يَهوى سواك وتهواه فهل سَفَهٌ

يَهوى سواك وتهواه فهل سَفَهٌ

من ذا أشدّ وبعض الرأي تضليل

من ذا أشدّ وبعض الرأي تضليل

He loves another, while you love him—is there any folly

He loves someone other than you, yet you love him—is there any folly

more grievous than this? Some judgment leads astray.

greater than this? And some judgments lead astray.

الحزم والصبر سيفاً كل نازلةٍ

الحزم والصبر سيفاً كل نازلةٍ

كل بحديهما لا شك مغلول

كل بحديهما لا شك مغلول

Resolve and patience are two swords: every calamity—

Resolve and patience are two swords against every calamity;

every one—is surely shackled by their two edges.

each is surely shackled by their two edges.

نَزِّه هواك وخلصه لمخلصه

نَزِّه هواك وخلصه لمخلصه

إن النزاهة فوق الرأس اكليل

إن النزاهة فوق الرأس اكليل

Keep your love pure, and give it wholly to one true to it;

Keep your love unsullied, and devote it wholly to one true to it;

for purity is a crown upon the head.

indeed, purity is a crown upon the head.