لَيسَthere is not لِلعَينِfor the eye وَراءَbeyond شَأوِهِhis reach
لَيسَ لِلعَينِ وَراءَ شَأوِهِ
لِلعُلاfor lofty rank وَالمُكرِماتِand noble deeds مُطَّرَحa place to look
لِلعُلا وَالمُكرِماتِ مُطَّرَح
Beyond his reach, the eye has nowhere
The eye is not content beyond its scope
to look for lofty rank and noble deeds.
Aspiring for glory and generosity unmet
شَحَّhe was sparing بِالعَرضِwith his honor وَجادَand he gave generously بِاللُهىwith gifts
شَحَّ بِالعَرضِ وَجادَ بِاللُهى
فَحَوىso he won المَجدَglory بِماthrough what جادَhe gave generously وَشَحand he withheld
فَحَوى المَجدَ بِما جادَ وَشَح
He guarded his honor jealously and gave gifts freely;
Stingy of honor yet generous of spirit
thus he won glory through both giving and withholding.
He gained glory by his generosity and stinginess
فَإِذاso whenever هَمَّhe set his mind بِأَمرٍon a matter نالَهُhe attained it
فَإِذا هَمَّ بِأَمرٍ نالَهُ
فَسَواءٌso it was all the same جَدَّhe was earnest فيهِin it وَمَزَحand he jested
فَسَواءٌ جَدَّ فيهِ وَمَزَح
Whenever he set his mind on something, he attained it;
When resolved on a matter, he attained it
whether earnest or jesting, it was all the same.
Whether he was serious or lighthearted
Sol 6.1