1. His arrogance has grown, and he no longer honors those who honor him.
By God, the old man has no faults,
١. غَياثُ قَد زادَ تَمَصبَطرُمُه
وَصارَ لا يُكرِمُ مَن يَكرِمُه
2. Except for his mouth when he lashes with his slipper.
If he were to rip his honor to shreds
٢. شَيخٌ لَعَمري ما لَهُ آفَةٌ
في صَفعِهِ بِالنَعلِ إِلّا فَمُه
3. With insults, his money would not save him.
He recites to us from his wretched poetry what -
٣. لَو قَطَّعَ قَفا عِرضِهِ
بِالهَجوِ ما خَلَّصَهُ دِرهَمُه
4. If the flow strayed from its meaning - would not be understood.
The height of ignorance is when the youth
٤. يُنشِدُنا مِن شِعرِهِ الغَثِّ ما
إِن سيلَ عَن مَعناهُ لا يَفهَمُه
5. Thrusts himself into what he does not know.
٥. وَغايَةُ الجَهلِ دُخولُ الفَتى
بِنَفسِهِ في غَيرِ ما يَعلَمُه