وَمَا اسْمٌ بِلا جِسْمٍ وَتُمْسِكُه يَدٌ

وَمَا اسْمٌ بِلا جِسْمٍ وَتُمْسِكُه يَدٌ

وَأَحْقَرُ شَيْءٍ فيهِ أَشْرَفُ ما فيهِ

وَأَحْقَرُ شَيْءٍ فيهِ أَشْرَفُ ما فيهِ

What is a name without a body, yet held in a hand?

And what name has no body, yet a hand holds it?

The least thing within it is the noblest thing it contains;

And the lowliest thing in it is the noblest of what is in it.

يُقابِلُه بِالكَسْرِ مَنْ رَامَ جَبْرَهُ

يُقابِلُه بِالكَسْرِ مَنْ رَامَ جَبْرَهُ

وَيُضْعِفُه بِالضَّرْبِ حينَ يُقوَّيهِ

وَيُضْعِفُه بِالضَّرْبِ حينَ يُقوَّيهِ

Whoever seeks to mend it sets division—breaking—against it,

Whoever seeks to mend it confronts it with breaking,

And weakens it by multiplication just when he would strengthen it.

And weakens it by striking when he strengthens it.