سِنُّكَ خَيرٌ لَكَ مِن دُرَّةٍ

سِنُّكَ خَيرٌ لَكَ مِن دُرَّةٍ

زَهراءَ تُعشي أَعيُنَ الناظِرين

زَهراءَ تُعشي أَعيُنَ الناظِرين

Your tooth is better for you than a pearl,

Your old age is better for you than a shining pearl

radiant, dazzling the eyes of onlookers.

That delights the eyes of onlookers

عَجِبتُ لِلضارِبِ في غَمرَةٍ

عَجِبتُ لِلضارِبِ في غَمرَةٍ

لَم يُطِعِ الناهِزينَ وَالآمِرين

لَم يُطِعِ الناهِزينَ وَالآمِرين

I marveled at the one striking in a daze,

I wondered at the one striking in darkness

who did not obey those urging him and those commanding him.

Who did not obey the mockers and commanders

يَكسِرُ بِاللُؤلُؤِ مِن جَهلِهِ

يَكسِرُ بِاللُؤلُؤِ مِن جَهلِهِ

خُشُباً عَتَت عَن أَنمُلِ الكاسِرين

خُشُباً عَتَت عَن أَنمُلِ الكاسِرين

In his ignorance, he breaks with pearls

He breaks pearls in his ignorance

pieces of wood that defied the breakers’ fingertips.

Wood too hard for the fingers of breakers

مَن كانَ مِن أَسراهُ مالٌ لَهُ

مَن كانَ مِن أَسراهُ مالٌ لَهُ

فَلَستَ لِلمالِ مِنَ الآسِرين

فَلَستَ لِلمالِ مِنَ الآسِرين

Whoever has his wealth among his captives—

If one has wealth that imprisons him

so you are not among those who hold wealth captive.

Then I am not of the imprisoned

أَعُدُّ أَسنى الرِبحِ فِعلَ التُقى

أَعُدُّ أَسنى الرِبحِ فِعلَ التُقى

فَلا أَكُن رَبِّ مِنَ الخاسِرين

فَلا أَكُن رَبِّ مِنَ الخاسِرين

I reckon the noblest gain to be the practice of piety;

I count the most profitable gain to be piety

so may I not, my Lord, be among the losers.

So I will not be among the losers