المَرءُ يَسعى ثُمَ يُدرِك مَجدَهُ

المَرءُ يَسعى ثُمَ يُدرِك مَجدَهُ

حَتّى يُزَيَّنَ بِالَّذي لَم يَفعَلِ

حَتّى يُزَيَّنَ بِالَّذي لَم يَفعَلِ

A man strives, then attains his glory,

A man strives, then attains his glory,

until he is adorned with what he never did;

Until he is adorned with deeds he never did.

وَتَرى الشَقيَّ إِذا تَكامَلَ غيُّهُ

وَتَرى الشَقيَّ إِذا تَكامَلَ غيُّهُ

يُرمى وَيُقذَف بِالَّذي لَم يَعمَلِ

يُرمى وَيُقذَف بِالَّذي لَم يَعمَلِ

and you see the wretch, once his waywardness has reached its height,

And you see the wretched man, when his waywardness is complete,

accused and slandered for what he never did.

Pelted and assailed with accusations of deeds he never did.