العلم زين وَتَشريف لِصاحِبِه

العلم زين وَتَشريف لِصاحِبِه

فَاِصلَب هَديت فَنون العِلم وَالادبا

فَاِصلَب هَديت فَنون العِلم وَالادبا

Knowledge is an adornment and an honor to its possessor.

Knowledge is an adornment and an honor to its possessor.

So seek—may you be guided—the branches of knowledge and adab.

So be steadfast—may you be guided—in the branches of knowledge and refinement.

كَم سيد بَطل آباؤُه نَجب

كَم سيد بَطل آباؤُه نَجب

كانا رُؤوساً فَأَمسى بَعدَهُم ذَنبا

كانا رُؤوساً فَأَمسى بَعدَهُم ذَنبا

How many a valiant lord had forefathers of distinction—

How many a lord and hero, whose forefathers were noble—

they were heads, yet after them he became a tail.

They were heads, yet after them he became a tail.

وَمُقرِف خامِل الآباء ذي ادب

وَمُقرِف خامِل الآباء ذي ادب

نَل المَعالي وَالآداب وَالرُتبا

نَل المَعالي وَالآداب وَالرُتبا

And how many a man of base birth, his forefathers obscure, endowed with adab,

And you of mixed lineage, with obscure forefathers but possessed of refinement,

attained the heights, the refinements, and lofty ranks.

Attain high honors, refinement, and rank.

لِلعِلمِ كنز وَذُخر لا تعادِله

لِلعِلمِ كنز وَذُخر لا تعادِله

نِعم القَرين اِذا ما عاقِل صحبا

نِعم القَرين اِذا ما عاقِل صحبا

Knowledge is a treasure and a store that nothing can equal;

Knowledge holds a treasure and a store you cannot match.

excellent the companion when it accompanies a person of reason.

What a fine companion when a wise man befriends it!

اضحى عَزيزاً عَزيز القَدرِ مُشتَهِراً

اضحى عَزيزاً عَزيز القَدرِ مُشتَهِراً

في كُل مَنزِلَة قد حَل مُحتَجِبا

في كُل مَنزِلَة قد حَل مُحتَجِبا

He becomes honored, high in standing, and renowned

He became honored, exalted in standing, and renowned,

in every place where he alights as a stranger.

In every station where he had settled, keeping himself secluded.

لا خير في مَن لهُ أَصل بِلا اِدب

لا خير في مَن لهُ أَصل بِلا اِدب

نالَ المَعالي وَالاِموال وَالنَشبا

نالَ المَعالي وَالاِموال وَالنَشبا

There is no good in one who has lineage but lacks adab,

There is no good in one with lineage but no refinement,

though he attain high honors, wealth, and possessions.

Though he has attained high honors, wealth, and property.

يا جامِع العِلمِ نعم الذخر تجمعه

يا جامِع العِلمِ نعم الذخر تجمعه

لا تعدلن بهِ دراً وَلا ذَهبا

لا تعدلن بهِ دراً وَلا ذَهبا

O gatherer of knowledge, excellent is the treasure you gather!

O gatherer of knowledge, what a fine store you gather!

Do not equate with it either pearls or gold.

Never equate pearls or gold with it.

أَشدد يَدَيك بِهِ تَحمد مغبته

أَشدد يَدَيك بِهِ تَحمد مغبته

بِهِ تَنالُ الغِنى وَالدينُ وَالحَسَبا

بِهِ تَنالُ الغِنى وَالدينُ وَالحَسَبا

Grip it firmly with both hands; you will praise its outcome.

Clasp it firmly with both hands; you will praise its outcome.

Through it you attain sufficiency, religion, and honorable standing.

Through it you attain wealth, faith, and honor.

قَد يَجمَعُ المَرءُ مالاً ثُمَّ يَلبَسَه

قَد يَجمَعُ المَرءُ مالاً ثُمَّ يَلبَسَه

عَما قَليل فَيَلقى الذل وَالحَربا

عَما قَليل فَيَلقى الذل وَالحَربا

A man may amass wealth and then be stripped of it

A man may gather wealth, then wear it,

before long, and meet humiliation and destitution.

Before long, he encounters humiliation and destitution.

وَجامِع العِلمِ مَغبوط بهِ أَبداً

وَجامِع العِلمِ مَغبوط بهِ أَبداً

فَلا يُحاذِر مِنهُ الفوتُ وَالسَلبا

فَلا يُحاذِر مِنهُ الفوتُ وَالسَلبا

But the gatherer of knowledge is forever deemed fortunate for it

And the gatherer of knowledge is forever envied for it,

and need not fear its loss or its being taken away.

So he fears neither its loss nor its theft.