لا خَيلَ عِندَكَ تُهديها وَلا مالُ

لا خَيلَ عِندَكَ تُهديها وَلا مالُ

فَليُسعِدِ النُطقُ إِن لَم تُسعِدِ الحالُ

فَليُسعِدِ النُطقُ إِن لَم تُسعِدِ الحالُ

You have no horses to give, nor wealth;

You have no horses to gift nor wealth,

No horses have you to offer, nor wealth to hand,

so let speech help if circumstances do not.

So let your speech bring joy if your circumstances do not.

So let speech bring succor if fortune does not stand.

وَاِجزِ الأَميرَ الَّذي نُعماهُ فاجِئَةٌ

وَاِجزِ الأَميرَ الَّذي نُعماهُ فاجِئَةٌ

بِغَيرِ قَولِ وَنُعمى الناسِ أَقوالُ

بِغَيرِ قَولِ وَنُعمى الناسِ أَقوالُ

And repay the prince whose bounty comes unannounced,

Reward the prince whose sudden favor

And repay the Prince whose bounties strike like surprise,

without a word, while other people's bounty is mere words.

Came with no words - the speech of people is but words.

Unlike mere talk—though others' gifts are but words in disguise.

فَرُبَّما جَزِيَ الإِحسانَ مولِيَهُ

فَرُبَّما جَزِيَ الإِحسانَ مولِيَهُ

خَريدَةٌ مِن عَذارى الحَيِّ مِكسالُ

خَريدَةٌ مِن عَذارى الحَيِّ مِكسالُ

For often kindness is repaid to its giver by

Sometimes kindness is rewarded by its patron

For perchance a benefactor is repaid for his grace

a languid maiden among the tribe's virgins.

With a maid of the Hey tribe, lazy and plump.

By a shy, pampered maiden of the tribe’s noble race.

وَإِن تَكُن مُحكَماتُ الشُكلِ تَمنَعُني

وَإِن تَكُن مُحكَماتُ الشُكلِ تَمنَعُني

ظُهورَ جَريٍ فَلي فيهِنَّ تَصهالُ

ظُهورَ جَريٍ فَلي فيهِنَّ تَصهالُ

Though tightly fastened hobbles may prevent me

And if tightly-wrapped dresses prevent me

And if tightening hobbles prevent me the course

from displaying a gallop, within them I can still neigh.

From the appearance of open admiration, I have for them a modest gaze.

Of showing my stride, yet within them neighs my force.

وَما شَكَرتُ لِأَنَّ المالَ فَرَّحَني

وَما شَكَرتُ لِأَنَّ المالَ فَرَّحَني

سِيّانَ عِندِيَ إِكثارٌ وَإِقلالُ

سِيّانَ عِندِيَ إِكثارٌ وَإِقلالُ

I did not give thanks because wealth delighted me;

I did not thank you because wealth made me happy -

I offered not thanks just because wealth brought me glee,

abundance and scarcity are alike to me.

To me abundance and paucity are the same.

For abundance and lack are but equal to me.

لَكِن رَأَيتُ قَبيحاً أَن يُجادَلَنا

لَكِن رَأَيتُ قَبيحاً أَن يُجادَلَنا

وَأَنَّنا بِقَضاءِ الحَقِّ بُخّالُ

وَأَنَّنا بِقَضاءِ الحَقِّ بُخّالُ

But I deemed it shameful that generosity be shown to us

But I saw it as ugly to dispute with one

But I deemed it shameful to be outdone in the deed,

while we are miserly in paying what is due.

Who judges fairly, even if he is tightfisted.

And that we be misers when paying duty’s need.

فَكُنتُ مَنبِتَ رَوضِ الحُزنِ باكَرَهُ

فَكُنتُ مَنبِتَ رَوضِ الحُزنِ باكَرَهُ

غَيثٌ بِغَيرِ سِباخِ الأَرضِ هَطّالُ

غَيثٌ بِغَيرِ سِباخِ الأَرضِ هَطّالُ

So I was the seedbed of an upland meadow, visited early by

So I became a bud in the garden of sorrow blooming early -

I was like the hard soil of a garden, blessed at dawn

a rain pouring onto ground other than barren salt flats.

Rain without clouds bursting onto the ground.

By a rain that pours not where the salt-marsh is drawn;

غَيثٌ يُبَيِّنُ لِلنُظّارِ مَوقِعُهُ

غَيثٌ يُبَيِّنُ لِلنُظّارِ مَوقِعُهُ

أَنَّ الغُيوثَ بِما تَأتيهِ جُهّالُ

أَنَّ الغُيوثَ بِما تَأتيهِ جُهّالُ

A rain whose place of falling makes plain to onlookers

Rain making clear to onlookers where it falls

A rain whose distinct fall reveals to the eyes

that rains know nothing of the lands they visit.

That rain comes to the ignorant and the wise alike.

That common rains know naught of the gifts he supplies.

لا يُدرِكُ المَجدَ إِلّا سَيِّدٌ فَطِنٌ

لا يُدرِكُ المَجدَ إِلّا سَيِّدٌ فَطِنٌ

لِما يَشُقُّ عَلى الساداتِ فَعّالُ

لِما يَشُقُّ عَلى الساداتِ فَعّالُ

None attains glory but a discerning lord,

None attains glory but the shrewd leader

None grasps true glory but a master astute and keen,

tireless in doing what other lords find hard.

For whom what is difficult for men to bear is habit.

Who enacts the great deeds that too hard for chiefs have been.

لا وارِثٌ جَهِلَت يُمناهُ ما وَهَبَت

لا وارِثٌ جَهِلَت يُمناهُ ما وَهَبَت

وَلا كَسوبٌ بِغَيرِ السَيفِ سَئالُ

وَلا كَسوبٌ بِغَيرِ السَيفِ سَئالُ

Not an heir whose right hand knows not what it has given,

No ignorant heir appreciates the gift he is granted

Not an heir whose hand gives without knowing the cost,

nor one who gains wealth without the sword, forever begging.

Nor is there gain without the sword’s request.

Nor an earner sans sword, who by begging is tossed.

قالَ الزَمانُ لَهُ قَولاً فَأَفهَمَهُ

قالَ الزَمانُ لَهُ قَولاً فَأَفهَمَهُ

إِنَّ الزَمانَ عَلى الإِمساكِ عَذّالُ

إِنَّ الزَمانَ عَلى الإِمساكِ عَذّالُ

Time spoke a word to him and made him understand

Time said to him in words he understood:

Time spoke to him a word, and made him comprehend

that Time sternly reproves withholding.

“Time is stingy in all it brings.”

That Time itself censures those who hoard and defend.

تَدري القَناةُ إِذا اِهتَزَّت بِراحَتِهِ

تَدري القَناةُ إِذا اِهتَزَّت بِراحَتِهِ

أَنَّ الشَقِيَّ بِها خَيلٌ وَأَبطالُ

أَنَّ الشَقِيَّ بِها خَيلٌ وَأَبطالُ

The spear knows, when it quivers in his palm,

The canal knows when its banks shake under his hand

The spear-shaft knows well, when it shakes in his hold,

that those doomed by it are horses and champions.

That the miserable find in it horses and heroes.

That doomed by its strike are the heroes and steeds bold.

كَفاتِكٍ وَدُخولُ الكافِ مَنقَصَةٌ

كَفاتِكٍ وَدُخولُ الكافِ مَنقَصَةٌ

كَالشَمسِ قُلتُ وَما لِلشَمسِ أَمثالُ

كَالشَمسِ قُلتُ وَما لِلشَمسِ أَمثالُ

Like Fatik—though adding 'like' diminishes him;

Your perfections, with kaaf entering, are diminished -

Like Fatik—though 'Like' does his stature a wrong,

I said 'like the sun,' but the sun has no equals.

I said “like the sun” but nothing compares to the sun.

As when I say 'Like the Sun,' though the Sun has no throng.

القائِدِ الأُسدَ غَذَّتها بَراثِنُهُ

القائِدِ الأُسدَ غَذَّتها بَراثِنُهُ

بِمِثلِها مِن عِداهُ وَهيَ أَشبالُ

بِمِثلِها مِن عِداهُ وَهيَ أَشبالُ

The leader of lions whom his claws have fed

The lion leader feeds on its prey with his fangs -

Leader of lions, whom his own claws have fed

on their like among his foes, while they were cubs;

The like of them from his enemies are only cubs.

With the flesh of his foes, since the time they were bred.

القاتِلِ السَيفَ في جِسمِ القَتيلِ بِهِ

القاتِلِ السَيفَ في جِسمِ القَتيلِ بِهِ

وَلِلسُيوفِ كَما لِلناسِ آجالُ

وَلِلسُيوفِ كَما لِلناسِ آجالُ

who kills the sword in the body of the man slain by it—

The killing sword in the killer’s hand kills his victim -

Who slays the sword itself in the victim he slays,

and swords, like people, have allotted lifespans.

Swords like men have appointed terms.

For swords, like mankind, have their numbered days.

تُغيرُ عَنهُ عَلى الغاراتِ هَيبَتُهُ

تُغيرُ عَنهُ عَلى الغاراتِ هَيبَتُهُ

وَمالُهُ بِأَقاصي الأَرضِ أَهمالُ

وَمالُهُ بِأَقاصي الأَرضِ أَهمالُ

The awe he inspires attacks raiders on his behalf,

Raiding changes not his awe,

His aura alone raids the raids in his stead,

while his livestock are unguarded in the earth's remotest lands.

His wealth reaches earth’s far corners.

While his unguarded wealth to the earth's ends is spread.

لَهُ مِنَ الوَحشِ ما اِختارَت أَسِنَّتُهُ

لَهُ مِنَ الوَحشِ ما اِختارَت أَسِنَّتُهُ

عَيرٌ وَهَيقٌ وَخَنساءٌ وَذَيّالُ

عَيرٌ وَهَيقٌ وَخَنساءٌ وَذَيّالُ

Of wild beasts, he has whatever his spearheads choose:

Of beasts he owns what his tongue chose -

He claims of the wild game what his spear-points select:

a wild ass, a male ostrich, a snub-nosed wild cow, a long-tailed wild bull.

Caravans, zebras, rabbits, and foxes.

The onager, ostrich, and gazelle with neck erect.

تُمسي الضُيوفُ مُشَهّاةً بِعَقوَتِهِ

تُمسي الضُيوفُ مُشَهّاةً بِعَقوَتِهِ

كَأَنَّ أَوقاتَها في الطيبِ آصالُ

كَأَنَّ أَوقاتَها في الطيبِ آصالُ

At evening, guests have their wishes fulfilled in his courtyard,

Guests spend evenings sated by his hospitality,

Guests spend their evening in his court with delight,

as though their hours were all as pleasant as late afternoons.

As if their times were pierced with aromatic spices.

As though all their hours were soft twilights and bright.

لَوِ اِشتَهَت لَحمَ قاريها لَبادَرَها

لَوِ اِشتَهَت لَحمَ قاريها لَبادَرَها

خَرادِلٌ مِنهُ في الشيزى وَأَوصالُ

خَرادِلٌ مِنهُ في الشيزى وَأَوصالُ

If they craved their host's flesh, there would hasten to them

If his hunting falcon craved his carrier’s flesh,

Should they crave the host's flesh, there would rush to the feast

morsels of him and joints in dark wooden bowls.

Morsels of it would serve the bird raw portions.

His own joints and cuts, minced in bowls, to say the least.

لا يَعرِفُ الرُزءَ في مالٍ وَلا وَلَدٍ

لا يَعرِفُ الرُزءَ في مالٍ وَلا وَلَدٍ

إِلّا إِذا حَفَزَ الأَضيافَ تَرحالُ

إِلّا إِذا حَفَزَ الأَضيافَ تَرحالُ

He knows no loss, whether of wealth or child,

He knows no stinginess with wealth or children -

He knows no calamity in wealth or in kin,

except when departure spurs his guests away.

Only when guests begin to depart does sorrow visit him.

Save when guests make to leave and the partings begin.

يُروي صَدى الأَرضِ مِن فَضلاتِ ما شَرِبوا

يُروي صَدى الأَرضِ مِن فَضلاتِ ما شَرِبوا

مَحضُ اللِقاحِ وَصافي اللَونِ سَلسالُ

مَحضُ اللِقاحِ وَصافي اللَونِ سَلسالُ

The earth's thirst is slaked by the remnants of their drink—

The echo of the land relates from his leftovers only

He waters the earth with the dregs of their wine,

pure milk of milch camels and clear, smooth-flowing wine.

Pure, clear honey wine in cascades.

Pure milk of the camels, and cool drafts divine.

تَقري صَوارِمُهُ الساعاتِ عَبطَ دَمٍ

تَقري صَوارِمُهُ الساعاتِ عَبطَ دَمٍ

كَأَنَّما الساعُ نُزّالٌ وَقُفّالُ

كَأَنَّما الساعُ نُزّالٌ وَقُفّالُ

His keen swords feast the hours on freshly shed blood,

His swords time the hours with spilt blood,

His sharp swords feed the Hours with blood fresh and red,

as though the hours were lodgers and returning travelers.

As if the hour were booty taken captive.

As if Time’s very hours were guests to be fed.

تَجري النُفوسُ حَوالَيهِ مُخَلَّطَةً

تَجري النُفوسُ حَوالَيهِ مُخَلَّطَةً

مِنها عُداةٌ وَأَغنامٌ وَآبالُ

مِنها عُداةٌ وَأَغنامٌ وَآبالُ

Lifeblood flows around him, mingled together—

Souls circle around him mixed -

Souls swirl all around him in a chaotic train,

some from foes, some from sheep and camels.

Among them foes, sheep, and camels.

Of enemies, sheep, and camels slain on the plain.

لا يَحرِمُ البُعدُ أَهلَ البُعدِ نائِلَهُ

لا يَحرِمُ البُعدُ أَهلَ البُعدِ نائِلَهُ

وَغَيرُ عاجِزَةٍ عَنهُ الأُطَيفالُ

وَغَيرُ عاجِزَةٍ عَنهُ الأُطَيفالُ

Distance does not deprive distant people of his bounty,

Distance does not deprive those far from their share of him,

Distance denies not the distant his grace,

nor are little children unable to reach it.

Nor are messages unable to reach him.

Nor are children too weak to reach his embrace.

أَمضى الفَريقَينِ في أَقرانِهِ ظُبَةً

أَمضى الفَريقَينِ في أَقرانِهِ ظُبَةً

وَالبيضُ هادِيَةً وَالسُمرُ ضُلّالُ

وَالبيضُ هادِيَةً وَالسُمرُ ضُلّالُ

Of the two sides, his edge is keenest against his opponents,

He led both parties among their peers -

His blade is the sharpest of all in the fight,

when white swords strike true and brown spears stray.

The whites guided, the browns misguided.

While swords guide the way, spears stray from the light.

يُريكَ مَخبَرُهُ أَضعافَ مَنظَرِهِ

يُريكَ مَخبَرُهُ أَضعافَ مَنظَرِهِ

بَينَ الرِجالِ وَفيها الماءُ وَالآلُ

بَينَ الرِجالِ وَفيها الماءُ وَالآلُ

His tested character shows you many times what his appearance promises,

His reports show multiples of his appearance:

His substance reveals more than sight can descry,

among men, where both water and mirage are found.

Among men, there is water, family, and wealth.

For men are like deserts: some true, some a lie.

وَقَد يُلَقِّبُهُ المَجنونَ حاسِدُهُ

وَقَد يُلَقِّبُهُ المَجنونَ حاسِدُهُ

إِذا اِختَلَطنَ وَبَعضُ العَقلِ عُقّالُ

إِذا اِختَلَطنَ وَبَعضُ العَقلِ عُقّالُ

His envier may call him 'the Madman'

Though his envious enemy calls him mad

His envier calls him 'The Madman' in scorn,

when the horses clash—but some prudence is a hobble.

When minds mix and some intellect is trammeled.

When swords clash—for prudence is but a chain worn.

يَرمي بِها الجَيشَ لا بُدٌّ لَهُ وَلَها

يَرمي بِها الجَيشَ لا بُدٌّ لَهُ وَلَها

مِن شَقِّهِ وَلَوَ أَنَّ الجَيشَ أَجبالُ

مِن شَقِّهِ وَلَوَ أَنَّ الجَيشَ أَجبالُ

He hurls them at the army; he and they have no choice

With them he routs the army, he and they must

He hurls his soul at the host, come what may,

but to cleave through it, even if the army were mountains.

Split it open, even were the army mountains.

To cleave through their ranks, though like mountains they stay.

إِذا العِدى نَشِبَت فيهِم مَخالِبُهُ

إِذا العِدى نَشِبَت فيهِم مَخالِبُهُ

لَم يَجتَمِع لَهُمُ حِلمٌ وَرِئبالُ

لَم يَجتَمِع لَهُمُ حِلمٌ وَرِئبالُ

When his claws fasten into his foes,

When enmity extends its claws in them

When his claws sink deep in the flesh of the foe,

for them, forbearance and a lion cannot coexist.

Neither patience nor dignity can unite them.

No mercy meet they, but a lion's fell blow.

يَروعُهُم مِنهُ دَهرٌ صَرفُهُ أَبَداً

يَروعُهُم مِنهُ دَهرٌ صَرفُهُ أَبَداً

مُجاهِرٌ وَصُروفُ الدَهرِ تَغتالُ

مُجاهِرٌ وَصُروفُ الدَهرِ تَغتالُ

They dread in him a Time whose onslaught is always

Endless open defiance makes him their terror -

They are struck by a Fate that he wields in his hand,

open, while Time's reversals kill by stealth.

The turns of fate are treacherous.

He strikes in the open, while Time steals by stealth through the land.

أَنالَهُ الشَرَفَ الأَعلى تَقَدُّمُهُ

أَنالَهُ الشَرَفَ الأَعلى تَقَدُّمُهُ

فَما الَّذي بِتَوَقّي ما أَتى نالوا

فَما الَّذي بِتَوَقّي ما أَتى نالوا

His advance has won him the highest honor;

He attained the highest glory by his precedence -

His daring advance gained him honor supreme,

so what have they gained by avoiding what he undertook?

So what was attained by the caution of those who came after?

What gain those who shrink from the perilous stream?

إِذا المُلوكُ تَحَلَّت كانَ حِليَتَهُ

إِذا المُلوكُ تَحَلَّت كانَ حِليَتَهُ

مُهَنَّدٌ وَأَضَمُّ الكَعبِ عَسّالُ

مُهَنَّدٌ وَأَضَمُّ الكَعبِ عَسّالُ

When kings adorn themselves, his adornment is

When kings are adorned, his adornment

When kings don their jewels and trinkets of gold,

a sword of Indian steel and a small-knotted, quivering spear.

Is smooth Yemeni shoes, heels stacked.

He dons but his sword and a spear rigid and cold.

أَبو شُجاعٍ أَبو الشُجعانِ قاطِبَةً

أَبو شُجاعٍ أَبو الشُجعانِ قاطِبَةً

هَولٌ نَمَتهُ مِنَ الهَيجاءِ أَهوالُ

هَولٌ نَمَتهُ مِنَ الهَيجاءِ أَهوالُ

Abu Shuja, father of all the brave,

Abu Shuja’, Abu al-Shuj’an altogether!

Abu Shuja’—true Sire of the Brave, all and one,

a terror nurtured by the terrors of battle.

He is an awe growing from terrors, awes.

A Terror whom War’s very terrors call son.

تَمَلَّكَ الحَمدَ حَتّى ما لِمُفتَخِرٍ

تَمَلَّكَ الحَمدَ حَتّى ما لِمُفتَخِرٍ

في الحَمدِ حاءٌ وَلا ميمٌ وَلا دالُ

في الحَمدِ حاءٌ وَلا ميمٌ وَلا دالُ

He has claimed all praise, until no boaster has

He has taken ownership of praise until no boaster has

He conquered all Praise, leaving nothing for claims,

a ḥāʾ, a mīm, or a dāl left in 'ḥamd,' praise.

Any ha or meem or daal in praise.

Of Praise: not a Haa, nor a Meem, nor a Daal remains.

عَلَيهِ مِنهُ سَرابيلٌ مُضاعَفَةٌ

عَلَيهِ مِنهُ سَرابيلٌ مُضاعَفَةٌ

وَقَد كَفاهُ مِنَ الماذِيِّ سِربالُ

وَقَد كَفاهُ مِنَ الماذِيِّ سِربالُ

He wears doubled coats of that praise,

Upon it he wears double garments -

Clad in double coats woven of glory and praise,

though a single coat of fine mail has sufficed him.

A single Sirbal sufficed him.

Though a single steel mesh serves him all of his days.

وَكَيفَ أَستُرُ ما أولَيتَ مِن حَسَنٍ

وَكَيفَ أَستُرُ ما أولَيتَ مِن حَسَنٍ

وَقَد غَمَرتَ نَوالاً أَيُّها النالُ

وَقَد غَمَرتَ نَوالاً أَيُّها النالُ

And how can I conceal the goodness you have bestowed,

How can I conceal the favor you have shown me

How can I conceal the great good you have shown,

when you have overwhelmed me with bounty, O giver?

When you have poured out attainment in streams?

When your bounty has flooded the world I have known?

لَطَّفتَ رَأيَكَ في بِرّي وَتَكرِمَتي

لَطَّفتَ رَأيَكَ في بِرّي وَتَكرِمَتي

إِنَّ الكَريمَ عَلى العَلياءِ يَحتالُ

إِنَّ الكَريمَ عَلى العَلياءِ يَحتالُ

You planned ingeniously to favor and honor me;

You refined your view of my filial devotion and honored me -

You devised a kind scheme to bestow and to bless,

the noble man finds ways to attain the heights.

The generous contrive ways to favor the exalted.

For the noble use craft to achieve nobleness.

حَتّى غَدَوتَ وَلِلأَخبارِ تَجوالُ

حَتّى غَدَوتَ وَلِلأَخبارِ تَجوالُ

وَلِلكَواكِبِ في كَفَّيكَ آمالُ

وَلِلكَواكِبِ في كَفَّيكَ آمالُ

Until, with tidings roaming far, you became

Until you became the means for news to wander

Till you became legend, and news roamed the lands,

one in whose two hands the stars place their hopes.

And the stars to hope in your palms.

And the stars placed their hopes in the palms of your hands.

وَقَد أَطالَ ثَنائي طولُ لابِسِهِ

وَقَد أَطالَ ثَنائي طولُ لابِسِهِ

إِنَّ الثَناءَ عَلى التِنبالِ تِنبالُ

إِنَّ الثَناءَ عَلى التِنبالِ تِنبالُ

The height of its wearer has lengthened my praise;

My praise of you grew long as your mantle -

My praise is made tall by the tall one who wears it,

praise of a dwarf is itself a dwarf.

Praise of the excellent is more excellence.

For praise on a dwarf is but dwarfed when he bears it.

إِن كُنتَ تَكبُرُ أَن تَختالَ في بَشَرٍ

إِن كُنتَ تَكبُرُ أَن تَختالَ في بَشَرٍ

فَإِنَّ قَدرَكَ في الأَقدارِ يَختالُ

فَإِنَّ قَدرَكَ في الأَقدارِ يَختالُ

If you are too great to swagger among men,

If you disdain to strut among mortals,

If you are too grand to show pride among men,

then your rank swaggers among all ranks.

Your ordainment among ordainments contends.

Your fate struts proudly 'midst fates within ken.

كَأَنَّ نَفسَكَ لا تَرضاكَ صاحِبَها

كَأَنَّ نَفسَكَ لا تَرضاكَ صاحِبَها

إِلّا وَأَنتَ عَلى المِفضالِ مِفضالُ

إِلّا وَأَنتَ عَلى المِفضالِ مِفضالُ

It is as though your soul will not accept you as its companion

As if your soul will not satisfy you, its companion,

As if your own soul deems you scarce fit to lead,

unless you outdo the generous in generosity;

Unless you excel the excellent.

Unless you surpass all who excel in the deed.

وَلا تَعُدُّكَ صَوّاناً لِمُهجَتِها

وَلا تَعُدُّكَ صَوّاناً لِمُهجَتِها

إِلّا وَأَنتَ لَها في الرَوعِ بَذّالُ

إِلّا وَأَنتَ لَها في الرَوعِ بَذّالُ

nor does it count you a vigilant guardian of its lifeblood

Do not think to protect its essence

It counts you no guardian of life or of breath,

unless you spend it freely in the face of terror.

Unless for it you are formidable in awe.

Save when you spend it freely in the face of death.

لَولا المَشَقَّةُ سادَ الناسُ كُلُّهُمُ

لَولا المَشَقَّةُ سادَ الناسُ كُلُّهُمُ

الجودُ يُفقِرُ وَالإِقدامُ قَتّالُ

الجودُ يُفقِرُ وَالإِقدامُ قَتّالُ

Were it not for hardship, everyone would be a lord:

If not for hardship all people would master

Were it not for the hardship, all men would be chiefs;

generosity impoverishes, and daring kills.

Generosity, though courage kills.

For giving brings want, and bold courage is lethal.

وَإِنَّما يَبلُغُ الإِنسانُ طاقَتُهُ

وَإِنَّما يَبلُغُ الإِنسانُ طاقَتُهُ

ما كُلُّ ماشِيَةٍ بِالرَحلِ شِملالُ

ما كُلُّ ماشِيَةٍ بِالرَحلِ شِملالُ

A man reaches only the limits of his strength;

A man achieves only his capacity -

A man but attains what his strength can avail,

not every beast beneath a saddle is a swift she-camel.

Not every beast bears burdens.

Not every mount bearing a saddle is hale.

إِنّا لَفي زَمَنٍ تَركُ القَبيحِ بِهِ

إِنّا لَفي زَمَنٍ تَركُ القَبيحِ بِهِ

مِن أَكثَرِ الناسِ إِحسانٌ وَإِجمالُ

مِن أَكثَرِ الناسِ إِحسانٌ وَإِجمالُ

Indeed, we live in an age when abstaining from evil

We are in a time when most people forsake

We live in an age where to shun the profane

on the part of most people counts as goodness and gracious conduct.

Goodness and favor overall.

Is the utmost of virtue that most men attain.

ذِكرُ الفَتى عُمرُهُ الثاني وَحاجَتُهُ

ذِكرُ الفَتى عُمرُهُ الثاني وَحاجَتُهُ

ما قاتَهُ وَفُضولُ العَيشِ أَشغالُ

ما قاتَهُ وَفُضولُ العَيشِ أَشغالُ

A man's renown is his second life; his need is

Talk of the youth is his second life, his need

A man's fame is his second life, and his need

what sustains him; life's excesses are distractions.

What he fought, and the excess of life is work.

Is mere sustenance; all else is burden and greed.