إِذا كُنتَ ذا جاهٍ فَلا تَستَطِل بِهِ

إِذا كُنتَ ذا جاهٍ فَلا تَستَطِل بِهِ

عَلىأَحَدٍ إِن كُنتَ مِمَّن لَهُ عَقلُ

عَلىأَحَدٍ إِن كُنتَ مِمَّن لَهُ عَقلُ

If you have high standing, do not use it to lord it

If you have prestige, do not lord it over anyone

over anyone, if you are among those endowed with reason.

If you are one who has wisdom.

فَكَم مِن فَتىً أَمسى وَأَصبَحَ والِياً

فَكَم مِن فَتىً أَمسى وَأَصبَحَ والِياً

فَلَمّا تَعَدّى طَورضهُ جاءَهُ العَزلُ

فَلَمّا تَعَدّى طَورضهُ جاءَهُ العَزلُ

For many a young man was a governor at evening and at dawn,

How many a young man saw nightfall and daybreak as a ruler

but when he overstepped his bounds, dismissal came to him.

But when he overstepped, dismissal came to him.