بُنيَّmy dear son إياكَbeware ونظمَand composing الشعرِpoetry
بُنيَّ إياكَ ونظمَ الشعرِ
فإنهُfor it بالعلماءِto scholars يُزريis demeaning
فإنهُ بالعلماءِ يُزري
My dear son, beware of composing poetry,
My son, beware of composing poetry,
For it demeans scholars.
For with scholars it is scorned.
واللهِby God لولاwere it not for شهرتيmy fame وذكريand my renown
واللهِ لولا شهرتي وذكري
بالعلمِin learning كانwould have been الشعرُpoetry حطُّthe lowering of قدريmy standing
بالعلمِ كان الشعرُ حطُّ قدري
By God, were it not for my fame and renown
By God, were it not for my fame and renown
In learning, poetry would have lowered my standing.
For knowledge, poetry would demean my worth.
Sol 6.1