إِذا كُنتَ ذا ثِنتَينِ فَاِغدُ مُحارِباً

إِذا كُنتَ ذا ثِنتَينِ فَاِغدُ مُحارِباً

عَدُوَّينِ وَاِحذَر مِن ثَلاثِ ضَرائِرِ

عَدُوَّينِ وَاِحذَر مِن ثَلاثِ ضَرائِرِ

If you have two wives, go forth to fight

If you have two tongues, go forth as a warrior

Two enemies; and beware of three co-wives.

Against two enemies, and beware of three evils

وَإِن هُنَّ أَبدَينَ المَودَةَ وَالرِضا

وَإِن هُنَّ أَبدَينَ المَودَةَ وَالرِضا

فَكَم مِن حَقودٍ غُيِّبَت في السَرائِرِ

فَكَم مِن حَقودٍ غُيِّبَت في السَرائِرِ

And even if they show affection and contentment,

And if they show eternal friendship and pleasure

For many a grudge lies hidden in their hearts.

How many resentments are hidden in secrets

قِرانُكَ ما بَينَ النِساءِ أَذِيَّةٌ

قِرانُكَ ما بَينَ النِساءِ أَذِيَّةٌ

لَهُنَّ فَلا تَحمِل أَذاةَ الحَرائِرِ

لَهُنَّ فَلا تَحمِل أَذاةَ الحَرائِرِ

Your joining women in marriage brings harm

Your company among women is harmful to them

To them; so do not shoulder the burden of hurting freeborn women.

So do not burden the noble women

وَإِن كُنتَ غِرّاً بِالزَمانِ وَأَهلِهِ

وَإِن كُنتَ غِرّاً بِالزَمانِ وَأَهلِهِ

فَتَكفيكَ إِحدى الآنِساتِ الغَرائِرِ

فَتَكفيكَ إِحدى الآنِساتِ الغَرائِرِ

And if you are naïve about the age and its people,

And if you are deluded by the times and its people

Then one of the guileless maidens will suffice you.

Then one of the charming female friends suffices you

لَقَد وَدَّ أَصحابُ الكَبائِرِ لَو رَأَوا

لَقَد وَدَّ أَصحابُ الكَبائِرِ لَو رَأَوا

جَرائِرَهُم مَقذوفَةً في الجَرائِرِ

جَرائِرَهُم مَقذوفَةً في الجَرائِرِ

Indeed, those guilty of grave sins have wished they could see

Indeed those who commit major sins wish they saw

Their offenses hurled into deep wells.

Their crimes thrown into the graves