لا تنكحنَّ الدهرَ ما عشت أيّما

لا تنكحنَّ الدهرَ ما عشت أيّما

مجربة قد مُلَّ منها وملّت

مجربة قد مُلَّ منها وملّت

Never, as long as you live a bachelor, marry

Never, as long as you live, marry a previously married woman,

a woman tried before—others have tired of her, and she has tired of them—

An experienced woman whom others have tired of, and who has herself grown weary;

صُمَحمَحَةٌ لا تشتكي الدهر رأسها

صُمَحمَحَةٌ لا تشتكي الدهر رأسها

ولو نكزَتها حيّةٌ لأبلّتِ

ولو نكزَتها حيّةٌ لأبلّتِ

a tough little woman whose head never aches,

A stout, hardy woman who never complains of a headache—

who, even if a snake bit her, would surely recover.

And even if a snake bit her, she would surely recover.