يروقُكَ بِشْراً وهْوَ جَذْلانُ مثْلَما

تَخافُ شَباهُ وهْوَ غَضبانُ مُحنقُ

You like him when he's gentle, though he's usually harsh,

Just as you fear him when he's angry and grim.

كذا السّيف في أَطرافِهِ الموتُ كامنٌ

وفي مَتنهِ ضَوءٌ يروقُ ورَوْنَقُ

So is the sword - at its edges lies death in wait,

Yet in its blade there's a light, pleasing and bright.