وَتِسعُ خِصالٍ في رِجالٍ أَعدّها

وَتِسعُ خِصالٍ في رِجالٍ أَعدّها

بِتَسع إِلى إِتقانِها مِلْ وعرِّجِ

بِتَسع إِلى إِتقانِها مِلْ وعرِّجِ

And nine traits in men I count,

Nine traits in men I've counted and reckoned

As nine—turn toward mastering them, and give them heed.

To nine that perfect them and straighten the crooked:

لِأَشقَرَ خُبثٌ واللّجاج لِأَحولٍ

لِأَشقَرَ خُبثٌ واللّجاج لِأَحولٍ

وَظُرفُ قَصيرٍ ثمَّ كيسٌ لِكَوسجِ

وَظُرفُ قَصيرٍ ثمَّ كيسٌ لِكَوسجِ

Malice belongs to a fair-haired man, and obstinacy to a cross-eyed man.

Mischief for the blond, obstinacy for the squint-eyed,

And wit to a short man, then shrewdness to a scant-bearded man.

Wit for the short, wisdom for the pockmarked,

وَحُمقُ سَمينٍ ثمّ شُؤم لِأَعورٍ

وَحُمقُ سَمينٍ ثمّ شُؤم لِأَعورٍ

وَغَفلَةُ ذي طولٍ تَكبُّر أَعرجِ

وَغَفلَةُ ذي طولٍ تَكبُّر أَعرجِ

And stupidity to a fat man, then ill luck to a one-eyed man.

Folly for the fat, ill fate for the one-eyed,

And heedlessness to a tall man, arrogance to a lame man.

Heedlessness for the tall, pride for the lame,

كَذاكَ أَخا فَهمٍ شَطارَةَ أَحدبٍ

كَذاكَ أَخا فَهمٍ شَطارَةَ أَحدبٍ

فَخُذها عَنِ التّوراةِ في حُسنِ مَنهَجِ

فَخُذها عَنِ التّوراةِ في حُسنِ مَنهَجِ

Likewise, O man of understanding, cunning to a hunchback.

Thus, brother of understanding, grasp the shrewdness of the goggle-eyed

So take them from the Torah, following a sound path.

Take it from the Torah, in excellence of method.