جَمَعْتَ إلى البَأْسِ لِينّ الطِّبَاعِ

جَمَعْتَ إلى البَأْسِ لِينّ الطِّبَاعِ

وَفي السَّيْفِ لِينٌ وَفِيهِ المَضَاءْ

وَفي السَّيْفِ لِينٌ وَفِيهِ المَضَاءْ

You have joined gentleness of temperament to valor.

You gather gentleness of character with fierceness in war,

And in the sword is suppleness, and in it is keenness.

For the sword has pliancy, but also deadly force.

فَكُنْ قَائِداً أَوْ فَكُنْ شَاعِراً

فَكُنْ قَائِداً أَوْ فَكُنْ شَاعِراً

فَحَدُّكَ فِي حَالَتَيْهِ سَوَاءْ

فَحَدُّكَ فِي حَالَتَيْهِ سَوَاءْ

So be a commander, or else be a poet;

So be a leader or be a poet,

For your edge is the same in both its states.

Your limit in both cases is the same.