whose death was feared lived and survived.

And many feared death, yet continued to live.

لِكلِّ لَيلٍ صَباحٌ نستَضيءُ بهِ

لِكلِّ لَيلٍ صَباحٌ نستَضيءُ بهِ

فلا تَدوُمُ علينا ظُلمةُ الغَسَقِ

فلا تَدوُمُ علينا ظُلمةُ الغَسَقِ

For every night there is a morning by whose light we see;

Every night has a morning in which we seek light,

So the darkness of nightfall does not endure over us.

So the darkness of nightfall stays not forever upon us.

وآخرُ الأمرِ في ضُعفٍ كأوَّلِهِ

وآخرُ الأمرِ في ضُعفٍ كأوَّلِهِ

كما نَرى الشِبْهَ بينَ الصُّبحِ والشَفَقِ

كما نَرى الشِبْهَ بينَ الصُّبحِ والشَفَقِ

And a matter's end is weak, like its beginning,

In the end, weakness is like the beginning,

Just as we see the likeness between dawn and twilight.

As we see the resemblance between dawn and twilight.

تَخالَفَ النَّاسُ في الدُنيا فما اتَّفَقوا

تَخالَفَ النَّاسُ في الدُنيا فما اتَّفَقوا

إلاّ على حُبِّها الخالي من المَلَقِ

إلاّ على حُبِّها الخالي من المَلَقِ

People differed in this world and agreed on nothing

People differ in this world, never agreeing

Except their love for it, free of flattery.

Except in their bare love for it, empty of sincerity.

تَسابَقَت نحو كَسْبِ المالِ أنفسهم

تَسابَقَت نحو كَسْبِ المالِ أنفسهم

ورِفعةِ الجاهِ مثلَ الخيلِ في الطَلَقِ

ورِفعةِ الجاهِ مثلَ الخيلِ في الطَلَقِ

Their souls raced toward acquiring wealth

Their souls raced toward acquiring wealth

And elevation in rank, like horses in a race.

And high status, like horses racing freely.

والفَقرُ أفضلُ من مالٍ حَمَلتَ بهِ

والفَقرُ أفضلُ من مالٍ حَمَلتَ بهِ

ثِقْلاً من الهَمِّ يُبلِي العينَ بالأرَقِ

ثِقْلاً من الهَمِّ يُبلِي العينَ بالأرَقِ

And poverty is better than wealth through which you bear

Yet poverty is better than wealth which burdens you

A burden of worry that wears out the eye with sleeplessness.

With worries that keep the eyes sleepless at night.

والذُلُّ أحسَنُ من مجدٍ لَبِستَ بهِ

والذُلُّ أحسَنُ من مجدٍ لَبِستَ بهِ

ذَمّاً منَ النَّاسِ مثلَ الطَّوق في العُنُقِ

ذَمّاً منَ النَّاسِ مثلَ الطَّوق في العُنُقِ

And lowliness is better than glory through which you wear

And humiliation is better than glory that dresses you

Censure from people, like a collar about the neck.

In blame from people, like a collar round the neck.

لا خيرَ في خَمرةٍ تَحلُو لِشارِبها

لا خيرَ في خَمرةٍ تَحلُو لِشارِبها

طَعْماً ولكن تَلِيها غُصَّةُ الشَرَقِ

طَعْماً ولكن تَلِيها غُصَّةُ الشَرَقِ

There is no good in wine that is sweet to its drinker

No good in a wine that tastes sweet to its drinker

In taste, yet is followed by a choking pang.

But is followed by the bitterness of a headache.

من لا يُقلِّبُ طَرْفاً في عَواقِبهِ

من لا يُقلِّبُ طَرْفاً في عَواقِبهِ

فليسَ تأمنُ رِجلاهُ من الزَّلَقِ

فليسَ تأمنُ رِجلاهُ من الزَّلَقِ

Whoever does not turn his gaze toward his actions' consequences,

Whoever does not consider the consequences

His feet are not safe from slipping.

Should not expect his feet to be safe from stumbling.

قُلْ للذي مَزَّقَ الدِّيباجَ مُعتمِداً

قُلْ للذي مَزَّقَ الدِّيباجَ مُعتمِداً

وبات يرقَعُ منهُ باليَ الخِرَقِ

وبات يرقَعُ منهُ باليَ الخِرَقِ

Say to the one who deliberately tore the brocade

Say to one who tore silk confidently

And spent the night patching worn-out rags with it:

And now patches it with worn shreds full of holes:

لا تفتحِ البابَ للضِّرغامِ محترزاً

لا تفتحِ البابَ للضِّرغامِ محترزاً

من البعوض فهذا أعظمُ الحُمٌقِ

من البعوض فهذا أعظمُ الحُمٌقِ

Do not open the door to a lion while guarding yourself

Do not open the door to hornets while taking precautions

Against mosquitoes, for this is the height of folly.

Against mosquitoes−this is the epitome of foolishness.

شَرُّ الجَهالةِ ما كانَتْ على كِبَرٍ

شَرُّ الجَهالةِ ما كانَتْ على كِبَرٍ

تُسَوِّدُ الشَيْبَ مِثْلَ الحِبْرِ على الوَرَقِ

تُسَوِّدُ الشَيْبَ مِثْلَ الحِبْرِ على الوَرَقِ

The worst folly is that which comes in old age;

The worst ignorance is that which comes with age,

It blackens gray hair like ink on paper.

Blackening white hair like ink on paper.

وأيسَرُ الجَهلِ ما يَرتَدُّ صاحِبُهُ

وأيسَرُ الجَهلِ ما يَرتَدُّ صاحِبُهُ

عنهُ كمن هَبَّ مُنتاشاً منَ العُمُقِ

عنهُ كمن هَبَّ مُنتاشاً منَ العُمُقِ

And the mildest folly is that whose bearer turns

And the easiest ignorance to cure is that whose owner

Away from it, like one who rises, rescued from the depths.

Turns back from it like one waking up from deep slumber.

لا تَعجَبَنَّ لِسَكرانٍ تَراهُ صَحا

لا تَعجَبَنَّ لِسَكرانٍ تَراهُ صَحا

لكنْ لِمَنْ غاصَ في سُكرٍ فلم يُفِقِ

لكنْ لِمَنْ غاصَ في سُكرٍ فلم يُفِقِ

Do not marvel at a drunkard you see grown sober,

Do not be astonished by a drunk who you see sober,

But at one who plunged into drunkenness and did not sober up.

But by one sunk in drunkenness who does not awaken.

إن الثَباتَ على عَيبٍ أقمْتَ بهِ

إن الثَباتَ على عَيبٍ أقمْتَ بهِ

عيبٌ جَديدٌ سِوَى المَغرُوسِ في الخُلُقِ

عيبٌ جَديدٌ سِوَى المَغرُوسِ في الخُلُقِ

Indeed, persistence in a fault you have settled into

Persisting in a fault you have committed

Is a new fault besides the one rooted in your character.

Is a new fault apart from that ingrained in your nature.

النَّاسُ بالوَضعِ أشباهٌ وقد نَشِبتْ

النَّاسُ بالوَضعِ أشباهٌ وقد نَشِبتْ

فيهم مُبايَنةٌ من أكثرِ الطُرُقِ

فيهم مُبايَنةٌ من أكثرِ الطُرُقِ

People are alike by designation, yet there has taken root

People in appearance are alike, though conflict has arisen

Among them divergence in most respects.

Among them in most ways.

ماذا نُؤَمِّلُ من نَفعٍ إذا اتَّفَقَتْ

ماذا نُؤَمِّلُ من نَفعٍ إذا اتَّفَقَتْ

أسماؤُنا والمُسمَّى غيرُ مُتَّفِقِ

أسماؤُنا والمُسمَّى غيرُ مُتَّفِقِ

What benefit can we hope for if

What hope of benefit is there if our names agree

Our names agree, but what they name does not?

Yet the named ones themselves do not agree?

يا ليتَ لي بحرَ شُكرٍ كي أخُوضَ بهِ

يا ليتَ لي بحرَ شُكرٍ كي أخُوضَ بهِ

لكنْ أخافُ على نفسي من الغَرَقِ

لكنْ أخافُ على نفسي من الغَرَقِ

Oh, would that I had a sea of gratitude to wade through,

Oh, that I had a sea of thanks so I could plunge into it!

But I fear for myself lest I drown.

But I am afraid for myself of drowning.

شُكرُ الذي ما بِهِ عيبٌ سِوَى نِعَمٍ

شُكرُ الذي ما بِهِ عيبٌ سِوَى نِعَمٍ

تَتابَعَتْ منهُ مثلَ العطفِ ذي النَّسق

تَتابَعَتْ منهُ مثلَ العطفِ ذي النَّسق

Gratitude to him who has no fault except favors

Gratitude for One with no defect but blessings

That followed one another from him, like words joined in sequence.

Which continuously flowed from Him like well-joined pearls;

ذاكَ الذي كُلَّما رُمتُ اللحاقَ بهِ

ذاكَ الذي كُلَّما رُمتُ اللحاقَ بهِ

في الحُبِّ ألفَيتُهُ قد جَدَّ في السَبَقِ

في الحُبِّ ألفَيتُهُ قد جَدَّ في السَبَقِ

That is the one: whenever I sought to catch up with him

He whom whenever I try to catch up with in love

In love, I found him already striving to take the lead.

I find He has raced ahead in taking the lead;

وكُلَّما كَدِرَتْ عينُ الزَّمانِ صَفا

وكُلَّما كَدِرَتْ عينُ الزَّمانِ صَفا

وكُلَّما دَنِسَتْ نَفسُ الزَّمانِ نَقِي

وكُلَّما دَنِسَتْ نَفسُ الزَّمانِ نَقِي

And whenever Time's eye grew clouded, he grew clear;

And whenever the eye of time grew murky, it cleared,

And whenever Time's soul grew sullied, he remained pure.

And whenever the soul of time grew impure, it was purified;

دَلَّتْ على وُدِهِ الصَّافي صَنائِعُهُ

دَلَّتْ على وُدِهِ الصَّافي صَنائِعُهُ

كالمِسكِ دَلَّتْ عليهِ نَفْحةُ العَبَقِ

كالمِسكِ دَلَّتْ عليهِ نَفْحةُ العَبَقِ

His good deeds revealed his pure affection,

His pure works point to His affection

As a waft of fragrance reveals musk.

As musk's fragrance points to the musk.

والحُبُّ إنْ كانَ لا يأتي بفائدةٍ

والحُبُّ إنْ كانَ لا يأتي بفائدةٍ

فَذاكَ كالغُصنِ لا يُجنِي سِوَى الوَرَقِ

فَذاكَ كالغُصنِ لا يُجنِي سِوَى الوَرَقِ

And love, if it brings no benefit,

And if love brings no benefit,

Then it is like a branch that yields nothing but leaves.

That is like a branch bearing naught but leaves.

نَرَى منَ النَّاسِ أقواماً مَوَدَّتُهُمْ

نَرَى منَ النَّاسِ أقواماً مَوَدَّتُهُمْ

تُرضي الفَتَى بلسانٍ خادِعٍ مَلِقِ

تُرضي الفَتَى بلسانٍ خادِعٍ مَلِقِ

Among people we see some whose affection

We see some people whose affection

Pleases a young man with a deceitful, flattering tongue.

Contents a youth with a deceitful, smooth tongue.

تِلكَ الجَرادةُ في بحرٍ وليِمتُنا

تِلكَ الجَرادةُ في بحرٍ وليِمتُنا

مَن فاتَهُ اللحمُ فليِشْبعْ منَ المَرَقِ

مَن فاتَهُ اللحمُ فليِشْبعْ منَ المَرَقِ

That locust in a sea is our feast;

They are like locusts in a sea of food−

Whoever misses the meat, let him fill up on broth.

Whoever misses the meat should be full on the broth.