غَياثُ قَد زادَ تَمَصبَطرُمُه

وَصارَ لا يُكرِمُ مَن يَكرِمُه

His arrogance has grown, and he no longer honors those who honor him.

By God, the old man has no faults,

شَيخٌ لَعَمري ما لَهُ آفَةٌ

في صَفعِهِ بِالنَعلِ إِلّا فَمُه

Except for his mouth when he lashes with his slipper.

If he were to rip his honor to shreds

لَو قَطَّعَ قَفا عِرضِهِ

بِالهَجوِ ما خَلَّصَهُ دِرهَمُه

With insults, his money would not save him.

He recites to us from his wretched poetry what -

يُنشِدُنا مِن شِعرِهِ الغَثِّ ما

إِن سيلَ عَن مَعناهُ لا يَفهَمُه

If the flow strayed from its meaning - would not be understood.

The height of ignorance is when the youth

وَغايَةُ الجَهلِ دُخولُ الفَتى

بِنَفسِهِ في غَيرِ ما يَعلَمُه

Thrusts himself into what he does not know.