إذا لم يزِدْ عِلمُ الفتى قلبَهُ هُدىً

إذا لم يزِدْ عِلمُ الفتى قلبَهُ هُدىً

وسيرتَهُ عَدلاً وأخلاقَهُ حُسْنا

وسيرتَهُ عَدلاً وأخلاقَهُ حُسْنا

If a young man's knowledge does not bring his heart greater guidance,

If a young man's knowledge does not increase his heart with guidance,

and his conduct greater justice and his character greater goodness,

His conduct with justice, and his manners with goodness,

فبَشِّرْهُ أنَّ اللهَ أولاهُ فِتنَةً

فبَشِّرْهُ أنَّ اللهَ أولاهُ فِتنَةً

تُغَشِّيهِ حِرماناً وتُوسِعُهُ حُزْنا

تُغَشِّيهِ حِرماناً وتُوسِعُهُ حُزْنا

then give him glad tidings that God has bestowed on him a trial

Then give him the news that Allah has tested him

that shrouds him in deprivation and heaps sorrow upon him.

With deprivation that overwhelms him and grief that expands within him.