أَأَنثُرُ دُرّاً بَينَ سارِحَةِ النعَم

أَأَنظمُ مَنثوراً لِراعِيَةِ الغَنَم

Shall I scatter pearls among the carefree people?

Shall I compose prose for the shepherd girls?

لَعَمري لَئِن ضُيِّعتُ في شَرِّ بَلدَةٍ

فَلَستُ مُضيعاً فيهِمُ غُرَرَ الكَلِم

By my life! If I am lost in an evil town,

I am not wasted among them, the vain words.

فَإِن يَسَّرَ اللَهُ الكَريمُ بِلُطفِهِ

وَصادَفتُ أَهلاً لِلعُلومِ وَلِلحِكَم

If the generous God facilitates with His kindness,

And I meet people apt for knowledge and wisdom,

بَثَثتُ مُفيداً وَاِستَفَدتُ وِدادَه

وَإِلّا فَمَخزونٌ لَدَيَّ وَمُكتَتَم

I disseminate beneficial and gain their affection,

Else it remains stored with me and concealed.

فَمَن مَنَحَ الجُهّالَ عِلماً أَضاعَه

وَمَن مَنَعَ المُستَوجِبينَ فَقَد ظَلَم

He who gives knowledge to the ignorant wastes it,

And he who denies the deserving has done wrong.