يَظُنُّthinks الغمرُthe simpleton أَنَّthat الكُتبَthe books تجديare of use
يَظُنُّ الغمرُ أَنَّ الكُتبَ تجدي
أَخاone possessed of ذِهنٍintellect لإِدراكِfor grasping العُلومِthe sciences
أَخا ذِهنٍ لإِدراكِ العُلومِ
The simpleton thinks that books can aid
The ignorant believe books bring wisdom,
a person of keen intellect in grasping the sciences.
My friend, to comprehend all knowledge.
وَماand not يَدريknows الجَهولُthe ignoramus بِأَنَّof the fact that فيهاin them
وَما يَدري الجَهولُ بِأَنَّ فيها
غَوامِضَobscurities حَيَّرتhave baffled عَقلَthe mind of الحَليمِthe wise person
غَوامِضَ حَيَّرت عَقلَ الحَليمِ
Yet the ignoramus does not know that within them
But he doesn’t know those pages hide
are obscurities that have baffled the mind of the wise.
Riddles that perplex even the wisest minds.
إِذاif رُمتَyou seek العُلومَthe sciences بِغَيرِwithout شَيخٍa teacher
إِذا رُمتَ العُلومَ بِغَيرِ شَيخٍ
ضَلَلتَyou will stray عَنfrom الصراطِthe path المُستَقيمِthe straight
ضَلَلتَ عَن الصراطِ المُستَقيمِ
If you seek the sciences without a teacher,
If you pursue knowledge without a guide,
you will stray from the straight path.
You will stray far from the proper path.
وَتلتَبِسُand become confused الأُمورُmatters عَلَيكَfor you حَتّىuntil
وَتلتَبِسُ الأُمورُ عَلَيكَ حَتّى
تَصيرَyou become أَضلَّmore astray منthan تُوماTuma الحَكيمِthe sage
تَصيرَ أَضلَّ من تُوما الحَكيمِ
And matters will become confused for you until
Matters will seem to you obscure until
you become more astray than Tuma the sage.
You become more lost than wise Thomas.
Sol 6.1