إِنif شِئْتَyou wish أَنْto تَحْوِيattain الْمَعَالِيَlofty honors فَادَّرِعْthen arm yourself
إِن شِئْتَ أَنْ تَحْوِي الْمَعَالِيَ فَادَّرِعْ
صَبْراًwith patience فَإِنَّfor indeed الصَّبْرَpatience غُنْمٌa gain عَاجِلُimmediate
صَبْراً فَإِنَّ الصَّبْرَ غُنْمٌ عَاجِلُ
If you wish to attain lofty honors, arm yourself
If you wish to attain the heights, then arm yourself with patience,
with patience, for patience is an immediate gain.
For patience is gain with immediacy.
وَاحْلُمْand be forbearing كَأَنَّكَas though you were جَاهِلٌignorant وَاذْكُرْand remember كَأنْas though
وَاحْلُمْ كَأَنَّكَ جَاهِلٌ وَاذْكُرْ كَأنْ
نَكَyou ذَاهِلٌabsent-minded وَافْطُنْand be discerning كَأَنَّكَas though you were غَافِلُheedless
نَكَ ذَاهِلٌ وَافْطُنْ كَأَنَّكَ غَافِلُ
And be forbearing as though ignorant, and remember as though
Be forbearing as if you are ignorant, and remember as if
you were absent-minded; and be discerning as though heedless.
You are forgetful, and be vigilant as if you are heedless.
فَلَقَلَّمَاfor indeed seldom يُفْضِيreaches إِلَىto آرَابِهِhis aims
فَلَقَلَّمَا يُفْضِي إِلَى آرَابِهِ
فِيin الدَّهْرِthe world إِلاexcept الْعَالِمُthe knowledgeable man الْمُتَجَاهِلُthe one who feigns ignorance
فِي الدَّهْرِ إِلا الْعَالِمُ الْمُتَجَاهِلُ
For seldom does anyone reach his aims
Rarely in this world, except for the wise feigning ignorance,
in this world save the knowledgeable man who feigns ignorance.
Attains the heights to which he aspires.
Sol 6.1