العِلمُ والحِلمُ حُلَّتَانِ هُمَا

العِلمُ والحِلمُ حُلَّتَانِ هُمَا

للخَلقِ زَينٌ إذا هُمَا اجتَمَعا

للخَلقِ زَينٌ إذا هُمَا اجتَمَعا

Knowledge and forbearance are two robes,

Knowledge and forbearance are two robes

an adornment to humankind when both unite.

They are beauty for people when together

صِنوان لا يستقيمُ حُسنُهما

صِنوان لا يستقيمُ حُسنُهما

إلا بجمعٍ لذا وذاك معا

إلا بجمعٍ لذا وذاك معا

Twin stems, their beauty is not complete

Two companions whose beauty is not complete

unless this one and that are brought together.

Except by joining this and that together

كم مِن وَضِيعٍ سَما به العِل

كم مِن وَضِيعٍ سَما به العِل

مُ والحلمُ فُنال العَلاءَ وارتفَعَا

مُ والحلمُ فُنال العَلاءَ وارتفَعَا

How many a lowly man was raised by knowledge

How many an outcast knowledge raised up

and forbearance, and so attained eminence and rose!

And forbearance brought supreme status

ومِن رفيع البِنَا أضاعهما

ومِن رفيع البِنَا أضاعهما

أهمَلَهُ ما أضَاعَ فاتَّضَعَا

أهمَلَهُ ما أضَاعَ فاتَّضَعَا

And many a man of lofty stature squandered them both;

And many a highborn one they brought down

what he squandered forsook him, and he sank low.

When he neglected them, losing all stature