ياO طرسparchment قبَّلkiss امرئٍa man فطنٍdiscerning
يا طرس قبَّل امرئٍ فطنٍ
بالفضلin matters of merit لاnot غافلheedless ولاnor لاهيdistracted
بالفضل لا غافل ولا لاهي
O parchment, kiss a man discerning
O star, kiss a wise man
in matters of merit, neither heedless nor distracted.
Of virtue, not heedless nor distracted
تفديهransom him قومpeople تشبهواthey modeled themselves حسداًout of envy
تفديه قوم تشبهوا حسداً
بهon him وليسواand they are not لهhis بأشباهequals
به وليسوا له بأشباه
May those people be his ransom who, out of envy, modeled themselves
Whom people resemble out of envy
on him, though they are not his equals.
To him yet are not his like
إنif نطقواthey speak بالجميلِwith fair words أوor فعلواthey act
إن نطقوا بالجميلِ أو فعلوا
فللرياthen it is for show والكمالand perfection للهbelongs to God
فللريا والكمال لله
If they speak fair words or act,
If they speak of beauty or do it
it is for show; and perfection belongs to God.
‘Tis but hypocrisy; perfection belongs to God
Sol 6.1