تَلقى الفَتى يَلقى أَخاهُ وَخِدنَهُ

تَلقى الفَتى يَلقى أَخاهُ وَخِدنَهُ

في لَحنِ مَنطِقِهِ بِما لا يُغفَرُ

في لَحنِ مَنطِقِهِ بِما لا يُغفَرُ

You find a young man meeting his brother and close friend

The lad meets his brother and bosom friend

With unforgivable words in the tone of his speech.

In a tone of speech that cannot be forgiven

وَيَقولُ كُنتُ مُمازِحاً وَمُلاعِباً

وَيَقولُ كُنتُ مُمازِحاً وَمُلاعِباً

هَيهاتَ نارُكَ في الحَشا تَتَسَعَّرُ

هَيهاتَ نارُكَ في الحَشا تَتَسَعَّرُ

And he says, "I was joking and playing."

And says, I was joking and fooling around

Far from it! Your fire blazes in his breast.

Alas! Your fire spreads in the brushwood

أَلهَبتَها وَطَفِقتَ تَضحَكُ لاهِياً

أَلهَبتَها وَطَفِقتَ تَضحَكُ لاهِياً

عَمّا بِهِ وَفُؤادُهُ يَتَفَطَّرُ

عَمّا بِهِ وَفُؤادُهُ يَتَفَطَّرُ

You kindled it and began to laugh, heedless

You ignited it and began to laugh heedlessly

Of what ails him, while his heart breaks apart.

Oblivious to the heart that breaks apart

أَو ما عَلِمتَ وَمِثلُ جَهلِكَ غالِبٌ

أَو ما عَلِمتَ وَمِثلُ جَهلِكَ غالِبٌ

إِنَّ المِزاحَ هُوَ السِبابُ الأَكبَرُ

إِنَّ المِزاحَ هُوَ السِبابُ الأَكبَرُ

Or did you not know—and ignorance like yours is common—

Or you did not know, and ignorance like yours prevails

That jesting is the worst form of verbal abuse?

That jest is the greatest blame