المرء بالفكر لا باللحية الطولَي

والفخر بالفضل لا بالرتبة الأولى

A man is by his thoughts, not his beard's length

And pride is in merit, not in rank's height

وبالخلائق تمتاز الخلائق لا

بشارة تجعل المعلوم مجهولا

And by morals essences are distinguished, not

By features that make the known unknown

لو لم يخَلْ ربُّها جهل الرجالِ به

ما احتاج منها على معناه تدليلا

If Her Lord did not let men's ignorance of Her be

She would not have needed exposition as evidence

وما الكمال بموقوف على سمة

ما أوسعت قط أهل النقص تكميلا

And perfection isn't dependent on a trait

That the flawed could ever fully attain

والسيف لو كان مقصوداً لمنظره

أو للحمائل لم تنظره محمولا

And the sword, if it was wanted for its looks

Or the scabbards, would not be seen held

لولا مضاربه ساوى العصىَّ ولم

يحز إذا ما التقى الجمعانُ تفضيلا

Were it not for its blows, a stick would equal it and would not

Cut when the two groups meet, making distinction

لا يفخر الحرّ بالوجه الجميل ولا ال

خاء الأسيل ولا الإعراض إن نيلا

The free man takes no pride in the pretty face, nor the

Ignoble in noble lineage or disdain if attained

ولم يُلمّ بأخبار العلا رجل

يُمِلّ لمته دَهناً وترجيلا

And no man versed in the news of the sublime

Would wear his turban tilted and perfumed

تظل مرآته لولا تنفسه

مصقولة وشبا موساه مفلولا

His mirror but for his breath would still be

Burnished, and the comb for his hair unused